Page 8 of A Duke for Stealing
Rose felt Theo pulling her out of the room. It was the right thing to do. To leave. To let Everett marry Harriett. She’d tried to tell him. That was all she could do. Still, as Theo pulled her backward, Rose gave her warning one more attempt.
“Do not marry her, Everett. Call it off now. Before anyone need get hurt.”
Everett’s gaze turned deeply curious as he watched her being pulled out of the room, but no more was said, and a moment later, Rose was walking with Theo back to the prayer hall.
“What in heaven has gotten into you?” Theo whispered fervently. “I have never seen you like this before!”
Feeling utterly defeated, Rose simply bowed her head and followed Theo to their seats. The rest of her friends gave her curious looks as they filtered into the pew, but Rose kept her head down.
Breathe. You just have to breathe. Stay calm. Stay silent. You tried to tell him. Ophelia was right. This is obviouslynotyour business!
Rose repeated the words to herself over and over again, even as the ceremony started and Harriett had made her way down theaisle and had joined Everett on the raised stage to begin their vows.
That’s it. Just stay quiet. Get through this. Even if it will hurt Everett. Even if the silly man who’d made her laugh and annoyed her like a brother will be connived by a woman he thought he could trust. Even if he-
“If anyone knows of any reason why these two should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace,” the priest spoke to the crowd.
Rose froze, forgot how to breathe. Seconds. She just had to stay quiet for a few more seconds.
“Well, with no one to object, I-”
“Wait!” Rose shouted, the word bursting from her like a cry for help. She shot to her feet, not at all sure how she’d gotten her legs to move in the first place.
Silence so loud it was deafening flooded the church as all eyes, including Harriett and Everett’s, turned to her.
Rose opened and closed her mouth a few times, still shocked at what she was doing, and began to stammer.
“I-I- I do, Your Holiness,” she finally worked out.
The priest raised a brow as he lowered his bible.
“Speak your protest, madam,” the priest commanded. “Before your peers and God.”
Harriett was positively fuming as she stared daggers at Rose, but Everett actually looked as if he were about to burst into laughter at any moment. Tristan, at his side, was looking at her as if begging her to say something or sit down.
“I love him,” she blurted out.
Gasps filled the chamber as Rose’s mind whirled. I love him.I love him?!Of all the things she could have said,thatwas what her brain came up with??
Everett’s laughing stopped as he looked at her with momentous surprise, but Harriett’s expression was one of pure fury.
“Quiet yourself, Rose Gravesmoor,” Harriett commanded. “And sit down!”
“Rose, truly, you should sit down,” Ophelia whispered at her side. “I fear you have suffered from some sort of-”
“I love him,” Rose repeated, louder this time. “And he loves me too!”
She raised her pointer finger toward Everett, feeling her cheeks flame with embarrassment.Was she actually doing this?!
“He promised his heart and his hand to me!” She added with a dramatic flair, “Duke of Stapleton, Your Grace, I demand you give me my satisfaction!”
Everett’s eyes somehow went wider with shock and confusion as Rose pleaded with her eyes for him to go along with her. Harriett’s gaze, along with the entire congregation, swiveled to him.
“Is this true?” Harriett whispered loudly, “Your Grace, I implore you, speak! Tell us this is not true!”
Everett glanced at Rose once more, his eyes filling with contemplation, then he raised his chin and cleared his throat.
“It is true,” he stated with confidence. “Miss Gravesmoor and I share a love I can no longer ignore.”
