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“Good morning, Mother,” she said, ignoring her mother’s comments. She wasn’t intent on starting this day in an argument with her mother.
She greeted her father as well, but ignored Adam. This was the first time she had seen her brother since their run-in in the garden on the night she had walked with the Marquess. One glance at him and she realized she hadn’t missed her brother at all. He was still as insufferable as he had always been.
Her father, on the other hand, seemed to be in a sullen mood. He’d only grunted in response when she had greeted him. She looked at him and wondered what could be the matter.
Maybe Mother has irked him so much so that he can’t wait to leave the table.
When she was seated, the servants gathered around the table, and began serving them breakfast.
She watched as a servant filled her plate and placed it in front of her. Before she picked up her cutlery, she glanced at her father again.
“Father? Are you all right?” she asked when she could take it no longer.
“I am fine,” he growled.
She glanced at her mother, in a bid to find out what could possibly be wrong with her father. Her mother didn’t seem like she was worried about Lord Somerholm’s mood. In fact, she looked like she was oblivious to it.
“So, Rose, how did it go with Lord Rockgonie yesterday?” her mother asked.
Why am I not surprised? Of course, I already knew that was the reason for this breakfast.
“It went well, Mother,” Rose said simply, in a bid to dismiss the conversation.
“It went well? Just that? Nothing else?” her mother queried.
Rose most certainly knew what her mother wanted to hear. A tale of how even though she had resisted their choice in the beginning, she had finally seen the wisdom in their judgement after meeting Lord Rockgonie.
Lady Somerholm’s ego would most certainly be stoked if she heard Rose say that Lord Rockgonie seemed to be the best man she had met till date.
If Mother is really expecting to hear all that, then she must have forgotten who I am.
“Yes, Mother. Just that. Nothing else,” she responded and focused on her breakfast.
She heard her brother begin to laugh.
“Oh, Mother. You actually had high hopes for her?” Adam said laughing, which Rose found repugnant.
“Well, at least she still has hopes for one of her children,” Rose said, glaring back at him.
Adam almost choked on his food as a result of her response. He sat straight and glared back at her. It had been the first time she had snapped back at him in the presence of their parents.
The look her brother saw in her eyes had him backing down, though. She was definitely capable of going all the way if he kept goading her, even as far as mentioning his adventures in desecrating his mother’s beautiful garden.
He huffed and looked away from her gaze.
I thought you would not dare.
“That is enough, both of you,” her father’s voice bellowed across the table.
“He started it, Father,” Rose protested.
“I don’t care about who started it. All I care about is that it ends now,” her father thundered, startling her mother even.
“Are you all right, dear husband?” her mother asked, after a brief moment had passed.
Finally, it seemed Lady Somerholm noticed her husband’s mood.
“I am fine.” He grunted his reply.
