Victoria was sitting on her red cushion, under the deep red covering of the Pemberton Pavilion. She would smile politely, and bow her head at all of the courtiers who came to meet her aunt and uncle, but she was not in the least amused. Each time she was introduced to some gentleman, she could not help but feel as if she were a puppet on a string. She was a bit annoyed, and bored. She had been watching the tournament only half way, keeping an eye out for a particular event. There was a hidden smile, that only she knew the reason why, that she waited for that event. She fanned herself lightly, thinking on all of the different Duchy leaders she had met, thus far today. She still had the Duke Westley Castyll and the Duchess Elspeth to meet, but the day was still long. She would have time. Right now, she had to wait for people to meet, that were here to meet her aunt Esabell.

Rose wanted to get out. The Ashton pavilion was stuffy, full of nobles. She was honestly tired of acting cordial to everyone that Lucy introduced her to. She wanted to get out there and breathe away from judging eyes. Being in the pavilion made her nervous. She was afraid she would make a wrong move or say the wrong thing. She did not want Lucy to have any reason to be upset with her. Of course, that could not be helped, when Rose requested she take a walk, but she did reluctantly agree, if only servants went with her. Though she did not like that idea, she did not feel like arguing.

Once she stepped out under the sun, the scene of tents, pavilions, and crowds of people, unfolded before her as she was filled with a sense of relief. Something about just getting away made a smile come across her face. As she looked at the scene before her, the corner of her eye caught a group of pavilions very similar to the one she had just walked out of. Rose could not help but wonder if they were the pavilions of the other duchies. How exciting it would be to meet new people! Acting as if her servants were not tagging along behind her, Rose made her way to the nearest pavilion filled with upper nobleman, all seated at the table. Rose noticed one particular girl seated near the head. Rose was sure she was a relative of the Duke or Duchess, but that was not why she stood out. No, it was some sense of sadness in her eyes, that Rose knew much about, going through it herself. So, Rose walked up to the girl, hoping not to drawn any attention to herself.

Before she could ever say a word, questions filled her mind. Who was she? Where did she come from? Why did she look so sad? Could it have to do with controlling relatives? Rose knew much about that, though, she did not know much on how to handle it. It was like she was being controlled every second of her life, like a puppet. She didn’t want to marry Duke Westley, but of course, she was, and she could not rightly oppose the match without havoc arising. Yes, her sister had a pretty good hold on her.

Standing only a few feet beside the girl, Rose gave a pleasant smile and bowed. “How do you do, M’lady.” Rose said, not getting over the awkwardness of the situation. Rose suddenly wanted to run and hid. She wanted to change her mind about pursuing a conversation, but words were already spoken, her actions could not be undone.

Victoria looked up, and replied in kind, "I am well, thank you. How fare you?" She had done it so many times already this day, that the phrase was getting old. She was tired of having her strings pulled for her, she wished she could untie them. She was ready to go back to her little world of boredom, when she froze, her gaze meeting this other girl's. There was something in the light brown of her eyes that mirrored what Victoria felt were in her ones of green. This surprised Vicki more than any thing had for some time. She felt as if someone was reading the thoughts in her mind, even the ones she was trying to hide. Hiding her emotions, was usually something that Victoria was very good at, but this time felt completely different. It seemed as if some thing was pushing them to meet. Victoria wondered if the reason for the sadness in this girl's eyes was for the same, or at least similar reasons as her own. Was some family member pushing a way of life, a future on her that she could much more care less about? If so, they had a lot to share with one another.

She felt like a little kid, suddenly, at one of her first big fancy dinners. Where her father knew every one, and every one would say how lovely she looked in her red dress. When she would finally meet another child, she would be able to actually talk on her own. Yes, this felt quite the same. She sat up straighter, "I am Victoria Carstairs, Duchess Esabell's niece. It is a pleasure to meet you." Victoria's legendary smile etched its way across her face. There was something in this girl, that was much like herself, that Victoria wanted to get to see. She knew that she was not the only girl who was used just for family gain, and that she was not the only one who hated it. But, it might make her feel a little better actually finding someone who was going through it at that very moment, to share with, to confide in. This could end up a good friendship, or it could turn into just something that would pass over quickly, but right now Victoria was bored, and curious enough to find out more.

