Page 25 of A Duke for Stealing
Everett smirked, a most handsomely wicked expression that made her blood grow warm all over again.
“Yes, I am,” he agreed, raising a pointed finger at her as he stepped closer, “And you best remember that the next time you wish to spar with me.”
Rose took several steps back, refusing to get caught in whatever thrall he cast all over again. Her heart beat thundered in her ears as she turned around and all but ran to the room, feeling foolishhow aroused she’d gotten with this man. She knew better, and yet she’d allowed him to corner her-again.
Rose sat curled up in her very favorite chair in her library, trying her best to become absorbed in her book. She’d read a few words, glance up at the fire, adjust her body that had yet to cool from Everett’s touch- then she’d try to read again. It was a cycle she had been caught in for the last two hours- ever since she’d given up on sleep and left her quarters.
She had hoped that reading would distract her from what had happened. That the story would carry her somewhere far away- but it was no use. It was a romance book, as most of her collection was, and every time she read about the characters coming close to one another, the scene in the book would vanish, and in its place would be the memory of her and Everett atop the dining room table.
Finally, she gave up and slammed the book shut. Reading was not going to help her either. However, perhaps a drink would. She was timid about partaking too much. At balls and parties, she always accepted a glass of wine or champagne, but on her own, she never imbibed. Too afraid that one drink would lead to another and turn her into her mother.
However, given the particular circumstance, perhaps one would not hurt. A glass of red wine. Just one. Just enough to ease the tension in her neck and let her drift off to sleep. There was a bottle in her room. She’d seen one atop the mantle along witha tray of glass and a corkscrew. She’d never opened a bottle before, but she decided she could manage it alone. She’d seen her mother and their staff do so several times. Just plunge, twist, and pull.
Yes. That was what she would do. Just a little. Just to help her relax.
Abandoning her book on the chair, Rose tucked her robe around her nightgown and left the library. She was passing the twins’ room when she suddenly heard a noise and stopped. Worry laced through her veins as she pressed an ear to the pink door and listened. Sure enough, she heard a set of sorrowful sobs pass through the door.
“Oh, poor things,” she whispered, pressing her hand to the knob. She opened the door, prepared to go in, when she heard Everett’s voice speaking in low, consoling tones, and she stopped, leaving just enough space so she could poke her head in. What she saw made her heart warm and clench.
“There, there, girls, it is alright,” Everett coaxed.
He was sitting on Leah’s bed, patting her blanket-covered knees as he held a sobbing Diana on his lap, her little arms tight around his neck.
“It was just a bad dream,” he soothed. “Just a terrible nightmare. But it’s over now.”
Then why does it still hurt?” Leah sobbed, fists held tight to her eyes.
Rose’s heart shuddered at the sight. Leah so far had only been angry and strong-willed; she had never seen the little girl show the true hurt she’d been feeling.
“I miss them, Uncle Everett,” Diana sobbed softly into his chest, “I miss them so much.”
Everett pressed his cheek against Diana’s head, looking absolutely miserable.
“I know my darlings. I miss them too.”
“How can you say that?” Leah cried, “You weren’t there! You were never there! They died alone, and it is your fault!”
Even though she had been positively livid with him before, the utter devastation that stretched across Everett’s face had Rose’s heart breaking for him. She could have sworn she heard a pain-filled sigh leave Everett’s lips as he hung his head.
“I know,” he answered in a tortured whisper. “I know.”
Mad at him or not, Rose could not bear to turn away from the heartache inside the room. She gave a soft knock at the door as she opened it wider, and mustered a soft smile as she walked in.
“What’s this now, girls?” She asked, her tone gentle.
Leah yanked her head up from her fists and glowered at Rose as she sniffled. Everett’s head rose too, and to her shock, she saw his eyes red-rimmed and glistening.
“What areyoudoing here?” Leah demanded through breathy snobs.
“I have this Rose,” Everett stated, trying his very best to sound authoritative, “Just go back to bed.
Rose paid them both no mind as she ventured into the room and knelt by Leah’s bed. Diana, upon seeing her, slid from Everett’s lap and crawled into Rose’s.
“We were having nightmares, Lady Rosalind,” Diana explained through her breathy sobs. “Of the fire. Of what it must have been like for our parents to be trapped.”
“Oh, sweet girl,” Rose consoled, hugging Diana tight, “Well, that is not well at all, is it?”
Both girls sniffled, and even Leah shook her head.
