Wrong Interest

"You are blood. You are sisters. No man can break that bond." ― Kim Boykin, A Peach of a Pair

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Rose was startled to hear the name of the man who she and her sister had just talked about to appear in front of them. Being polite as their gazes met, Rose offered the man a smile which was failed to be returned and she noticed how Mr. Harding appeared to be stunned after looking at anything. It caused Rose to look at behind her as there was where she felt Mr. Harding's gazes were directed at.

"Good afternoon," greeted Josie who tried to put a better smile on her lips so she wouldn't appeared too rushed and excited. "It's nice to see you here."

Jayden seemed to be taken by something behind him and Josie turned her eyes after noticing how the man had settled his gaze for too long, ignoring her words. She looked behind finding only Rose and her head turned again to the man, "Mr. Harding?"

"Ah, yes," Jayden answered, it took him a while to pull himself together from staring at Rose which the Josie hadn't noticed yet. "I apologize I didn't quite catch what you heard, Miss Maury."

"Oh no, I don't mind it," Josie replied for a pink blush to appear on her pale skin and Rose went to her sister's side slowly. She saw how her sister's eyes brightened at the man's greeting for her to smile widely.

"And this is...?" Jayden's eyes went to Rose asking for her name as he hadn't known the younger girl of Maury Family until today, and a part of him thought of how it was a shame for him to not know the existence of the beautiful lady until this day, feeling that he had missed the chance.

For the past few days, Rose had seen how Josie had always waited for her time to meet Mr. Harding. While it was Rose's first time to meet Mr. Harding, the man was similar to the good rumors people posed him to be.

The man was one of the few handsome men in their village. Not to forget, a kind and polite one with a respectable job as a shoemaker. Many women found Mr. Harding as charming as Josie did and indeed he was, standing beside Josie, Rose can't help but to think of how well suited they are together. She heard that it was one incident in the market that had caused Josie to fell head over heels for the man and seeing them together, Rose thought that he might be the perfect man for her sister.

Being the polite girl she was, Rose curtsied with a polite smile, "I am Rose Maury, Josephine's younger sister. I am glad to finally see you. As my sister had said you are a fine man, Mr. Harding," very worth to be her sister's husband, was the unspoken words Rose kept to herself. She didn't want to openly expose her sister's feeling without consulting with her.

Mr. Harding showed a wide smile while staring at her and Rose wondered why the man continued to stare at her but brushed it off as it was their first meeting, "I hope it is only great things that you heard from Miss Maury?"

"Josie regard you with high words, Mr. Harding that she hardly mention any negative words when speaking about you, You can be at ease," said Rose politely before she turned to look at her older sister who seemed to be in a daze while looking at Mr. Harding for a moment before breaking her daze and looked back at her. A little smile came on her lips when she thought that this might be the first step to her sister's future marriage.

"I am glad to hear that," said Mr. Harding and he meant his words. He never saw Rose before but seeing her now, it was almost impossible for him to tear away his gaze as he had been spellbound by her. With a difficult wrestle with himself, the man finally looked away to the elder girl, "I didn't know if I made a good impression to you, Miss Maury. To hear that you regarded me with high words, I am very glad."

Josie noticed how Jayden's eyes lingers at her younger sister but thought it was the curiosity, not knowing his interest had been caught by the wrong sister. Rose watched how Josie's cheeks grew redder by time and heard her sister say, "You are a fine man, Mr. Harding, worth of the praise. Are you on your way to the market?" Josie asked with interest, wanting to know what the man had in plan.

"Oh no, I will be leaving to deliver some of the shoes that had been ordered," explained the man with his polite smile on his lips, lifting the box that he had on his hand.

It appears that the man never run of work, thought Rose and she could tell that Josie had been wanting to meet the man and have a private talk. Not wanting to be the third wheel and turned as the bridge to her sister's relationship she bowed again, "Well then, I still have errands to complete, Mr. Harding, please take care of my sister. She might be shy but she is a very friendly girl," said Rose before she bowed her head again to duck away from the fence when she saw the man come closer toward her.

"If you are leaving to the market I can accompany you there," offered Jayden and for a moment Josie who was standing in front of the man felt her heart stung.

Rose was also startled by the offer. Didn't Mr. Harding said he need to deliver the shoes?

Quickly, Rose shook her head, "I would only be delivering letter, nothing too important. Please enjoy your time together, excuse me." It would beat her intention to let her Josie spend her time with Jayden if the man comes with her to deliver the letter. Before she could leave, Josie gave her a look of questioning as they were both told to leave together but Rose shook her head, indicating that she would be fine alone and encourage her sister with a wide smile.

Rose had heard how Mr. Harding often greeted her elder sister, and Rose was sure the ship of her sister and Mr. Harding would sail. Like any other younger sister out there, Rose found herself in delight to see that there was a man who seemed to be very taken by her older sister.

Not dwelling any longer from the path, she hurried her steps to the town. Before she completely left, she turned and look back, expecting Josie and Mr. Harding having the nice talk but unexpectedly, she met the man's gaze on her that seemed to have been lingering for long which had her to subtly frown.

Was there something on her face? Rose shook her head and left to complete her mother's errand, maneuvering her way to the postman's building near the market.

The mailbox where the postman gathered the letters and envelope they have to sent to wasn't too far from her house. It took Rose only ten minutes of turtle walking to reach there before returning her way back to home empty handed but feeling quite refreshed.

On her way back, she saw the women who gathered so closely to each other on the side of the road, with some men who was the husbands of the women, "Ferocious beasts they said..."

Ferocious Beast? Is this about the wild beasts from the forest around their village again? Rose questioned in her mind, having her curiosity piqued over hearing the words which slipped from the people's discussion. She came closer to listen one of the woman, whose name was Eleanor to say in horror. "It was werewolves they said!"