Chereads / Scarlet Garden / Chapter 2 - Chapter 2

Chapter 2 - Chapter 2

'What about the lad? What's his good name, Elinor! Isn't it?' asked her mother. Rosalie told her, 'No, Mama! It is Eliot Goldsmith for a thousandth time! How could you forget such an easy name! I ponder you were not permitted to have lads as friends back them that makes it hard to remember their names!'. Her mother told her 'Yes, very well! That is true! We were not allowed, and strictly forbidden in the sanctuary were I was raised! Alright, young lady we are almost there!'. 'The Instruction Hall! We need to reach or I will be late and It is a ten-minute ride to the town's theatre!' Rosalie said. 'Why there! Who selected that?' her mother asked with curiosity.

Rosalie uttered, 'Do not know, It is the place we must go to for our learning! The mayor supposed that it would boost our interest in our education! He joined us at the beginning of our term!'. 'I am glad to hear that! Otherwise he is a really tiring person to be ever present in a town's meeting!' Anne-Marie said her. 'Dear mama, may we enjoy this silence so I possibly will just cover a page or too of this novel!' requested Rosalie. 'Very well If you do not desire to converse then that would be the case!' her mother remarked. 'Dear Mama, You are my best love and I do not desire to offend you. I would not get any break to read it once I will be in the class! I beg your forgiveness if I hurt you or mortified you!' Rosalie replied.

Rosalie started reading her novel that was Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights! She was trying to avoid the memory of her father that made her despise him intensely! She was embarrassed, disappointed about that fact that her father did not wish for her and yearned for a boy as a son that never happened!

Anne-Marie went to her boutique in the town and started checking on her employees. She was a women kind of heart and conduct too. She did not burden her workers ever. She gathered them and addressed, 'join me all for a moment here! Yes, all of you come here and sit in the customers seat! I have something to tell you about!' At that time of the morning when she was there only her workers were there in the market. They always started early with the day that was the motto and the discipline that she ingrained in her. She was privileged and made good use of it. She had workers of all sorts male and female. She was inclusive and never discriminated anyone whether they matched her social status or not. She loved them all like her own even though she was not that old she was 36. That might be old to some people, but she looked healthy and blooming as a teen. She was beautiful and her manner and conduct made her loved. Nobody in the town of Keswick was like her she was different. Her workers cherished her, and they never took any of her kindness for granted. They regarded that boutique as a safe haven for all the rich, the poor, the high class! She was a charitable woman too and she made special dresses for her free of cost or if they insisted, she took whatever they could give her willingly. She was such a tender-hearted soul that she would trade a dress to a child for even a candy or a sweet word from them. The boutique was very modern and aristocratic place. 'Okay alright, everyone please leave whatever work you are attending and come join me for a moment! I have a crucial matter to talk about right now! I presume I will be on one of my errands a few days from now!' said Anne-Marie. 'You mean charity possibly, madam! Am I right about that!' said Laurie. 'Yes, dear that is it! So, I wish you to make some pretty dresses for girls of age twelve, prepare them and if there are already some expensive delicacies that our customers couldn't have the liberty to afford. Add them to the collection I will take them at the charity too. Alright I will not keep you engaged here; you all can continue with your work!'

She went out of the boutique and went inside a pub. She settles down near the glass wall where she could gaze far off at the towns now busy streets. People nodded as they looked at her and greeted her with the slight moment of their hats tilted! Everybody knew who she was. 'Madam, what would you like to have!' said the butler. 'I think I will have tea!' said Anne-Marie. She was quite full of the breakfast she had with Rosalie. She wished to feel energetic to continue her day and she was early as always. 'A tea for madam! Anything else?' said the butler. 'No, thank you! But I am full today! Is Mr. George here?' said Anne-Marie. No, Madam but he will join us in a bit!' said the butler. 'Alright, then I will wait for him here and do bring another cup for me and one for him as soon as he arrives!' she said. 'Alright, madam! Very well!' said the butler.

Rosalie was walking down the hall. She felt as if somebody was stalking her! She looked back there were people but none of them appeared to be paying attention to her. She stopped for a second or two to look for her friends they were not there. She began to move her way again and as she was so focused in her book and approached the door, she barged into Johnathan. He recovered from the struck he received out of nowhere and said in any angry tone 'Are you sight impaired?'. He looked at her and as soon as he identified her, he apologized 'I am sorry for being rude! I did not see you approaching, Rosalie!'. A tall and handsome fellow she gazed at she has not seen her since her younger years at a near-by school where they all became acquainted. 'No, need to apologize! It is my fault I was so buried in the book that I did not pay attention to anyone around me! I can be that absurd at time!' said Rosalie. 'No, it is perfectly alright! No harm done!' said Johnathan. 'Are you here for the play?' he said. 'Play! You mean we have a play today?' she said. 'Yes!' said Catherine, who walked towards them while she glanced at them, talking. 'Let me guess, you again gave him a good bruise again, didn't you, Rosalie?' she said. Rosalie blushed and said, 'what do you mean? I am sorry, I didn't get that!' Catherine continued 'Now, you know dearie you have sharp elbows so now take him to doctor because the last time you barged into him. He had a bruise on his arm!' Rosalie felt embarrassed but she understood well though Catherine sounded a bit too mean to her. But she was aware she was always like that. She mocked her a little always since their early teen years, but she was quite fond of her straight-forward and direct comment. She never withheld anything. Rosalie apologized to Johnathan and her friends also joined her now, Eliot and Nora. They were her childhood friends and fast friends. Hello, Catherine! What seems to be the matter you are blocking our way inside!' said Nora. Catherine never responded to anyone when she felt slight bit of dislike from them. She just sensed it somehow. 'No, actually I think it was my fault I accidently or unmindfully struck Johnathan!' said Rosalie. 'Oh no! Dearie you are not at fault actually we are blocking the way! It is not just me but all of us! I was waiting for Oliver!'

'Oliver!' said Rosalie. 'Do not apprise us that he is the one you are seeing these days?' 'Oh well, Cathie dear! . . .. I wish you all the best fortune for your remarkable choice of a . . ..!' Rosalie elbowed Eliot and cued Nora to come as well. 'Catherine, we will join you soon and will attempt the evening's session together! So, now we may take your leave!' said Rosalie. Johnathan nodded and Catherine touched her floral hat and bid them good-bye. 'Nora, dearie do not be like that you know Catherine is such a sweetheart! You know Eliot, you must be watchful of you words! They express more than one must say!' said Rosalie. 'Sweetheart! Come on! She is a lot unkind than we think she is! Don't you see that on her face?' said Eliot. 'And now she has found her match that will do her well!' said Nora. 'That is worrying me, a lot! Too but what can we do . . ..! I think she may certainly be offended if we said something inauspicious about him' said Rosalie.