Rose had been correct in believing that this woman was somehow closely connected to the Duke or Duchess. Taking a look around, she noticed two people she recognized: the Duke and Duchess of Pemberton. As she let her eyes rest upon them, she thought of the Pemberton Ball. It was all clear to her now, the dresses, music, and glittering dresses. All of it was wonderful. So, this woman was from Pemberton, no doubt, Rose thought turning her head toward Lady Victoria. If she was not so careful with her words, her first question might have concerned Victoria’s aunt and uncle. How were they since their marriage? Was everything happy? Oh, Rose did hope they were. At least someone could be happy in marriage. At least her idea of love would not be thwarted. She wanted to believe it was still possible. Could she find love with Duke Westley though? It was hard to imagine such a thing with her standards of love so different than what she was expected to believe. Oh, she so badly wished that she could have what she believed to have seen between Duke Edmund and Duchess Esabell. Maybe all the finery was clouding her mind, but nevertheless, she had always hoped for her marriage to be the best day of her life, and now Rose felt stripped of that dream. Even if she did fall in love with Duke Castyll, she was sure that it would not be anytime soon, and that moment would be gone forever.


As her mind rested on her future husband, she could still hear his voice, iterating those first words to her. They were heavy, deep, and seemed to just hover over her. Chills went down Rose’s spine as se thought of it. The tone of his voice rang throughout her mind, and Rose could not get it out. Strangely, though she was irrated by that fact, she found the voice oddly soothing. She hated the voice and enjoyed it at the same time. A combination of emotions that left Rose confused. She wished above anything else, to turn back time, to change something, anything, to where she would not be in the position she was in…but what could she do? No books contained such lessons on how to deal with this situation, at least none that she read. If only Rose had enough guts to go and speak straight to her sister about the engagement, maybe she could get out of it. Maybe if she did not worry about what others might think, she would have the courage to do so…but alas, her loyalties ran deep, and she knew full well the price she would have to pay if she broke off the engagement. It was the same cycle over and over again that Rose felt she could not get out of. It was like a trap. She would feel sorry for herself, find hope in somehow chaining the situation and then cowering back in fear and letting things further progress. And she certainly did not have much time left. The Midsummer’s Festival would be soon, and Rose knew full well that would seal her fate.


How long Rose stood there contemplating about Duke Westley, she could not tell. She only felt a sense of guilt came over her for having not responded sooner. How rude she must think I am for delaying a reply, Rose thought, quickly flashing a smile to Victoria.


“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Rose answered, “I had no idea you were related to Duchess Esabell. I’m afraid I never was introduced to you at the Pemberton Ball…I was with my sister Duchess Lucy not too long ago.” Rose hesitated to ask, but eventually she could not help but inquire, “And may I ask how you Aunt and new Uncle are doing?”

The girl seemed to have gotten lost in thought, which did not bother Victoria. She often did so herself. She liked to let the world slip away at the most odd times, so she could not complain too much when some one did it to her. She mentioned the Pemberton Ball, and a smile came to Vicki’s face. It had been a grand evening and every thing seemed to have gone well. Then she mentioned that she was sister to Duchess Lucy. Victoria’s eyes grew wide. She knew just who she was then. ”You must be the Lady Rose Rochester then? It is a shame that we were unable to meet then.” Victoria gave Rose a smile, and was confused at the hesitation.


She looked to where her aunt and uncle were seated, at the mention of them. ”They are well. Their marriage was one well thought out for the benefit of Pemberton.” She then thought about the look that Edmund gave Esabell every once in a while. A smile came to her face, knowing that they might actually gain more than just a business relationship. Looking back at Rose, she mentioned just that. ”Though they married mainly for business purposes, I think that with time, there will be more than that. I can see it in their eyes.” She sighed deeply thinking about the fact she might soon be forced into marriage. ”They are a special situation though. It does not happen for us all. The only thing we can do is hope.”


”Do you ever feel like that, Lady Rochester?” She then looked at her aunt, and the other courtiers that were sitting near by. She knew that any thing she said could, and would, be heard. If Rose responded the way she had a feeling she would, they would have to take a walk, and move away from the high and mighties, so they would be able to talk on it more. Victoria had a feeling that there would be plenty to talk about. Her eyes still held their thoughtful, depressed look, though her face held a smile while she waited to see how Rose felt about this all.

