Unfolding the Rose Read online

  unfolding

  the

  rose

  R.L.Tornero

  1

  I sat my cup of lavender tea on the table, alarmed that Duke Joplin had climbed the lattice without my knowing.

  He probably smashed the rosebuds, I thought, sadly.

  “We have stairs,” I said. “In case you have forgotten.”

  He stopped in front of me. “That would take the fun away.” His tall frame loomed over me, his dark curls shined beneath the morning sun.

  He cleared his throat. “I have come to ask rather or not you have considered my question.”

  All my nerve left. I picked up the china to distract myself and took a long sip. It was unpleasantly cold, but I needed to carefully prepare my next words.

  Before he had left on his hunting trip in Frarwel, he asked for my hand in marriage. But as the other twelve times, I had not given him an answer.

  Even after praying, I thought. I prayed for three days. But I received no answer.

  “Is everything okay?” Jak asked, concerned. He was good at reading me – not that, that was a difficult task. I easily articulated my feelings.

  “Yes,” I said, wearily.

  “You have considered my proposal, haven’t you?”

  My heart was slamming inside. I sat the china down, afraid he would see my hands shake.

  “I have some. But you haven’t given me enough time to decide.”

  He looked offended. “I have repeatedly asked for years, darling. Haven’t you enough time to decide?” He sighed, bending down, and taking my hand. “I apologize. Take all the time you wish. I am merely a man in love.”

  My mind was an endless tug-a-war. “Forgive me. I truly do not mean to make you wait.”

  “If there is any way I may –” He turned sharply at the sight of Lady Baldrick, my adopted sister. She stood in the doorway, stopping short.

  “Oh. I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she said awkwardly, her pale skin turning red. Her blue eyes flickered between us and she wrang a cloth in her hands. She was shy, sensitive, and nothing less of a dove.

  “You’re not interrupting. Please, join us,” I said, knowing Jak would think I was merely being polite.

  “Actually, I was about to take a stroll in the garden. I won’t hold you.” She gathered her blue gown in her fists.

  I stood. “Mary, please join us.”

  We locked eyes and I knew she would understand my implication.

  She looked at Jak. “Very well.” She sat on the bench.

  I felt at ease, relaxing my shoulders. Mary was aware of my emotional struggles. She knew I wasn’t ready to wed as I had disclosed the information many a time. But what she could not understand was how I could love the duke and not marry him.

  Jak stepped away. “Notify me when we can speak alone,” he whispered. “It is obvious you are feeling indecisive concerning me.”

  2

  I hurried through the tall archways beneath rows of chandeliers. My footsteps slapped the glossed floor. Every step, I felt infuriated at Mary for disturbing us.

  She did it on purpose, I thought. To ruin our discussion.

  Just when Rose was close to saying “yes”. She was meant to be mine. She would be mine. And no one and nothing could stop that from happening.

  Then Mary will no longer be my problem, I thought happily.

  “Jak,” King Wild’s voice echoed, bringing me from my thoughts. He stood at the door of his study and requested I join him.

  As I neared, I noticed his tired expression – sloped eyes and wrinkled forehead that were deeper than his usual wrinkles.

  Rose recently expressed her concerns regarding him and said he appeared “deprived”. Now I understood what she had meant.

  “Of course, your majesty.” I followed him inside, wondering what he wished to discuss. Deep down I always worried I had been exposed. But I pushed the thought away. I couldn’t possibly. I was skilled at covering my tracks. And Mary would never tell. She was too infatuated with me to do so.

  We crossed the room and upped the spiraling stairs. His study had a disc ceiling with cherubs and walls of porcelain shelves covered with old books. It quickly put what I considered our “fancy” library to shame. Though my rich parents owned the land and manor below the castle, it stood as a humble cottage next to the palace.

  “Rose loves to read,” he said aimlessly as if speaking to himself. His eyes glossed over, and he turned his head in fear I would see. He touched the spine of a book and rested there for a few moments before trailing to his desk. He bided me to sit, and I did, awaiting his reasoning for requesting me.

  “I feel I must speak with you concerning Rose’s future. It is something even she is unaware of. And it greatly concerns you now.”

  Rose had spoken to her father about my proposal. I was pleased. It meant she was considering me. But the tone and look of her father unnerved me.

  “I won’t hesitate in telling you that she will no longer be with us in a matter of days.”

  I sat up. “I don’t understand.”

  “I signed a contract when she was a child. She belongs to a kingdom in Beach Castle. I know you’ll have many questions for me, but none in which I am in the mood for answering. As you can see, I greatly regret what I have done but I have no choice in the matter as of now.”

  “Your majesty!” My voice raised. “This can’t be true! Rose isn’t going anywhere. She belongs here. Whatever you are referring to I’m sure can be abolished. May I see the contract?”

  “No.” His voice was firm. He stood from his chair. “I know you planned on taking my daughter’s hand in marriage. It’s my fault for not telling you sooner. I just hoped it never had to come to this.”

  “It’s not fair. How have you not told her? Don’t you realize what this will do to her?”

  “That’s my place. And you won’t say a word.”

