Page 10 of A Duke for Stealing
“Rose, Lady Lightholder,” Seraphina said, her tone gentle as she moved through the wall of men, “Why do you not come with us? I believe some wine is in order, and perhaps His Grace needs a moment to confer with his council.”
Everett gave her a grateful look and then turned to Betty just in time to see her blurry eyes light up.
“Wine, you say?” She asked. “Oh, yes. I do believe you are right. My head is simply affudled with these turn of events. Come, Rose dear, let us have a drink. Find a way to sort through this.”
Everett looked over at Rose, who looked both mortified and terrified. He caught her hand as she was about to leave, and was surprised when a tremble ran up his fingers and through his arm at the touch.
“Whatever happens next, I want you to know that I am grateful,” he said quietly.
“That is well and good,” Rose muttered, not looking at all comforted by his words. “At least I shall know I ruined myself for a good cause.”
Everett wished he had more comforting words for her, but he simply let her hand slip out of his and watched as she walked with her head down out into the hall.
“You have to marry Rose,” Tristan commanded as soon as the door was shut. “You have no other option.”
“What in God’s teeth was that?” Hugo questioned before Everett could reply. “Is it true? You love her?”
“Heavens, no! And she does not love me either,” Everett managed to retort before Dominic spoke up.
“Whether you are in love or not, your reputations are both in question now. I do not know why she chose to cause a scene like that, but all that matters now is that you clean it up!”
“You do not think I am aware of that?” Everett snapped.
“If she does not love you, then why would she profess such a thing? In a church no less!” Alistair exclaimed.
Everett exhaled a weary sigh as his friends all waited anxiously for him, then he began to tell them what Rose had just shared with him. When he finished, they all stared at him in shock, only serving to worsen his mood.
“Well, I must say that woman is quite courageous to go to such lengths to save you from such a scandal,” Alistair said after a moment.
“Courageous, yes, but dimwitted,” Hugo countered, shaking his head. “She simply exchanged one scandal for another.”
“Yes, but at leastthisscandal could be rectified,” Tristan stated, giving Everett a pointed look.
“Stop looking at me like that, Tristan,” Everett commanded, “I may be known for my depravity, but I am not so much that I would refuse to marry the woman to save me from raising another man’s child. Of course, I am going to marry her.”
Somehow, his friends looked even more surprised than before, and he returned their shocked looks with a glare.
“There are some lines even I refuse to cross,” he stated coldly, “and turning my back to the woman that did me such a service is certainly one of them. I appreciate your willingness to have me do the right thing, but I assure you, it was not needed. I’m devilish, but I’m notthedevil, you know.”
His friends’ gazes transformed from shocked to apologetic, and he waved off their attempts to coddle him.
“Enough,” he commanded, “I do not need my ego stroked, especially by you four. Just go back out there and help me get a moment alone with Rose.”
Rose paced anxiously within the bridal chamber, the glass of wine in her hand still full. She didn’t bother to look at her mother, knowing her glass had already been refilled twice.
“Rose, darling, perhaps you should sit?” Amelia offered gently.
Rose shook her head and continued her pacing. Of all the foolish things she could have done and said! Why,whyhad she waited so long to tell Everett? He had every right to be angry.
“Ladies,” Dominic stated, knocking on the door as he opened it.
“Might we give a moment to our two friends? I believe they have something to discuss.”
“Oh, I am not going anywhere,” Betty stated from her seat. “It is clear I have missed too much already.”
Rose caught the imploring look Dominic gave Amelia, and she gave him a quick nod before rounding up Seraphina, Theo, and Ophelia.
“Darling, we will be just outside if you need us,” Ophelia promised, giving Rose’s hand a squeeze.
