Rose sat in the drawing room, utterly bored, surrounded by old women, tea and silence.

"...I'm thinking of going out to town this evening," Mary said, breaking the long silence. "Would anyone like to come w--"

"I would!" Rose cut her off, but apologized for her abruptness. Mary laughed, as if she was an innocent young soul compared to her. Rose nodded politely as the door opened and let in all the children for their 2 hour play time with the parentals.

"Here you are, m'lady," Anna propped Victoria upon my lap. I smiled and looked down at Vicky, playing with her arms and bouncing my knee on her bottom.

The next people to come in were the fathers and husbands. Atticus went to his knees, which cinched the end of his trousers, and kissed Victoria. He stood back up and sat next to his wife, and grabbed her bottom slightly. Luckily, no one saw, but Rose gave him a hard time.

"Atticus, would you like to come to the Lotus with Rose and I?" Mary squeezed between the lovebirds over the couch.

"I'd be delighted to," Atticus said, staring at Rose and perking his eyebrow. Rose started to go, well, rosy, and tipped her head down.

*** 

Mary's always been beautiful, but nothing ever compared to Rose. Rose had a charm to her, she could light up any room she walked into. That's how the Lotus was that night.

"Where is my prince?" Mary said dramatically, twisting and turning, flailing her deep navy shawl around. Henry grasped her by the arm and took her to the dance floor.

"I know where mine is," Rose stepped off the stairs and grasped Atticus's stiff arm, her emerald beads swinging against her legs. 

Finishing this later

XX Katy