  “I’m taking her away,” I demanded. It was as if I was suddenly trapped in a nightmare. If his words were true, I risked never seeing her again.

  “Jak, if you try to interfere, I will have my guards obtain you. I’m only alerting you because you must call off the proposal. If you don’t, then I will have you arrested until Rose’s departure.”

  “So, you’re simply allowing them to take her away? Where is your backbone? You’re King Wild! Your people reverence you!”

  “Leave these affairs to me.”

  I couldn’t believe my ears. My world was abruptly falling apart.

  Minutes later, I was storming from the palace. I crossed by the gardens as a figure appeared by the hedges. She waved.

  Against my will, I stopped. Looking behind me to make sure no one was watching.

  3

  Jak looked angry when he saw me standing by the row of trimmed trees. He seized my arm and dragged me with him beneath the arches of flowering vines. We arrived at the fountain, a pond-sized structure with pillared vases that spewed waterfalls. Here we were hidden.

  He smacked me. “How dare you interrupt us earlier!”

  “I-I’m sorry.” I looked through dazed eyes as the pain shook through my neck. I had never seen him this angry before.

  “And why on earth were you waiting for me in the garden? In broad daylight!”

  “It couldn’t wait this time.”

  After returning from Aonard, I was heavy-laden with a discovery. I touched my face. “I h-had to see you.”

  “Whatever it is could have waited,” he sneered, raising his hand to hit me again.

  I shielded my face. “Please listen!”

  He was difficult to reason with. I sensed something, besides myself, had put him in a bad mood.

  He reached for my throat, squeezing. “I’m listening. And it better b
e worth my time. I have somewhere to be.”

  I recalled earlier that morning as I rode into Aonard, a city dispersed on a hill and flowing with waterfalls. The physician was located on the lake and while I waited to be seen, I watched ships sailing out towards the clouds. I had concealed my face in a scarf. But in Aonard, I was unknown by everyone. When the physician had seen me, he left word of my condition and kindly inquired if I needed help. I refused and made up a story that I was married and that we lived in a quiet cottage on the other side of the city. And that the news was good news. I thanked him with a smile and departed. On the ride home, I cried. I thought over and over how I would deliver the news to Jak. I wondered how he would take it. I wondered what would happen next.

  “Jak, I am with child. Your child.”

  The news was not welcomed. I realized that as I picked myself off the stones. Jak was yelling. I was bleeding. He kept saying, “Not mine! Not mine!” He called me a liar, walking back and forth frantically. But Jak was the father.

  “This can’t get out,” he said anxiously.

  I pulled myself against a plant pot, guarding my body for another blow. But Jak was wrapped in his thoughts.

  He turned towards me. “Henry.”

  “What?” I asked, hugging myself. I felt cold and numb. I thought of the sweet boy he was referring to – his cousin. Henry visited Haling multiple times a year. Rose said he fancied me, and I agreed. He was a strong, attractive, blonde-headed gentleman. But my heart was latched tightly to Jak. For many years. I could not even consider another man.

  But after I had gotten involved, there were times I wished I never had. It was all too late now. I had prayed for God’s forgiveness but was unsure rather or not He’d grant it. I was in love, and I couldn’t stop myself from falling deeper and deeper every day.

  “Henry did this to you,” he said.

  “N-No, Jak. He did not.”

  “But that’s what you will say. That’s what you’ll tell them. Do you understand, Mary?” He was close to me again. I shielded my body, trembling. He grabbed my shoulders and shook me. “Understand?”

  “Y-Yes,” I said through tears. Jak dropped me to the ground. I was stupid to ever think he would want to marry me. A foolish, stupid girl. I grabbed the groove in the stone wall, pulling myself away from him as he threatened to hurt me.

  He bent down, pressing his lips to my ear. “Promise me.”

  And without hesitation, I promised.

  4

  I collapsed in my study's chair, hand shaking over the contract. The blasted contract. I wanted to keep my daughter though as heartless as I had been in taking her in the first place, I should have been willing to give her back. But after all this time it didn't seem to matter. She was grown, raised, a beautiful sixteen-year-old woman who had plans to rule in Haling and marry the duke. I never prevented her from making those plans. But somehow it seemed she was stalling and knew that something different awaited her despite her wishes.

  I readily refused to tell her anything. And when the time came, I would wash my memory of her, and she would cope however she needed. The thought secretly pained me more than I wanted to let on, but it was the only way I knew I would be able to survive losing her. After what happened to Catherine.

  I peered down at the contract, shaking my head. "Catherine. Why did you have to get sick?"

  I crinkled the scroll in my hands and scanned the agreement. She always hated when I called her "Catherine" and if I was honest with myself, I had forgotten what her real name even was. Because the moment I took her to my kingdom, she was Catherine.

  I was a very foolish man, there was no denying it. Half the time I wasn't sure rather or not I was living in the present or the past. I was trying to replace everything I had lost and I lied to myself. So much that I hurt the ones around me.

  ∞∞∞

  "Catherine, I shouldn't have taken you here. This is all my fault."

  "You can fix it," she said. "Send us home."

