An Improper Courtship

Improper Picnic

Quand on parle du loup, il sort du Bois (Speak of the wolf and he comes out the woods.)

Blake entered a huge smile plastered over his face,

"Good morning all, I come bearing brilliant news from," everyone turned their attention to him, "Aunt Kate has awoken and the doctor seems positive that Alyssa is just sleeping, not unconscious."

Regularity in the air was regained. Something heavy and invisible was lifted, Honey broke into tears again and James smiled wildly, "Those better be happy tears,"

"Of course, they are," she sniffled, "I'm going to see mother," she left the room.

"Why don't you accompany her?" Blake urged aware who would be left in the room.

James rolled his eyes, "Please keep it proper,"

"Shut up," the two groaned. James grabbed a sausage and sauntered out to catch up with Honey. Blake turned to pull his full focus on Rosalie. His smile ravished her to the core.

"Whatever you're thinking, NO!" she hurriedly filled in, Blake smirked

"I was thinking, I'm hungry."

"Lucky you, the breakfast table has plenty to feed you."

"I'm not hungry for what's on the table," Blake licked his lips, Rosalie tossed her head back in amusement,

"I already told you, whatever you're thinking, NO!" she walked up to him and placed her hands on his chest, "I have a lot of things to do this morning, I don't need you distracting me,"

"Have it your way now mademoiselle, but I want to see you later."

"Maybe later, I'll have it my way," Rosalie whispered, suggestively moving her defined eyebrow., "meet me at our tree, at 3." Blake stole a hasty kiss and Rosalie fled without looking back.

The day dragged at an incredibly slow pace, anticipation seeping at their scheduled encounter. Rosalie visited her aunt and noticed the countless bottles of medicines she was sure were not prescribed lightly. When Honey left to fetch a maid to change the covers, Rosalie dared to overstep the boundaries of an observer.

"That's a lot of medication for a simple fall,"

Kate smiled weakly, "Your father told me you would notice it soon enough, remember I told you, you'd understand."

"I won't break your trust,"

"Of course, you won't dear but that's not the issue, sometimes things are best left unspoken off, it makes it all the less real and life can almost carry on as normal."

The words didn't leave Rosalie the whole morning. She read one of her french novels aloud and interpreted its meaning to a sleepy Kate. When Kate dozed off Rosalie went to keep Alyssa company as Honey dealt with the household. Alone in the room with her sister asleep, Rosalie tried to make no noise, there were strict orders to not awaken her prematurely as it might cause more harm to the body. Rosalie checked Alyssa's temperature, the girl lay as a pale skeleton. She placed warm flannels on her cold forehead and on her joints. Seeing her without outer clothes, her true size could be measured. Rosalie dared to open the closet and see if there was more than one of the padding she had found within Alyssa's dress.

Inspecting the thick material she tried to understand the situation, the signs she hadn't connected came back to her; Alyssa's maid had said Alyssa could tie a corset herself and she hadn't been helped in dressing for months. Putting everything back in place, Rosalie resisted the urge to carry on snooping. The doctor chose the perfect moment to return,

"Is there anything to be done, Doctor?" she asked,

The elderly man smiled nervously, "We will try to feed her this evening, if she refuses the food then the issue will be as bad as I feared,"

Rosalie couldn't fully comprehend the mental decisions that would lead Alyssa to render herself so sick. She was sure that she had never heard of a situation alike to this one.

"I don't want to question your expertise, Doctor but I hope that your fears are wrong,"

The Doctor kept his thoughts to himself, he had been practising his profession for coming close to half a century and he had seldom been mistaken. Rosalie caught the look he gave the girl as she left the room.

Looking at the grandfather clock in the hall she noticed that there was 10 minutes to 3. Nature seemed oblivious to the illness that plagued the house, the clear blue that stretched above the green fields and trees and the summer afternoon sun submerged the landscape in a heavenly cover. Rosalie made her way to the tree where their bodies had collided in a desirous frenzy. Her heart made itself heavily apparent, racing from the mere memory of it.

Stepping into the density of trunks, Rosalie looked for Blake. Walking deeper into the forest, her leather slippers left a trail, she allowed the whispers of the tree rustling and the conversations of the crickets to fill her ears.

Out of nowhere, her heart leapt to her throat when two big hands landed on her waist to pull her back sharply. Rosalie swung around to hit the offender squarely on the jaw,

"Well, that was unexpected!" Blake winced, tenderly touching the affected area.

"You think scaring me was expected?" her heart had taken back residence in her chest and was beating frantically for a different reason. His hands were back on her waist.

"I agree and not out of fear that my left side will match the right," Blake joked,

"You deserve that and more for the fright you gave me," Rosalie felt his hands tighten at her waist, his body heat permeating through her thin layers of clothes.

"May I have a chance to redeem myself?" leaning his head to place a kiss on the crook of her neck. He nestled his head along the chiffon of the shirt. Rosalie liked the position of power she was in.

"I suppose I can be convinced to give you a chance," she murmured, moving her head back to allow him more access. Rosalie felt the curve of his lips as he smiled against her collarbone, he bit at the material, gently tracing his teeth along the bone. Rosalie shivered, glad that his hands were holding her in place.