There was no surprise in seeing Lady Victoria’s widening eyes. She had always gotten similar responses whenever she mentioned her name to people for the first time. Rose could not help but smile upon thinking of one particular response, Duke Alden brighten. Their first meeting should have been a masquerade, for both kept their identities so well. It was not until later, when she revealed she was Lucy’s sister. He seemed at a loss, so surprised, which made Rose very suspicious, for he never got over that initial shock like so many others did. She could not help but find herself amused upon remembered.


Rose felt her spirits lift hearing that Lady Victoria’s uncle and auth were doing well. Rose wanted that for them, but she could also feel a small pang of jealously, until she continued to speak of how their marriage too was for business. So, they had not married for love? This was revelation to Rose. She had more in common with Duchess Esabell than she could have ever supposed before. What lifted Rose up was hearing that Victoria could see something in between them. She supposed that love would form between the two. No wonder she had assumed they had married for love. She could see the same thing that Victoria did, but that was the least of her concerns. A question pressed upon her mind even harder than any other thought. Could the same thing happen between her and Duke Westley. Could it be possible? Would his age hinder her love growing? It was hard to tell, but she longed to at least have some of what Esabell and Edmund had. Maybe she could possibly have her dream of a happy life lived in love. But Victoria said that their situation was special. Could she be that “special” person though. It did not seem like she was fortunate lately, but she could only hope that she could


Oh, how much Rose longed to laugh at Lady Victoria’s comment. How well she could relate to that statement. It seemed like her whole life seemed to revolve around that very word: Hope. She hoped to have the engagement called off, or if not, she hoped that Duke Westley was kind, or hope that she might fall in love with him. She was constantly hoping, because things were not as she had planned. She was supposed to meet a guy, fall in love with him, and marry him. She was not supposed to be used as a tool for an alliance through her union to a man she had never met. It was all ridiculous, and had it not been for hope, Rose knew she would not be here. Where exactly she would be, Rose could not tell, but she would not be standing here, smiling at Lady Victoria in the midst of the tournament.


“Yes,” Rose finally answered, “I do relate to that completely. I feel like since my parents death, it’s all I’ve been doing lately.” She gave a sigh, and not wanting to go into detail she did her best to change the subject. “Such a lovely day is it not? Whether could have not been any more perfect for this event, do you not agree.”

Victoria completely understood the idea of losing yourself in your thoughts. While Rose stood there thinking, Victoria herself was fighting off a drifting mind. Thoughts of wanting her own happiness, with the man of her choice, like her parents, fought with the idea of being forced to marry some one twice her age, by her uncle. She wanted her family to be happy, her aunt was always so kind, and her uncle was great to her, but there were times when Victoria wishes she could have just stayed in her little village, and be the girl she once was. That would never happen, again, so she would have to learn to live with the life she had. No matter what life threw at her, there was nothing more she could do to change it, than she could bring her parents back to life. She was a pawn.

Aw, yes, the only way for her sister to have gotten power, was for her parents to die. Victoria thought to herself as Rose's voice brought her out of her thoughts. She had not even considered that as another similarity between the two. Both with out their parents. Victoria had only grown up knowing her father, but still, she wished both her parents were still there. No, actually, she was at terms with her mother's death. As the oldest, Lady Victoria Sherborne would have been Duchess after her brother died, had she still been alive. Victoria would be even more a pawn, if her parents chose to use her as one. So, for that part of it, Victoria was alright with not knowing her mother. Any other way you thought about it, Victoria missed her parents greatly.

The change of topic was sudden, and Victoria caught on that Rose did not want to talk about her parents. Victoria understood, and would not force the issue. But she did want to know more about if Rose was as much a puppet as she. "The weather is indeed splendid." Taking a look to all the courtiers nearby, again, Victoria wanted to get away from their ears. "Lady Rochester, would you like to take a closer look at the event?" She motioned with her hand to an empty area near the front of the pavilion, where they could talk with out unwanted ears hearing them. She smiled, hoping that she had found a fast friend in Rose.