  "No!" I found myself shouting. All the pity and remorse drained from me, and I turned over a table. Cups and spoons clashed against the stone floor. How dare she request such?

  "Then request the Holloway herb," she said.

  "No.” It was the same herb she had been requesting all week, claiming it was the only thing that could heal her. I wouldn't have wasted any time, but the herb only grew from her home and I was unwelcome there after what I had done. "I can't. Something else."

  She whispered, "Holloway," before falling asleep.

  Rose wondered in at one point, her little blue eyes afraid. She had such dark hair, skin so fair - looking identical to her beautiful mother. I loved them with my whole heart. I didn't want to lose them. She scrambled into my lap, and I held on to her as if for dear life.

  "Is mommy okay?"

  "She will be," I said, considering the herb, as much as I didn’t want to.

  She reached for her mother's hand and when Catherine didn't respond Rose began to cry and I had to take her out of the room.

  "It's okay, Rosaline. Why don't you run along and play? Your mother will be up again soon."

  I hated to lose the child.

  ∞∞∞

  "Is the herb on its way?"

  "I pray so," I said. "Essedale made a deal with me. But I countered it. Catherine...I traded Rosaline."

  "What?" Her brows bent and she stared over at me.

  "Yes. But not until her sixteenth birthday."

  Catherine looked miserable. Closing her eyes. I watched as tears began to stream down her cheeks.

  "My baby," she said, hopelessly. "This is not how it's supposed to be."

  Catherine cried every day until Beach Castle soldiers appeared with the herb.

  The king had accepted.

  With relief, I administered the herb to my wife and waited for her to get better.

  "Peter," she said. "You've always taken good care of Rose. Won't you always?"

  "Yes, darling."

  Hours later, she passed.

  5

  Every time seeing her made me despise the years I spent meeting her in secret. The garden. The cottage house. Her chamber’s balcony. I was aware of her attachments. But I never wanted to stop. I needed her for different reasons than she needed me. And I repeatedly took advantage of that.

  Only now, and many times before, I regretted it. I regretted wasting my innocence and lying to the girl I truly loved.

  But now with a child involved, I knew the end was near. I couldn’t risk it again. If Mary didn’t keep her word, I would have no choice but to end her.

  No one will keep me from Rose, I thought, thinking of the consequences that would come with my exposure.

  I used to climb up to Rose’s balcony at night. I would sneak into her room and watch her sleep. She was beautiful. But as much as I desired her, she was not ready. Twelve times, she had rejected me. But this time she would say yes.

  Nothing will prevent that. Not even Wild’s contract.

  I planned to run away with her that night. She wouldn’t refuse.

  6

  Something warm touched my face and I opened my eyes, squinting through the dim room. Someone clamped their hand over my mouth and Jak’s voice said something about “running away”. Was I dreaming?

  “There isn’t much time,” he whispered. “We must leave now.”

  Lantern light flashed. I shielded my eyes as guards filled my chambers.

  “Seize him!” A guard yelled.

  Two guards swarmed towards Jak, waving their swords. Their armor clanked against the floor as they chased him out on the balcony.

  When they returned, I had slipped on my robe. My braid was unraveling across my shoulder.

  “What is the meaning of this?” I demanded.

  “Orders of the king,” the guard said, returning to his post as he commanded the others to continue looking for Jak. He had downed the balcony and escaped.

  “What orders?”

  “Take that up with th
e king, your highness.”

  I would do just that!

  I gathered my white gown in my hands and carefully made my way through the soldiers.

  7

  My mind drifted back to Rose's infant cries. Catherine unwrapped the silk cloth from around her and raised her from the basket. She held her against her chest, protectively. Always giving me the sense that she feared I would hurt the child. Outrageous!

  Her blue eyes pierced me as she looked back. Black hair sheeted her back, touching where her tailbone would begin. She was wearing the silk robe I had given her. I loved seeing it on her as the fabric delicately clasped her hips. If only she didn’t despise me.

  “Cathrine,” I said softly. “Don’t look at me that way.”

  “My Frank will come for me. He will destroy you!”

  "Catherine..." The kingdom of Beach Castle had been a mere stack of cards to blow down. King Essedale was not coming for her.

  "My name is not Catherine!"

  Rose started to cry louder, bringing back the memories of Kala. I gritted my teeth together. Angry. Why had my daughter and wife been taken from me? What had I done to deserve that?

  I glared at the new Catherine. "Your name is Catherine, and I don't want to hear another word about it! Put that child down and come to me at once. I'll have to teach you to submit."

  I opened my eyes as the memory faded. Times had been hard then. After Rose turned seven, I raised her by myself. I missed both my wives and my daughters. Rose was all I had left of everything.

  But soon, she too would be gone.

  8

  “Why have you ordered the guards to obtain Jak? I don’t understand, father.”

  “Please, Rose. Do not question me now. We shall discuss these things at a more appropriate time. Perhaps over breakfast.”

  “No. We will discuss them now!”

  My father’s brow arched. He was not used to me behaving this way. I leaned forward on his desk. His study was disheveled with books, drenched in the smell of candle wax and old parchments.