Dance #2.5 : Lady Belle Rose (@Kristi) ~ongoing~
Orpheus waited with bated breath, the reality of the truth was something he was not even sure he wanted to hear.
It was true that their encounters started because Josephine asked him to speak with her once a week, to check in with her, as Josephine would say. Josephine was often concerned about Belle’s isolation and lack of interest in men, and had hoped that Orpheus would be the one to pull her from it. However, on his first day in the garden, Orpheus had quickly come to the realization that Belle was simply not normal. Not that being abnormal was necessarily a bad thing, but Orpheus was not exactly prepared for the efforts that would have to be put forth. Each day, without fail, he sat with her in the garden. If she were not in the garden, he sat with her in the parlor, or the library, or the back garden deck. To fulfill the desires of his friend, he found Belle once a week. To fulfill his own desires, he found Belle each day. Whether Belle appreciated the visitations or not. At first, Orpheus felt dissatisfied with their visits because Belle would not speak. Over time, however, Orpheus began to notice small details about Belle and her movements that intrigued him more and more. His visitations became an importance of his own rather than for Josephine. He would notice the way Belle would curl her lip when a flower withered before it’s time, the furrow of her brow when she was reading a new book, and the subtle glances she attempted to steal toward him during their visits. Yet, as soon as Orpheus thought they were improving their relationship, Belle would pull away again. The visits became a challenge. One where Orpheus simply had to win Belle’s affections in one way or another.
Tonight, it seemed, the future of his small victory rested in this current conversation.
Orpheus listened to Belle respond in detail, outlining the frustrations she felt toward him, that much he knew. The reasonings came more of a shock than he had expected; his closeness to Josephine, his positive mood and outlook, and his continued visitations.
However, it was her final statement that shot a feeling of unease through his chest.
She did not trust him.
Orpheus could have anticipated the previous responses for his presence and relation to Josephine always seemed to frustrate her more. But the fact that she did not trust him hurt more than if she had said she hated him.
Orpheus had sat by her side each day, spoken of his life, his loves, his hobbies. He had read to her his poems and laid his heart bare in the hopes that one day he might earn enough trust to coax her into speaking with him too. Into sharing her heart the way he had done everyday. Yet, she stood here before him, telling him each day had been wasted on her for her trust in him hung on a thread of disbelief in everything he had put forth so far.
Orpheus took a deep breath, not exactly knowing how to respond. He was hurt. That much was obvious. Yet, he had been the one to inquire about the topic in the first place. However pained he felt, he was also relieved to know the answer. She did not hate him, although arguably worse, she did not believe him.
Orpheus danced in silence a moment, his eyes wandering the ballroom, the hazy blur of the ton swirled around him through champagne filled eyes.
He attempted to pool his thoughts and reply.
[color= #BC0057] “Although my visits have been frequent, of course, like yourself, there are topics I have not discussed with you. As I am sure you hold your own, some secrets are best unfurled in a more private setting. Something of which you have never graced me with, nor have you bothered to reply to any conversation, let alone one about the pieces of myself I guard most closely. If you had bothered to look up from the weeds you pulled from the dirt, or given any insight into the fact that you even listened to what I spoke of, perhaps you would garner more in depth conversation. However, you seemed much more interested in your own affairs or those of fictional characters in your books. Something I have never faulted you for. I continued to visit. I continued to speak. And you stand before me telling me that I am the one you do not trust. I can assure you, little flower, there are far more insidious gentleman roaming this very ballroom.” [/color] Orpheus spoke through a nearly clenched jaw, his own frustrations with her reply spilling into his speech. His eyes, for a moment, fixated on a man across the room. The grasp of a wrist, a girl he knew…a pang of fear and anger rose in him again. Orpheus could feel his control slipping, his teeth grinding, shooting a pointed pain through his jaw. He forced his eyes from the scene, his desperation to maintain his composure overflowing into his strained breath.
Orpheus took another, deeper breath, attempting to calm his own rising aggravation and tone before speaking again.
[color= #BC0057] “I am not sure what more I can provide to gain your trust, Rose. I have given you my days, my heart, my mind. Perhaps you are interested in the far more displeasing side of me? Will hearing of my worst qualities and behaviors soothe your mind? Or will speaking on them make your distain for me grow?” [/color] Orpheus looked at her, his eyes slightly narrowed, his brow turned inward as he debated what to tell her. It was a question spoken aloud, but Orpheus wondered more for himself what the outcomes of sharing too much with her would be. Did he even trust Belle with such information? A woman who had not even divulged any information about herself to him? Orpheus’ naive sensibilities lent him to believe he could trust her. Perhaps he would regret such a conclusion.
[color= #BC0057] “If you would like to hear of the worst of me, my lady, I shall undo my darkest heart before you if that is what shall finally gain me your trust.” [/color] Orpheus admitted honestly. It is true. If all it took to earn Belle’s trust, and an opening for future discussion, were his secrets, he would lay out his life in her palms.
For, again, Orpheus hated nothing more than rejection and a loss, and he swore Belle would not be the lady he would lose to.
mentioned :
Belle (@Kristi)
Ilyas (@Madilfill)
Aurelia (@benitz786)