Page 60 of A Duke for Stealing
“Either way, we shall leave you be,” Penny replied.
She then curtseyed toward Everett and sharply barked the name “Billy!” As she walked away. The young boy waved happily to Diana and Leah, as if not bothered at all by being called, and quickly joined his mother.
Rose felt Everett’s hand wrap around her forearm, his touch warm and filling her with want. She suddenly hated that he could do that to her, and wrenched it away before it had a chance to grow. She turned away without giving him a single look and began walking toward the lake.
“Rose,” Everett called, “Rose, are you well? You do not seem yourself.”
“Oh,” she said with a bitter laugh over her shoulder. “Is that so?”
Everett caught up to her and gripped her hand.
“Yes, it is so,” he insisted.
“Let go,” she demanded, trying to break away.
Everett’s brow furrowed.
“What has gotten into you?” He asked.
“The question is what orwhogot into Penny!” She bit out, “Now let go!”
Everett’s brows flew up, and he barked out a surprised laugh at her words.
“Such language for a Duchess!” He exclaimed, “Iloveit when you speak so brazenly. What is the matter, dear wife? Are you jealous?”
“No!” Rose shot back, but even as she said it, she knew it was a lie. She had never had such a visceral reaction to a woman before in her entire life.
“I did not know her until today,” Everett replied.
He tried pulling her into his arms for an embrace. Rose wanted to believe him, but it seemed too dangerous to do so.
“What do I care? Now let go of me, Everett,” she insisted, pushing back.
“Not until you tell me you believe me,” he countered calmly, his voice dipping into a seductive tone.
Rose hated how her body reacted to the sound of his voice.Pathetic. I am pathetic.
“Do not speak to me in such a tone. Speak to me as the true Everett or not at all,” she demanded.
Everett’s amusement slipped from his face, and though he did not let go, his grip grew gentler.
“I do not know her, Rose,” he stated. No flirtation this time. No attempt at seduction. Just genuine sincerity. “Tell me you believe me.”
She wanted to—Everett would never know how much she wanted to—but she couldn’t. With all her might, she pushed away from him, finally breaking free- but the bank of the lake was slick, and as she propelled herself away from him, she lost her footing and fell into the lake.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“Rose!” Everett exclaimed as he watched his wife fall into the water.
Without a second thought, he dove in after her, the coldness of the water shocking his system. He ignored it and swam toward Rose. Even as she flailed and sputtered up water, she demanded that he let go of her.
He refused, brought her back to the edge, and helped her onto the bank. As she got back up to her feet, Rose gave him a stare that was colder than the water had been, and set his mouth in a grim line as he shook his head.
He wasn’t a man who kept up with his conquests, but he was sure that the woman- he’d already forgotten her name- was not a woman he’d been with before. He wanted to laugh about it, to tease Rose for her apparent jealousy, but for the first time, he could not make a jest. After the way he’d lived his past, he realized he deserved this doubt- and it made him feel awful.
“Lady Rose,” a worried voice came from behind them.
Everett and Rose broke their tense eye contact, and they both turned toward the girls. His heart broke as he saw the utter terror on their little faces.
