Page 82 of A Duke for Stealing
“You thinkIwas the only one who had an affair?” She asked.
She took another long sip from her glass, then let her elbows drop on the table as she leaned toward Rose.
“Your father let his mistress move into our country home. A penny’s worth prostitute that he supposedly rescued from a life in ruin was given a mansion in the countryside.”
Rose was barely shocked by anything her mother said. Betty had alluded to her father being unfaithful before, but she’d always assumed it was an excuse for her poor behavior. Now, though, as Betty said the words so vehemently, Rose was not sure.
“Even if that were true,” Rose replied after a while, “You did not love him.”
Betty let another laugh, weaker this time, and then slid into the back of her chair.
“I tried,” Betty replied. “In the beginning. Not long, but I tried.”
Rose looked on at her mother, taking in the sorry state she hadbeenin for over a decade.
“My heart aches for you, Mother,” she said, “But I cannot feel as you do. You did not love Father as I love Everett. And you did not love me as I love his nieces.”
Betty frowned.
“What in heaven’s name are you talking about? I havealwaysloved you,” Betty replied.
“Maybe you did,” Rose relented, “But you didn’t love me enough to put me before your affairs or your drinking. You just kept pressuring me to find a husband, a beast of my own, as you just called all men. And tell me, mother, if all men are truly beasts, then why did you want to so readily push me onto one?”
Betty’s mouth dropped open, but she did not speak.
“You have no idea what it was like for me,” Rose went on, letting out the feelings she’d kept pent up for so long, “To finally have someone take care of me. Everett did that. Not you.Ialways had to take care ofyou,and had to have thetonbelieve that it was the other way around, so your reputation would not worsen. No matter how I tried, though, you continued to damage yourself.”
“Rose,” Betty breathed, regret taking over her expression, “Rose, I had no idea you felt this way.”
It was Rose’s turn to let out a laugh, even if it was weak and dry.
“Oh, I told you,” Rose replied, “You were always just too drunk or too selfish to listen.”
Rose left the parlor without another word and spent the next two days in her old room. It was on her second day of solitude that Theo surprised her with a visit.
“I am so happy to find you,” Theo exclaimed, hugging Rose tight.
Rose hugged her friend right back, just as relieved as she was surprised by her sudden visit.
“I went to Stapleton to speak with you and was informed that, of all places, you had left for your mother’s house,” Theo said as they separated.
Rose nodded and waved her toward the small tea table for a seat.
“Yes, I had to think through some recent…changes,” Rose replied.
Wanting to change the subject quickly before Theo could inquire about what she meant, Rose continued.
“You look most unsettled, Theo. Whatever is wrong? Is it the baby? Are you-”
“No, no, all is well with this little one,” Theo assured, pressing a hand to her still flat stomach.
It was recent news that Theo and Allistair were expecting a child, and Rose remembered the day she’d received the letter about the joyous discovery.
“It is not myself I am here for, Rose, but you,” Theo went on. “There has been a scandal let loose.”
Rose sighed wearily. Would there ever be a day when the scandals would stop?
“What has my mother done now?” Rose asked.
