Chapter 22

The three ladies settled themselves at the patio table in the shade of the garden that was already stocked with wine filled glasses. It felt almost decadent to Rossalyn for her to be consuming alcohol during the day but who was she to judge? It seemed quite normal to the other two who immediately took a sip of the cool white wine. They immediately pulled her into wedding related chit chat as they waited for the food to be served. Rossalyn obliged the two of them and provided some details on what Josiah and her had agreed on.

"Any word about the honeymoon?" Jessica asked curiously, picking up on the question she'd asked the first time they'd met.

"Josiah gave me a list of locations for me to pick from or told me that we could go to all of them should I wish to. Apparently we can stay gone for however long I want so I think we're going to play it by ear mostly. It is apparently going to be a cruise type situation so no need for plane tickets or whatever." Rossalyn said with a shrug.

"Oh that is exciting! I've been on his ship before. It is so beautiful and comfortable. You'll hardly notice you're on the water. There is literally anything you could wish on board. Even swimming pools!" Chelsea enthused happily.

Rossalyn made appropriate noises of excitement as she pondered that statement. Did he go and buy some kind of luxury cruise ship or something? She wondered to herself as the food was brought out to them. From the smell of the fish and greens on the plate it was going to be delicious and after a moment's hesitation when she noticed the other ladies were watching her, she picked her silverware up and speared her first bite. As if that was their cue to eat, they did the same. She wondered if that was some kind of family rule, no one was allowed to eat until the host started to? She had no idea.

They ate their meal in respectful silence since she assumed it would be deemed unlady like to talk in between bites of food. She felt extremely out of place. But thankfully no one but her seemed to pick up on the discomfort she felt during the meal. Once they had finished with their plates, one of the house keepers came out to clear their plates and offered to refill their wine. They all agreed then took their glasses for a walk in the garden. Rossalyn decided to ask them some questions since they were all out of the prying ears of the house workers for the moment.

"So...." She began after a sip of wine for courage, "it has been delicately brought to my attention that I do not know the ways of being a wife in this family." She said risking a glance at her two companions. She caught a shared look between them and somehow knew that the largest part of their assignment had been to school her on some of the protocols. "I see. It has also been brought to yours and thats part of the reason you're here today." She said without heat.

"Well, we have been begging to spend time with you for the last few days. We really think you're a wonderful woman. But it would be bad manners for us to not be honest when asked such a direct question. Yes, Mr. Roja has asked us to part with some wisdom for you so that you don't struggle so much with the transition." Jessica said carefully.

"That was really unneeded on his part since I got his message loud and clear this morning. But on that note, I wouldn't mind if you shared some knowledge or tricks to help make things easier. You both seem really happy and I want to be. It is just a...culture....shock for me coming from what I did to...." she gestured around them as she spoke, "all this."

"I can imagine it is. I was born into this life, groomed to do this so it hasn't been so hard for me. Jessica too." Chelsea said gently.

"Then you both should be excellent sources of information for me to learn from I guess." Rossalyn said as she led them out of the garden and to the patio sectional she had reclined on earlier that morning. She gestured for them to sit then sat down herself, "I'm all ears."

The ladies spent the rest of the afternoon talking about how Jessica and Chelsea spent their days on a regular basis. It was all brunches and shopping and child rearing. They told her that usually a small group of them got together in the mornings with all their children at one of their houses and the children played together while the mothers talked or were watched by nannies if they had to go out to shop or run other errands. Sometimes they would go out on group outings to take the children to the park to play.

From what Rossalyn gathered, there were other groups of the wives who didn't have children yet that hung out together as well. It all seemed very cozy to her. Instead of them working all day, they pretty much entertained each other and their children while the husbands were off doing whatever the husbands do. Rossalyn wondered where she would fit in best. Chelsea and Jessica both had children, so it would be unlikely they'd be hanging out with the group that didn't on any kind of regular basis. But who was to say that she couldn't invite them all here and be the host from time to time. It wasn't like she was scared to be around children. She loved them. It just kind of seemed it would be inappropriate.