Blake lifted his head and smiled brilliantly as she shivered under his gaze. "Before we proceed, I brought you something," He wrapped one arm around her waist to direct her to the basket he had brought.

"A picnic?" she asked, she was definitely hungry. Blake let go of her momentarily to lay out the mat, he took her hand, Rosalie lifted her dress to remove her slippers and stepped on the mat. Blake watched her flick her feet, her ankles bared. She kicked his calf lightly when she caught him.

"Your chance is waning," she lowered herself to his half up-right position. Blake pulled the basket closer and pulled out a plate of sandwiches, rolled meats, scones and cakes. Rosalie wasted no time in helping herself,

"You're lucky I'm hungry or your English food would not have sufficed," Rosalie said in between mouthfuls. She licked her lips and he handed her another sandwich, watching her eat was enough to fill him.

"Would an Englishman suffice?" he smiled, she bit half of a cucumber sandwich and stuck the other half in his mouth. Keeping her hand near his face, she traced his lips lightly as he munched.

"I suppose if he can French kiss," taking the hint, he moved closer to take Rosalie's lips, the cucumber and cream cheese mingling as they stroked each other's lips. In between savoury kissing and eating the treats, Rosalie and Blake found a serenity, surrounded by the cover of earthy brown and lush green. With no intruders or interruptions, they allowed touches to seep through the layers of their clothes. Desire coursed through Blake's veins and it soon became too much to have her so close yet unable to touch her skin to skin, he pulled away for respite. She took another sandwich and fed it to him, sliding her finger into his mouth. She pulled it out before he could trap it. "Eat up,"

"I'm not hungry for sandwiches," he almost growled. Rosalie leaned back against the matted ground,

"Then eat the angel cake, it's good." She smiled lazily peering up at the blue peeking from the tops of the spanning trees. Blake's emerald eyes blocked her line of sight when he moved his face over hers.

"I don't want anything from the basket,"

"Then, you can go back to the house kitchens, I'm sure they'll be able to prepare what you're hungry for," Rosalie said, aiming to sound blissfully oblivious as her hand found his jaw and she traced the day's old stubble.

"I can assure you, what I am hungry for will not be found there," his lips were on her ear,

"You are a difficult man, what will satisfy your unreasonable hunger?" Rosalie nestled her head closer to his profile.

"I think you know," his deep baritone voice sent vibrations to Rosalie's heart.

"I think you overestimate my comprehension of your peculiar tastes and wishes," Rosalie's voice was light in amusement.

"I wouldn't call you peculiar," he nipped at her jaw with his lips. Rosalie pushed him away playfully, his bottom hit the soft ground.

"You will now," she started, "I think we need to talk,". As much as Rosalie revelled at his touches and kisses and her heartfelt full to the seams, she aimed to follow the path of Reason for a little while.

Blake laughed, "But our lips could do much more enjoyable activities,". He watched as she moved away, sitting up like a peaceful monk, her palms faced up on her knees, she smiled ordering him to do the same with her eyebrows. Blake disobeyed, stretching his body and laying on his side position and cupping his head in his hand. He smirked at her as she rolled her eyes and she resisted the urge to rake her eyes all over his sculpted body.

"Well, Blake Franco, I remember your lips telling me we would sort out the details of our relationship," Rosalie kept her eyes firmly planted on his mocking face.

"I remember your lips on mine," he whispered, he knew that her reaction would satisfy a deep chord within him. Rosalie's peaceful facade cracked as she raised her hand to push him back, again. The chord vibrated.

"I feel thoroughly abused today." He chuckled,

"Shall I make you a promise?" she replied, Blake was intrigued as always. "If we converse as normal adults" she paused, knowing she was walking into a self-made trap, "then we begin to satisfy your hunger." Blake's gaze smouldered her in flames, and she moved her eyes to the tops of the trees, "Within boundaries, Bien sur."

"I think that my lady knows how to strike a good bargain," his voice emphasised the 'my'. Rosalie didn't allow his carefully chosen words to lead her off the path. The path she was leading.

"Very well, what do we do about our family?" Rosalie had many questions, she decided to start with the less controversial ones.

Blake felt a sense of pride that she was turning to him to find solutions, that she was relying on him. At University he had always been in charge, a leader in research dissertations, a team captain in sports but men following him, didn't mean a drop in the ocean when the woman of his heart chose to turn to him.

"Well, the better question is what do we want from this courtship?" Blake asked boldly. Rosalie had been postponing that question, for the mess it would bring along, "I think it's quite evident what one wants from a courtship."

Blake watched her edge around her answer, "It might be evident to you, but I would like to spell it out to me too."

Rosalie squinted her eyes in annoyance, "To judge whether we are compatible enough for marriage," her voice was edged with anger. Blake could see something was irritating her. "Our situation is different Blake, you know this very well."

It became obvious to Blake that Rosalie was discussing this issue by forcing herself.

"I don't understand how our courtship would be different, are we not man and woman as others?"

