Page 59 of A Duke for Stealing
This is what contentment feels like.
The thought awed her as she realized it was true, and her smile broadened as she shook her head and began to lay out the blanket. She took her time, placing the plates, cups, and stores of food the cook had prepared for them. When she finished, she took a step back and looked at how quaint the picnic looked.
A picnic for us. For my family.Myfamily.
That’s what Everett and the girls were becoming.
She turned to call the girls and Everett over, and her smile and heart froze as she saw two people had joined her husband and adopted daughters. One was a little boy who looked to be just a tad older than the girls. He was dressed in a simple shirt and trousers —peasant clothing —and had a head of thick, short brown curls.
The other was a woman- a beautiful woman. Like the boy, her clothes were far simpler, but the brown dress she wore fit tightly along her curves, and the light beige corset that covered it was cinched tightly, revealing a very pert and generous bosom. Her bright blonde hair was fitted into a long braid, which lay over her shoulder —a shoulder that wasveryclose to Everett’s. Thetwo looked deep in conversation, gazing at one another with an almost affectionate familiarity.
Rose had never felt jealousy before. Yet as the burning sensation filled her gut and her head, it felt as if they were about to burst with rage, she was able to acknowledge it quite quickly. Her eyes shot back to the boy then, narrowing.
Was he… could he possiblybe Everett’s?
As she felt these thoughts and feelings begin to wreak havoc on her, Rose suddenly felt foolish. She had thought…for a moment she had hoped that…
“Rose.”
Everett’s voice broke her out of her intense study, and her eyes snapped to him. He and the woman were now turned away from the children, their focus on her.
“Rose, darling, are you well?” Everett asked, walking quickly up to her. “You look terribly flushed.”
He tried to touch her shoulder, but she flinched back.
“It is this heat, Your Grace,” the woman said, her tone sickeningly sweet as she curtseyed toward Rose. “I am afraid that with all the layers you wear, it can be quite burdensome.”
She then turned to Everett and bowed her head. Everett, though, was still looking at Rose, his brow creased with worry.
“It is why I count myself favored,” she said to him, her smile making Rose want to scratch her eyes out, “My station may not be high, but it allows more comfort. As you can see.”
“And pray tell, who are you and what is your station?” Rose replied icily.
“My name is Penny, Your Grace, and I was just telling the Duke here that I used to work for the former Duke and Duchess of Stapleton,” the woman replied.
Rose gazed at her steadily, trying to determine if she was telling the truth.
“I was just telling His Grace how similar he looks to his older brother,” Penny went on. “He is just as handsome and regal of feature.”
Everett said nothing as he continued to stare quizzically at Rose, even as Penny kept her eyes on him- which only served to further her annoyance.
“I see,” Rose went on, “And what work did you perform for the late Duke that had you so intimate with his appearance?”
Penny’s eyes finally turned to Rose, and her smile turned almost wicked as something dark and possessive flashed through her eyes.
“I held many positions,” Penny replied.
“She was asking me if we had any vacancies in employment,” Everett said, finally adding to the conversation.
Rose suddenly remembered that she was no longer just an Earl’s daughter. She was a Duchess. She wasEverett’sDuchess, and she had power.
“Sadly not,” Rose replied quickly, folding her hands together as she raised her chin, “And though I admire you for your earnest look for work, we have nothing for you. Now, I am sure you did not realize this, but the Duke and I are taking a rare day off from our duties to spend withourgirls. Please be so good as to respect our privacy.”
Penny’s blue eyes widened with alarm as her fair cheeks bloomed a bright red. A hint of rage and indignation touched her brow, and Rose calmly raised a single one of hers. A tense moment was carried out as the two women stared at one another, but Rose refused to look down. Finally, as if she detested doing so, Penny slowly lowered her gaze and dropped to a curtsey.
“Of course, Your Grace,” she answered, her tone polite but stiff. “Forgive us. My boy only saw your girls playing and wanted to join in.”
“I thought you approached to ask about employment?” Rose countered.