"So if I wanted to hang out with you guys, I wouldn't be allowed to with the group since I don't have kids yet?" She asked, it wasn't a defensive question but just a request for clarification.

"No, no. That isn't a rule for us or anything. Birds of a feather, you know? It is usually just easier for the moms to be with the other moms so the kids will have someone to play with too. The wives without children can hang out with us if they wish. It isn't a cult or whatever." Jessica laughed at the thought who was quickly joined by Chelsea and Rossalyn.

"I just figured I'd check." Rossalyn said grinning at them, "I wanted to make sure I was cool enough to hang with you guys again soon."

"More like we got to make sure we're cool enough to hang out with the boss's wife." Jessica teased with a wink making them all laugh as three shadows approached in the late afternoon sun.

"What are you three laughing about?" Josiah asked curiously as he took a seat next to Rossalyn while the other two men sat down next to their wives.

"Girl club secrets." Rossalyn informed him with a look at the other two ladies who grinned at her conspiritorially.

"Secrets?" Josiah asked interestedly.

"Yes, world domination. I already told you I'd sweep the room for bugs. Figured the patio was safe enough to form a plan." Rossalyn stage whispered.

"Dang it, guys! We missed it!" Brad slapped his knee in mock frustration.

"Well, if you didn't take so long combing your hair we'd gotten out here sooner." Josiah teased him but had a fake stern expression on his face.

"Well if gunner over here didn't have to potty every twelve seconds that would have helped too." Brad gestured to James who raised his hands in mock surrender.

"Hey! It isn't my fault! Boss was in the bathroom reciting love poetry for a friggin hour!" James teased which the whole group burst out laughing.

"Yeah, yeah!" Josiah laughed and stood up and pulled Rossalyn to her feet with him. "I've got some love poetry to perform if you gaggling girls are finished."

"Oooo! Can we watch?" James asked excitedly sitting up straighter as if in preparation to watch an exciting play.

"My love performances are done in private." Josiah informed him and laughed as Rossalyn turned a pretty shade of red. He hadn't been aware she was capable of blushing and made a note to try to make that happen more frequently.

"Yeah, I believe that we're being dismissed." Brad said and stood up helping his Jessica to her feet at the same time James followed suit with Chelsea.

"It'll be alright. Girl code will have Rossalyn spilling the details tomorrow. Buuuuut I won't share with you since if I tell her anything she would be expected to keep it secret too." Jessica winked at Rossalyn and Chelsea nodded while the men shared slightly horrified expressions.

"What exactly do you ladies talk about when none of us are around?" Brad asked Jessica in a choked voice, either from laughter or horror at the thought.

"Nothing too serious darling. Don't worry. No one knows your embarrassing little secrets but me." She assured him then gave him a peck on his cheek.

The group laughed as they all made their way back to the house. Rossalyn and Josiah walked slightly behind the group with Josiah still holding onto her hand. She wondered how she was going to cope with everything they said. It was like she'd been transported back to the 1800's where she was expected to run the household, staff, and make all the domestic decisions. That duty was currently being overseen by the head housekeeper but once they returned from the honeymoon, apparently that would fall into her lap. She'd have to oversee the running of not only the estate they live on but the maintenance of all the other properties as well. Well, that was according to them. She wasn't sure if that would apply to her considering how they ended up deciding to get married.

"How much do they know about our....arrangement?" She asked Josiah once they were alone in the hall outside the front door.

"Why do you ask?" Josiah asked curiously.

"Well, apparently both of them had been groomed for their position since they were kids. I'm obviously not of that breeding. So I'm wondering how much our arrangement will mirror theirs." She said as they headed towards the hall with the entertainment room where they favored relaxing before dinner.

"Well, I would like for you to have the same duties as them. You'll pretty much be in charge of the household while I handle all the business." Josiah said with a shrug.

Perfect. She thought to herself, bleakly. Maybe she should order the hoop skirts and corsets to go with it. She didn't make any noise but she could already picture her future. Good by independence, hello Stephord Wives.