Page 57 of A Duke for Stealing
“I may be a prim, but that does not mean I do not listen to talk. I know that Theo and Amelia have both been there. Alone and with their husbands. And Theo in particular enjoyed it enough to want to go back multiple times.”
“The Masquerade is an entirely different sort of dalliance,” Everett replied, trying to get over the shock that she’d asked about such things, “People there have…well, their appetites differ from most. They are- they can be, more intense than most. And yes, I suppose that means that it does offer a longer diversion from reality. As long as one can find the appropriate partner.”
“And you? Were you able to find appropriate partners?” She asked.
Everett stirred in discomfort. Under normal circumstances, he had no issue discussing such details, but as Rose asked him, hefelt as if he had somehow betrayed her. Even if it had not been to the Masquerade since their wedding.
“They were satisfactory enough,” he begrudgingly admitted. “Why do you ask me about this?”
Rose pulled away from his embrace then, grabbed her now-dry dress, and covered herself with it as she faced him.
“The things you do to me…I can feel you try to hold part of you back,” she confessed.
“Did I hurt you?” He quickly asked, worry suddenly consuming him. He had tried to be gentle. Tried so very hard, but he knew his more animalistic side had won out.
“No,” she said, her eyes and tone assuring him. Then she let out a weak laugh before adding. “Exhausted me? Heavens, yes. But you did not hurt me. And you have made me grow curious.”
Everett felt himself become torn between relief and suspicion.
“What about?” He asked.
“If perhaps there is such a side within me,” Rose answered, looking bashful as she made the confession. “I have tried to do things right my entire life. Not just for myself, but on my mother’s behalf. And I wonder…I wonder what I would enjoy if I let myself be…free. With you.”
Rose’s words were tentative, but Everett saw the wonder in her eyes. The hope that such freedom could be found by her.
“You truly want to explore that? With me?” He asked.
Rose nodded.
“Just with you,” she added quickly, then blushed again as she said, “I do not believe I am meant for multiple partners.”
Even though the thought had not crossed his mind, Everett felt a rush of relief at her declaration. He was certain he did not want to share her either.
“Very well then,” said after a while. He caressed her face, kissed her temple, the tip of her nose, her lips. “Then I shall take you.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“Come along, girls,” Rose urged, beckoning to Leah and Diana.
It had been a week since they’d returned from London, and though Everett had agreed to take her to the Devil’s Masquerade, he had not brought it up since. The idea still echoed in her mind, but there had been plenty enough to do back at Stapleton to keep her from lingering on the idea.
As she’d promised, she had gone right to work helping Everett try to connect with his nieces. She’d pulled him from his work to dine with them every night, and most nights he would join her in reading the twins a story. Though they were hesitant at first, the twins were warming up to him. Today, she was planning on taking their relationship a step further.
“Where are we going, Lady Rose?” Leah asked as she and Diana met Rose by the front door.
“It is a surprise,” Rose answered, giving them a wink and a smile. “You will have to go outside to see.”
Both girls giggled, then raced through the front door the moment Rose opened it. She quickly followed them out and joined them at their side as they stopped before Everett. His handsome face was beaming down at the girls as they looked at him. In his hand, he held the reins of two horses.
“What are you doing out here, Uncle Everett?” Leah asked.
“We are going on an adventure today, girls,” he replied, hunkering down to meet their eyes.
Rose watched as both girls’ eyes lit up with excitement.
“We are?” Diana asked.
“But you always have work during the day,” Leah pointed out. “You never have time for us.”
