Page 171 of His Grace, the Duke
“Burke was never mine to keep,” the dowager replied, taking a sip of her tea. “I knew that first morning when he brought you to me that he was lost. He has always been obstinate and passionate. I tried to rein him in, but the man is wild,” she added with a sigh. “He’s yours now to make or break. I wash my hands of him.”
Rosalie’s breath caught in her throat. “And James? You don’t resent my marrying him?”
The dowager caught her eye’s reflection in the mirror again. “Having arranged the thing myself, I’m not sure why I would now resent it?”
Rosalie blinked. “What can you mean?”
The dowager laughed. “Who do you think had the special license issued?”
“The—what?”
“Come, Rosalie, don’t be a fool,” she said, setting her tea aside. “James is a peer. He cannot simply marry on a whim. Either the banns must be read, or he must apply for a special license directly from the Archbishop of Canterbury. The day James was invested as duke, I had the archbishop issue the license. I knew it was only a matter of time until you set aside your confounded pride and married him. In truth, I was already planning for a Christmas wedding,” she added. “But it is easy enough to change one’s plans from a wedding to a ball. I doubt I lost more than fifty pounds in the exchange.”
The air left Rosalie completely. “The license was your doing?”
“Of course,” the dowager replied. “Almost from the moment you arrived in my house, I saw the change in James. He was always so focused, so driven. In the span of days, you began unraveling him. You broke him down, piece by piece, remaking him into something new. Something better, stronger.”
Rosalie could hardly believe the words she was hearing.
“I always knew something was missing from my James, some piece of him that would take him from excellent to extraordinary. Of course, it had to be a woman,” she muttered, almost to herself. “How can I deny you what you’ve rightfully won, when it will clearly bring only benefit to my family? You were most unexpected, Miss Harrow. You vex me, it’s true. For you are willful and proud and too often indiscreet. The fact that you forced my son to accept your lovers into your marriage is obviously a chief concern, but I imagine if I try to wedge Burke or Renley away from you now, I’ll only get my hand bit for my trouble. Am I right?”
Rosalie stepped off the dress stand and sank onto the nearest chair. The dowager knew. Of course, she knew everything. How long had she known? Did everyone know? Rosalie had kept hereye on the papers and read nothing except recycled stories from the day of the investiture—the failed wedding, the shooting, Olivia’s midnight escape. The Corbins were mentioned just last month when the news of Piety Nash’s wedding was announced. Apparently, she’d bagged herself a wealthy earl. But there was nothing about Rosalie being a jezebel in the house of Corbin.
“Am I right?” the dowager pressed.
Rosalie raised her chin, meeting her mother-in-law’s gaze. “I see there is to be a truth between us. I know your secret... and you wish to know mine. But can I trust you with it?”
The dowager pursed her lips. “I am a woman of the world, Rosalie. I imagine I already know your secret.” She leaned forward, those eyes holding Rosalie captive in their gaze. “What I care about is that the center holds. James would hardly be the first peer in England to have an unconventional marriage. And he’s made it clear he cares nothing for my ideas, nor my advice. If I give it, he will be sure to run in the opposite direction as quickly as his legs will carry him. I am thus resolved, at last, to stay out of his affairs.”
Rosalie raised a brow in wry disbelief.
“Well... for the most part I mean to stay out of things. I am still a Corbin, and I have my own opinions,” the dowager added with a sniff. “But my paramount concern is that the public face of House Corbin shines without a blemish. Whatever happens behind closed doors shall be your own affair. But what society sees. What thetonsees. This matters, Rosalie. It matters immensely.”
“I know,” Rosalie replied. “And we would never dare act in a way as to bring any undue suspicion to the family or the title. No one will ever doubt we are happy and in love because weare. I love your son madly, wildly, utterly and completely.”
“But what of Burke and Renley?” she said with a raised brow of her own.
Rosalie took a steadying breath. When the day began, she hadn’t been sure how much she was willing to reveal to her mother-in-law. But the thought of sharing a life with her—sharing ahousewith her—and hiding how she felt about Burke and Tom felt intolerable. It would be miserable for everyone involved.
The last thing she wanted was for his mother to be forced out of Alcott—her home for the last forty years—all in the name of making them more comfortable in her absence. But a life of hiding her feelings for Burke and Tom in every moment not shared in private felt like a kind of torture the likes of which would cause so much pain as to leave her a broken and bleeding thing.
“Burke has accepted a position as James’ steward,” she replied. “Tom stays with the navy for now. He is returning from Town as we speak. He had a meeting with his captain. We believe he may soon be called out.”
“So, they intend to stay here at Alcott... with the two of you.”
Rosalie focused her attention on her own cup of tea. “Yes.”
“And if there is gossip—”
She glanced up sharply. “Horatio Burke and Tom Renley have been dear childhood friends of the Duke of Norland for nigh on twenty years,” she replied, her speech already well-practiced in her dressing mirror. “Long before he met me, James had a well-established record of housing them here. Nothing has changed now that we are married. James sees them as family, and so do I. They will always find a home with us.”
The dowager held her gaze. “An answer without answering.”
“You seek my frankness, and I have given it,” she replied.“Enough for you to understand our feelings on the subject, at least. If there ever comes a time where I believe I can trust you with more of my frankness, I will most agreeably oblige. For now, I have said enough.”
The dowager pursed her lips. “All I really need to know is that you love my son, and you are committed to being his duchess. That is the only thing that matters. The public face of things must hold. Alcottmusthold.”
Rosalie rose from her chair, taking the dowager’s hand in both of hers as she sank into the empty chair beside her. “I will love your son until my last breath. I will be a duchess, a wife, a mother, a proud lioness. We Richmond ladies are strong, are we not? I didn’t know my own strength at first, but James helped me to see it. He is so good and kind, so strong, so loving. I will not fail him. Not ever. And I love Alcott. It is safe in my hands... besides, you’re not dead yet,” she added with a soft grin. “I imagine you may continue to be useful to me, at least for a little while. I should like to have your mentorship as I learn to run this grand estate.”
