Rose Thorns II

Beatrice quickly pulled away from Gilbert, straightening her dress and composing herself. Gilbert followed suit, trying to hide the disappointment on his face.

"Yes, Arthur, I'm here," Beatrice replied, her voice sounding a little strained and she rolled her eyes annoyed with her brother's presence.

Arthur approached Beatrice, his eyes scanning the scene before him. "Ah, Priest, I see you're here as well," he said, a hint of suspicion in his voice.

Gilbert stood up, offering a polite bow. "Yes, I came to check on Lady Beatrice's amulet and her condition," he replied smoothly.

Arthur's words were sharp and curt, and his body language matched. "You don't need to come here every so often, just for that amulet. It's a waste of your time." He stood with his arms crossed over his chest, glaring at Gilbert with a look of disdain.

Gilbert bristled at Arthur's rude tone but managed to keep his composure. "I understand," he said. "I'll make sure to only come when necessary."

Beatrice shifted uncomfortably in her seat, clearly flustered by Arthur's rude behavior. "I apologize for my brother's behavior," Beatrice said, looking embarrassed. "He can be rather abrasive at times."

Gilbert waved it off, though he couldn't help but feel a twinge of irritation towards Arthur. "It's fine, my lady. I'm used to dealing with difficult people."

Arthur's eyes narrowed as he glared at Gilbert. "Oh, please continue talking about me as if I'm not even here," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. 

He then dramatically placed a hand over his chest and leaned back in his chair. "But I guess I shouldn't expect better from someone in your… class," he added, his lips curling into a sneer.

"And I don't need you to apologize for me, Beatrice," Arthur retorted, his expression hardening. "I simply don't see the need for the Priest to be here all the time, checking on that amulet."

"That 'amulet' is the reason I'm still here, Arthur." Beatrice shot back, her eyes flashing with anger.

Arthur rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. "Please, Beatrice, it's just a nightmare. Stop overreacting, you'll be fine," he said, his tone dismissive and lacking in sympathy. 

He looked away from her as if he couldn't be bothered to continue the conversation. Beatrice's face flushed with anger. She opened her mouth to retort but then caught herself. Gilbert was still sitting there, after all, and she didn't want to cause a scene.

Gilbert could sense the tension between the siblings and cleared his throat. "Perhaps I should be going now," he said, standing up from his chair. "I can check on you and the amulet another time."

Beatrice nodded, grateful for the excuse to end the awkward encounter. "Thank you for coming, Gilbert," she said, her voice still tight with anger.

As Gilbert made his way out of the greenhouse, Beatrice turned to Arthur. "I can't believe you sometimes," she said, her eyes flashing. 

"It's not just a dream, Arthur! It's a recurring nightmare that leaves me shaken for days! I wish you would show some concern for my well-being instead of dismissing my feelings."

"Don't you dare speak to me like that, Beatrice," he said through gritted teeth. "I am your brother and I am only trying to protect you and our family's reputation. You should be more careful with your behavior, especially around that priest!"

Beatrice stood up, her own anger bubbling to the surface. "I'm tired of your constant judgment and dismissal of my feelings, Arthur! You act like you know what's best for me, but you don't even bother to listen to me! I can make my own decisions, and I will not be treated like a child!"

"Decision?!" Arthur slammed his hand on the table, making the plates and utensils clatter loudly. "How can you be so blind, Beatrice? You're practically throwing yourself at that priest! Calling him by his first name, inviting him to the manor, and God knows what else you're doing with him!"

Beatrice clenched her fists, feeling the anger boiling inside her. "You have no idea what I'm going through! You have no idea how the Devil has been tormenting me, how he's been haunting me day and night! Gilbert is the only one who can help me!"

Arthur scoffed, his face twisted with disgust. "Help you? He's a priest, Beatrice! His only job is to preach and pray, not to indulge in sinful activities with young women like you! I'm your brother! I care about you, I don't want to see you ruin your reputation and your life because of some foolish infatuation!"

