Page 61 of A Duke for Stealing
“Are you hurt?” Diana asked, her little voice squeaking toward tears.
Rose sighed, wiped a hand through her soaked, ruined hair, and shook her head.
“No girls,” she replied, her voice full of assurance.
Everett turned to her with an apologetic look, but Rose ignored him completely and walked straight to the girls, kneeling before them. At once, they rushed into her arms, hugging her tightly.
“I am well, I promise,” Rose said softly, hugging them close.
Everett once more tried to reach for a jest. It’s what he did, who he was. He always lightened the intense moments. Yet as he saw his nieces huddled tightly into Rose’s arms, saw the look of utter sadness on Rose’s face, he kept silent.
“You scared us,” Leah scolded, frowning as she pulled away from Rose’s embrace. “Do not do so again!”
“It is my fault,” Everett said, quickly stepping toward them. “Lady Rose and I were playing a game, and I made her fall. Do not be angry with her.”
“Bad, uncle Everett, bad!” Leah chastised.
Yes. He had been bad, and for the first time, he felt awful about it.
“I will never put Lady Rose in harm’s way again,” he vowed, kneeling down.
He looked at Rose longingly, and he was overcome with relief when her resigned eyes finally looked at him. She sniffled, nodded, and put on a smile for the girls.
“Well, my darlings, I am sorry that I have ruined our picnic,” Rose apologized.
Leah gave her an intense look, but the little girl finally nodded her head.
“We forgive you. It was an accident.”
“I have an idea,” Everett offered, helping Rose to her feet, “What if we took our picnic home? You girls can have it in your room with your dolls if you like, and I will make sure Lady Rose gets warm and dry. We do not want her catching ill, do we?”
Both girls shook their heads, and without complaint, they helped him and Rose clean up the picnic Rose had so prettily laid out for them and rode home. Everett made sure the girls were settled in their room before he made his way to Rose’s quarters, not caring at all that he, too, was still drenched.
He walked into Rose’s rooms without knocking, just as her maid was starting to undo the strings of her gown.
“Leave us,” Everett commanded.
Rose gave him a tired look as the maid scurried from the room, and she shook her head.
“Have you not embarrassed me enough?” She asked. “Please, Everett. Go away.”
“Not until I correct this mistake,” he stated. He folded his arms, making it clear that he wasn’t going anywhere.
Rose continued to give him that weary look, but after a moment, she gave him a resigned nod.
Flashes of their time together in the gardener’s cottage alit his mind as he carefully pulled the strings of Rose’s gown loose. Just as before, his body filled with need as her bare skin became more exposed with every piece he removed. Only this time it wasn’t about giving in to that primal need. It was about care.
Rose shivered under his touch as he traced his fingertips along her bare spine, gasping. Everett drew his longing gaze up to her face and saw the most angelic blush touch her pale cheeks. He gave a lowered to her bare shoulder, and he placed a soft kiss there.
Rose let out another breath at the touch of his lips, but instead of leaning into him, she pressed her eyes closed and stepped away.
Everett winced at her distance, but he wasn’t going to go. He wasn’t finished punishing himself, and that’s what this was - punishment for his past sins. Instead, he reached for the folded blanket the maid had laid out and wrapped it tightly around her.
“I didn’t know her, Rose,” Everett said, taking the pins from her soaking hair. “You have every right not to believe me, but I am telling the truth.”
He picked up the second blanket once Rose’s damp curls had fallen, and he began to dry them. It was only after several long moments that Rose spoke.
“It was foolish,” she said, glancing back at him. “Iwas foolish.”