"Vraiment?!" (Seriously?!) Rosalie snapped, "Can we not have a moment of seriousness to resolve our issues,"

"I thought we were," Blake kept a neutral expression, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. He watched the tightness in her facial expressions settle.

"If our courtship was to fail, our family ties mean that we will not be able to avoid each others company, the situation is messier. If we involve my father or your aunt at this early stage and we realise we are not compatible, every family gathering suddenly becomes awkward and we've involved everyone. I am not comfortable going behind my father's back despite our misunderstandings nor behind the back of your aunt who has taken me into her home. " Rosalie controlled her voice as she spelt out the situation.

Blake watched her as she spoke, of course, he was aware of all her points but they hadn't been a concern, "This is all based on the assumption that our courtship will fail,"

"Blake, the future is uncertain," she paused deliberating, Blake could see her eyes flash between the two minds, he found it mesmerising, "our emotions can dwindle and we are left with nothing but our personalities. I am not an easy person to handle Blake, I can assure you at this moment I feel ready to strangle you for being so uninterested and blaze,"

"Will you listen to my solution then?" he smiled ignoring her last comment.

She nodded curtly, her cheeks flustered with agitation, "Have you kept this solution quiet the whole time?"

"That is for me to know," he smiled, sitting up to be face to face with Rosalie, the smile melted Rosalie's impatience, "I will speak to your father and tell him I am interested in courting you in London where I will move into the Franco's London townhouse. He will be aware of my intentions and during the remainder of our time here, we will be careful to not offend him with any public display of affection,"

Blake kept a key piece of information out of his monologue, he couldn't make her aware of it, he was sure she'd refuse it wholeheartedly. Rosalie bit her lip, trying to find a fault with his argument.

"Referring to your previous comment on personality, I can assure you, Rosalie, your personality is exactly what I want." He watched her bite her lip and look down.

"I'm impatient," she murmured, " I have trouble dealing with my emotions and talking about them and I am not the 'proper' lady a man expects for himself, I bare.. ." Blake took Rosalie's face in his hands, placing his lips over hers to swallow her next words, he kissed her senseless, where they had somehow manoeuvred so Rosalie was on his lap.

"You are strong and brave and honest," his lips found hers again and the kiss was a soft attempt to carry the lovers away from reality, "and so beautiful, I sometimes think I'm dreaming," Gripping onto each other tightly their mouths explored, Blake delving deeper, his intensity reflecting on Rosalie as she allowed her body to respond in favour of desire. Despite all the layers of clothes, the two precipitated in a rhythmic circular connection. Rosalie's skirts gathered around her as she felt Blake's manhood against the core her desire. Blake pulled away this time because he knew he could not go on sane being so close to the edge of commitment. The restraint he had to exert was exhausting. Rosalie's cheekbones were luminously red when he pulled away, at first her entire being felt a wash of disappointment as the air rushed to fill the gaps between their bodies.

"I cannot understand why you assume we will fail when we are capable of this," Blake breathed and licked his lips as he attempted to compose himself. He was going to have to find a solution since he was now realising he couldn't be alone with Rosalie.

"I don't assume, I prepare."

"No, Rosalie you are allowing fear to overrule judgement," Blake answered. Rosalie felt inclined to hit his chest, but instead, she placed her hand under his open waistcoat,

"I will forgive your misjudgement of my emotions, for your earlier words of compliment were well received."

Blake picked up the hand on his chest and gave the palm a kiss, and there, lying under a blanket of a blue sky, comforted by the concealment of the trees and shrubs, the two spoke of everything and nothing. The sky streaked with a lilac and orange, the blurred colours dimming the overall light and creating the illusion of a dream as the two joked about her poor attempt with art.

"It's getting late," Rosalie observed, mentally preparing the both of them to return to reality.

"No, I'm sure it's still early," Blake murmured dreamily, stroking his thumb over her cheek.

"Don't argue with me now, let's return to the house," A rope of reason pulled Rosalie to stand and away from Blake and she attempted to dust away  the creases in her dress. Blake stayed sprayed in his position.

"I like it here," he stated, Rosalie felt a warmness in her chest. She agreed wholeheartedly. The simplicity was appeasing.

"Ye, however reality beckons, so rise and let us-" as the words left Rosalie's lips, Blake had already risen partially and pulled Rosalie's hand so that she would tumble down over him. At such close proximity, Rosalie allowed her lips to stop talking. She knelt in the wedge between his crossed legs and wrapped her arms around his neck. His hands rubbed along her vertebrae, sending a sharp sensation along her spine.

"One last time, then." She spoke on his lips, tilting his head up to have a better range of movement. He smiled and kissed her for one last time. The kiss was enough to last the two for a month of separation.

Rosalie's lips felt numb the whole evening, even as she ate her tomato and basil soup the scalding heat was not felt. The two had parted and entered the house from different entrances. Blake had informed Rosalie he would speak to her father as soon as the burden of having a recovering wife and sleeping daughter had been lifted. They had agreed maturely it was the best course of action. Rosalie was sure that after their afternoon they held lots of personal differences, but the comfort he gave her, the desire she became when he touched her, the way he made her feel heard, they all pointed to a promising future.