It was only natural they were in awe of Jonathan. After all, the man was the heir of the Finch family. Each family present might have eligible sons of marriageable age, but even if they combined all their assets, they wouldn't come close to a fraction of what Jonathan possessed.
A comparison would be futile, for there simply wasn't a competition.
Exchanging furtive glances, the crowd couldn't help but speculate that Eleanor's hospitality toward Rose was likely paving the way for Jonathan.
They weren't entirely wrong. Eleanor was indeed laying the groundwork, but not for Jonathan.
As Rose followed Eleanor into the main hall, she was immediately taken to a display case on one of the walls showcasing an evening gown.
Unlike the previous encounter, the damaged gown was not tucked away in a corner but proudly displayed at the center of the case, its imperfection prominently on show.
"This is actually my favorite gown, but…" Eleanor lamented, her gaze fixated on the damaged section. She then turned to Rose, her eyes filled with anticipation. "Rosie, please, only you can fix it. If you can restore it, I will grant you any request."
She intentionally mentioned "any request" with an ulterior motive in mind.
From Eleanor's perspective, Jonathan had taken a liking to Rose, so Rose must have felt the same way about him.
After all, her grandson was one of Regalia's most outstanding young talents—unmatched in appearance, family background, and ability. Many admired him, and Rose was surely no exception.
Eleanor believed that by offering this deal, Rose would want to please her to secure a marriage with Jonathan.
With a smile on her lips, she studied Rose's face for a long moment, waiting for a hint of excitement to appear.
Yet, Rose's expression remained unchanged. Eleanor was at a loss for words.
"Have I not been clear enough?" she wondered.
Noticing Rose's attention on the evening gown, she emphasized again, "Rosie, if you have any requests, I'll fulfill them right away."
"Go on. Bring up your relationship with Jonathan and ask for my blessing!" Eleanor thought. Her face lit up with a warm smile as hope rekindled in her eyes.
Rose shifted her gaze back to Eleanor from the damaged evening gown, her expression polite, yet distant. "Thank you, Mrs. Finch Senior, but you're too kind. I have no requests."
With that, she returned her attention to the tear in the fabric, carefully examining it.
Eleanor's smile froze. "No requests? How could there be no requests?" she thought.
She believed there should be a request from Rose as this was the perfect opportunity for her to ask for acceptance into the Finch family.
Rose could become Jonathan's wife, joining their prestigious lineage. It was puzzling to Eleanor that Rose wasn't seizing this chance.
She nearly blurted out, "I approve of you and Jonathan being together," before barely managing to stop herself.
A hint of doubt and uncertainty clouded Eleanor's gaze as she studied Rose's face. She began to consider that Rose might not be interested in Jonathan at all.
The information she had received indicated that Jonathan had fallen for Rose during his time in Aquastead. There was no doubt about that.
But now, she questioned if Jonathan's feelings were unrequited. Perhaps his passion for Rose was entirely one-sided.
As Eleanor reflected on the day Jonathan brought Rose to the FInch Manor, it only seemed to confirm her suspicions.
The box itself was a work of art, and whatever lay inside was bound to be extraordinary. As Eleanor opened it in front of Rose, a breathtaking necklace adorned with top-quality emeralds was revealed, causing Rose's eyes to widen in surprise.
"I acquired this at an auction years ago," Eleanor explained. "In terms of color and size, there's nothing else quite like it in the world. Here, Rosie, try it on."
Before Rose could object, Eleanor had already removed the necklace from the box and was now fastening it around her neck.
"No, no, I can't—" Rose began to protest, taken aback by the extravagant gift.
"Stay still." Eleanor's tone carried the commanding force of a woman who had once ruled the business world, and Rose found herself hesitating just long enough for Eleanor to secure the necklace in place.
Despite her casual attire—a simple blouse and jeans—Rose's beauty was undeniable. The luxurious emerald necklace perfectly complemented her elegance, adding a touch of sophistication to her ensemble.
Eleanor studied Rose's appearance and couldn't help but exclaim, "Wonderful! Simply wonderful!"
It was perfect. Eleanor couldn't help but silently commend her grandson's taste. "It's only natural for Jonathan to be captivated by someone like this. Not only is she beautiful, but she also comes from a distinguished family…" she mused.
She was beyond pleased, her face beaming with delight that she could barely contain.
Rose felt increasingly uneasy under Eleanor's gaze as if she was sitting on pins and needles. Standing up, she tried to remove the necklace, but Eleanor quickly stopped her.
"No, don't take it off! It looks perfect on you as if it were tailor-made for you. Even when I wore it in my youth, it didn't look as good as it does on you. Clearly, it was meant to be yours.
"We've known each other for quite some time, and I've never given you a proper gift. So, consider this necklace a token of our meeting. You must accept it!"
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