Page 16 of A Duke for Stealing
“I should think that even as a babe, it is still a marvel to have a twin,” she said with a warm smile. “It is so special and rare a bond, you know.”
“We know,” Leah said, rolling her eyes. “We are told as such often. It is more of an annoyance, though, truly.”
Diana scowled at her sister again, hugging the teddy bear in her arms tight around its neck.
“You are the annoyance, not I,” Diana argued.
Leah moved to string her arrow again and aim toward Diana, but Rose quickly snatched it away, urging them both for peace.
“Girls, please!” She insisted.
“Quiet, Lady Rosalind!” Leah harshly commanded. “You hold no power here. My mother was the true Duchess of Stapleton. You are simply a poor imitation of what she was.”
The sting of Leah’s words hit Rose quickly, but as she looked at the little girl who spoke with so much venom, she saw not anger in her eyes, but sadness.
“Of course,” she replied, her tone gentle as she reached out and laid a hand on both girls’ shoulders, “You are right. Your mother was the best Duchess. And I? Well, I am not at all sure what I am doing. But perhaps with your help, I could, in time, become better. What do you say? Would you help me?”
Rose looked from Leah to Diana, trying to read their little faces.
“I do not know,” Diana said slowly, eyeing Rose up, “Perhaps we could-”
“No!” Leah shouted, moving away from Rose’s touch. “You are not the true Duchess and never will be. Uncle Everett is not the real Duke either. My Papa was. You and he will never be them.”
Leah walked over to Diana and shoved Rose’s hand away from her shoulder, then took Diana’s hand.
“Come along, Diana,” Leah commanded, “Let us go play in the garden.”
Determined to find a better footing with the girls, Rose quickly got to her feet.
“Perhaps I could come back later?” She asked. “Do either of you enjoy storybooks?”
Diana quickly turned around, her blue eyes wide and full of excitement. Even Leah looked as if she would give Rose a second chance.
“I do,” Diana shyly stated.
Leah threw her a threatening glance, but said nothing.
“Well, so do I,” Rose said, “In fact, I adore them so much that I collect them. I have quite many, in fact. Why do I not bring one with me later this evening? I can read to you before bed.”
Diana vehemently nodded, but Leah still looked wary.
“It must have knights and dragons, it,” Leah commanded after a moment.
Rose nodded readily.
“I believe I have just the one.”
“And princesses, too,” Diana meekly added.
“Yes, every princess deserves to be saved by a brave knight, do they not?” Rose inquired.
While Diana nodded again, Leah only turned to the door and turned the knob.
“Not all of them,” she muttered, then tugged on Diana’s hand. “Come along, Diana, it is time to go to the garden.”
Rose went to the door, watching the girls hurry down the hall. She hugged herself as she watched them, worrying for their little hearts. She’d been sad when she’d lost her own father, but in truth, she barely knew him. It seemed that the girls had a very close relationship with both of their parents.
Getting close to the girls was going to be difficult, Rose imagined, but it was a feat she decided then and there that she wanted to conquer. It would take time, though, and a little more information from Everett. Rose’s body warmed at the thought of talking to him again, and the memory of their kiss flooded back in. She leaned against the doorway as she began to wonder if it had meant anything.
