Page 68 of A Duke for Stealing
Rose looked up to meet Everett’s eyes again. He still looked relieved, but there was something new in his eyes. Something she could not quite identify.
“You certainly did,” she said as she looked at Everett, then hugged the twins tightly once again.
“Are you hungry?” Everett asked, rising from his chair.
“We only just started,” Leah spoke up. “Oh, do join us!”
“I would love to,” Rose replied, moving with them toward the table.
For a moment, as Everett stayed standing, she worried he meant to leave. Instead, to her surprise, he pulled out the chair directly to his seat and then took her hand to help her sit. A bowl of roasted chicken and vegetable soup sat down before her shortly after, and Rose’s mouth watered with hunger as she inhaled its savory scent.
As they ate, the girls chatted animatedly about what they had been up to while she was asleep. She was both surprised and pleased to learn that Everett had taken a break from his work and spent most of his time with the girls playing games, reading stories, and even trying to teach them a few lessons.
Once the final course was finished and the girls seemed to be talked out, Everett kindly asked them to retire to their room for an afternoon nap. Unlike they had just a week or so before, the twins did not argue or try to get out of their nap; instead, they dutifully rose from their chairs, hugged Rose one last time, and then left.
“You have done well with them,” Rose said to Everett once they were alone.
“Well, I only tried to keep up with what you have done,” he replied with a charming smirk. “I did not realize all that you do for them until I was forced to step into your shoes, Rose. I owe you a great thanks.”
Rose blushed at the sincerity of his compliment and looked down.
“They truly are no trouble. They are good girls. I am glad you agree with me on that.”
“I do,” Everett replied, “But even so, I have made the decision to hire a governess.”
Rose’s head shot back up, and she gave Everett a questioning glance.
“But why? The girls are no longer as wild as they used to be. They are behaving, they are-”
“This is not a punishment for them, Rose,” Everett gently interrupted, reaching out for her hand.
Rose gave him a wary look, but let him continue.
“As I said, what you have done with my nieces has been a great work, but what you need to do is alone. You and I both have duties to fulfill with our stations, and it is taking too much from you. You may see the twins any time you wish, I promise you, but when you do not have that time, they will be taking lessons with the governess I hired. They need to start their schooling, Rose, and I cannot ask you to take on that burden.”
Rose sighed in disappointment- but she could not argue Everett’s logic. It was true that she had been burning her candle at both ends, and her tiredness had probably exacerbated her apparent fever.
“I understand,” she said at last, “And I suppose I do agree. It would be well to have a governess here so they may begin their lessons.”
She then gave him a timid smile and slid her thumb over the back of his hand.
“I also want to thank you for what you did while I was sick,” she went on. “I do not remember much, but Mrs. Mulberry told me that you were very insistent on having me watched closely by the physician. And, although I am shocked that it was three days, I am grateful for the rest you were able to give me. I truly do feel better than ever.”
Everett’s smile grew more handsome than ever, and he leaned toward her with a look of contentment in his eyes.
“That isverygood indeed,” he replied, his voice dipping into a seductive tone. “For I have hired the governess for an additional, more selfish reason aside from logical ones.”
Rose trembled at the sound of it, felt her body flush with a heat that had nothing to do with her cured fever.
“Oh?” Rose breathed, tingling as Everett’s grip on her hand turned into a caress. “And what selfish reason is that?”
He leaned further forward and brought her hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles softly.
“Because I believe it is time we spent more private time together,” he said through his kisses. Then his smile turned into a handsomely devilish grin. “And because I made you a promise. My dear wife, it is time I take you to the Devil’s Masquerade.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“You have nothing to be nervous about,” Everett purred into her ear. His fingers trailed down Rose’s bare arms, sending sparks of heat through her anxiety. “You look positively ravishing.”
