A FIRE IN THE WIND
Chapter Sixteen
Rose woke to the sound of servants making
breakfast downstairs. She twisted her head and was appalled to see Cal, lying
beside her, still asleep. If only it was Jack. Rose tried not to think about
the events that had occurred late last night and kept her thoughts only on
Jack.
She couldn't explain how much she loved him.
Words would do it no justice. Out of all the romance novels Rose had read, she
had never found a love as true as that of her and Jack.
Rose quietly ascended from the bed and headed
out of the guestroom and into her own. It was a truly beautiful day outside.
The street outside Rose's window was quiet, except for an iceman's carriage
parked outside.
Rose had always thought that her neighborhood
was boring. She lived in a very wealthy neighborhood where nothing much
happened. Rose had tried to befriend a couple of girls her age across the
street a long time ago, but their interests were very limited and Rose found
them a bore.
The DeWitt Bukaters owned one of the largest
estates on the street. Everyone on the block was a member of high Philadelphia
society. You could very much tell by the size of their houses.
Rose's family had lived in the same
neighborhood for generations. They had lived in Philadelphia since the 1790's.
This was the first time the family had ever had money problems.
Jon Bukater's business was failing around the
time of his death. He hadn't told Ruth about it, not wanting to frighten her.
He was putting together ideas of a new business plan about the time of his
death. So, Ruth was left alone with a huge amount of debts and unpaid bills she
hadn't known about and would never forgive her husband for.
Rose clasped the servant's bell and rang for
Agatha to help her put on her corset. Agatha arrived a few moments later. The
pain rushed to Rose's face, as the strings were pulled tighter and tighter.
Rose had worn a corset ever since she was
twelve years old. She despised it. Her mother had said, "Every lady with a
rank in society wears one. Why shouldn't you?"
Rose had never gotten her mother's
"words of wisdom". They made no sense to her. Why should she suck in
and be something that she was not? Rose had always been thin growing up, why
should she have to be even thinner? Rose's body even felt trapped in her world.
The lawn party was one cliché after another.
She was linked to Cal like some wretched dog on a leash. Rose found herself
feeling bored and a little ill.
Rose could have shouted out for joy when she
saw Allison coming towards her.
Allison grinned at Cal, although she despised
him almost as much as Rose. "Excuse me, I don't mean to intrude, but may I
please speak with Rose alone?"
Cal nodded, not liking Allison much.
"Fine," he said letting go of Rose's arm, protectively.
Allison led Rose off to a tall oak tree with
no spectators nearby. "So…" Rose began, anxiously. "Did you see
him?"
Allison smiled, noting Rose's extreme
enthusiasm. "Yes, I did, in fact."
"Thank you, Ali! I don't know what I
would have done without you!"
Allison laughed girlishly. "You're
welcome. Are you all right? You look a little ill."
"I'm fine," Rose replied,
unconcerned.
Allison nodded. "Well, anyway he wanted
me to give you this. It's a note. I didn't read it. I didn't want to invade
your privacy or anything."
Rose accepted a small envelope with her name
neatly written on it, and put it in her purse. "Thank you."
Rose started to feel dizzy. She balanced
herself by holding onto the trunk of the oak tree. Maybe she wasn't feeling
well after all.
Allison looked worried. "Rose, are you
sure you're all right? I think you may be ill."
Rose tried to answer Allison, but she was too
weak. Suddenly, everything went blurry. And then there was blackness.