Beatrice felt frustrated as she reflected on her brother's outburst. She understood that Arthur was overly sensitive about her relationships with other men, even with Edward, an actual prince, and her fiance who Arthur still despised. 

It was clear that her status as Edward's fiancee and her relationship with Gilbert's made the situation even more difficult for Arthur to accept. Despite her feelings for Gilbert, Beatrice knew that their relationship would only bring unwanted attention and gossip.

She let out a deep sigh, feeling torn between her own desires and her responsibility to uphold the family's reputation. It seemed like no matter what she did, she could never please everyone.

"I don't want to continue this conversation anymore. I'm tired of it," Beatrice said, leaning back in her seat with a deep sigh.

Arthur's expression softened slightly, but he still looked angry. "Well, I wish you had come to me instead. I could have helped you," he said, his voice still cold.

Beatrice sighed. She knew she couldn't argue with him anymore. "I know, Arthur. But he is clearly more professional than you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Arthur rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair. "Whatever you say, Beatrice," he replied dismissively.

Beatrice glared at him, her fists clenched at her sides. She was about to retort when Arthur stood up abruptly. "Oh, I forgot to tell you, Edward is already here," he said with a smug smile before turning and walking out of the room.

"Arthur, you jerk! Why won't you tell me sooner!" Beatrice shouted after him, but he was already gone.

…

As Beatrice and Sophie approached the drawing room, they could hear the sound of laughter and chatter from within. The grand door was opened for them, revealing a room that was nothing short of magnificent. 

The walls were painted in ivory, and the sunlight that streamed in through the large windows made the room shimmer with a gentle glow. Everything was white and pristine, from the plush couches to the intricately carved side tables. 

The gentle rustling of the curtains and the soft chirping of the birds outside added to the tranquil atmosphere of the parlor room. The lilies, in full bloom, stood tall in their vases, exuding a sweet fragrance that filled the air. It was a sight to behold.

However, upon seeing them inside, Beatrice's attention was immediately drawn to her mother and Edward, her fiancé, having a tea party and laughing together. 

She didn't mind the two of them being close, as they would be family someday. But as she watched them, a nagging feeling of suspicion crept up on her.

'But are they really just enjoying each other's company? It seems like every time I see Edward, he is always with his mother. What are they really talking about?' she thought, scrutinizing their every move with a suspicious eye

As Beatrice and Sophie entered the parlor room, Edward stood up from his seat and walked towards them. "Beatrice, I have been waiting for you for a couple of hours now," he said with a warm smile.

"I am so sorry, Edward. I had some urgent matters to attend to," she replied, her voice apologetic.

"No need to apologize, my dear. I understand," he said, taking her hand and leading her to the circle table where the tea party was held.

As Beatrice approached the table, she couldn't help but notice a strange smell in the air. It was a metallic and sticky odor, almost like the smell of sweat, but with something more unsettling mixed in.

The Duchess gave Beatrice a disdainful look, her lips pursed in disapproval. "You should know better than to make guests wait, Beatrice," she scolded her daughter.

Beatrice hung her head in shame, feeling the weight of her mother's disappointment. "I'm sorry, Mother. I won't do it again," she apologized, looking troubled by her mistake. "And I'm sorry Edward for making you wait." 

Edward, ever the gentleman, stepped in to ease the tension. "It's quite alright, Duchess. I understand Beatrice needed to do something important, and thank you for accompanying me," he said, trying to defuse the situation.

Duchess Alicia's expression softened as she turned to Edward, a playful glint in her eyes. "Well, then. You two should have some fun," she said, gesturing towards the door. "I will excuse myself now," she added, gracefully exiting the room.

As Duchess Alicia excused herself, Beatrice couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She looked at Edward and noticed his smile seemed forced, and his eyes had a strange glint to them. 

Her suspicion grew as she tried to identify the source of the strange smell in the air. 'What is going on here?' she wondered, feeling increasingly uneasy.

But her thought was disturbed by Edward's voice, "Beatrice, I wanted to give you this," Edward gave her a blue box.