Page 37 of A Translation of Desire
Their host beamed at him and then returned her attention to Lisbeth and Rose. “I’m helping him find a bride. He is considered the unobtainable duke.”
Rose’s eyes flew back to his, and he shook his head as if wishing he could be anywhere else. “I’ve heard that.”
“Yes, Augustus is notoriously picky.”
He scowled at Sophia. Rose, finding herself protective of him, said, “Perhaps he should be. Marriage is for life. Who wants to be miserable for that long?”
Both Sophia and Lisbeth stared at her curiously. Sinclair remained quiet, and she added, “Even a duke wants happiness, I would imagine.”
Sophia tilted her head, studying her. “Wise words.”
Wanting to lighten the mood, she said, “Now, if he remains unwed this Season, I take it all back. He is simply picky.”
They all laughed. Lord Derry entered the breakfast room, clapping his hands. “Who is up for playing a game of rounders?”
“Me,” Sophia and Sinclair answered in unison.
Lisbeth shook her head. “I think I will watch.”
Sinclair’s eyes darted to Rose. “What about you? Sitting it out?”
She frowned at him. “Of course not.”
Amusement flared in his eyes, and Rose suspected he thought she would be rot at it. He didn’t know there was a lot of downtime at an excavation site, and rounders was one of the games played.
“You two can be our captains,” Sophia chirped.
Sinclair smirked. “I accept.”
“As do I.”
Sophia rose. “I will see who else will play.”
Lisbeth nodded. “I will join you. At least I can help with that.”
Their departure left only Sinclair and Rose in their area of the table. This was her opportunity to clarify things with him. Before she could say anything, Sinclair said, “I want to make sure everything is fine between us.”
“We are good. It was a ridiculous moment, that is all. I’m resolved that we won’t have any more.”
He contemplated her, making her fidget, but finally, he nodded. “I agree, but please understand that I simply want what is best for you. I admire you greatly. In truth, you may be one of the most impressive people I’ve ever met,” he said quietly.
She smiled at his kind words. “Thank you.”
“Friends?” he asked.
Rose smiled at him. “Yes, friends, but I plan to destroy you in this game of rounders, so we will see after that.”
He tilted his head back and laughed. Rose beamed, happy they had sorted everything out. Still, she didn’t believe Augustus had any idea what was best for her.
*
Rose grabbed thebat and glared at Augustus. He waited patiently for her to say she was ready. They were in their last inning in their game of rounders, and the teams were tied. If Rose didn’t make it around the bases, his team would win because even though they were tied in points, they had more rounders.
He grinned back at her, enjoying that he would have something to gloat about. Sophia yelled, “Three missed balls is all we need, Sinclair.”
Sophia’s husband hollered, “You have this, Rose.”
Rose swung the wooden bat in Augustus’s direction and said, “You are going down.”
