Page 85 of A Duke for Stealing
As soon as he heard his own words, Everett sagged into his chair and dropped his head to the table. Around him, the table fell into a stunned silence. It was the truth he was most afraid of. A fact that would alter his life forever if he fully accepted it. He loved Rose. Deeply. And that terrified him.
“I am not trying to hurt Rose,” Everett said, his tone resigned as he rose to his feet. “I am trying to protect her.”
“From what?” Hugo asked.
Everett barely glanced at his friends as he shook his head.
“From myself.”
This time, his friends did not urge him to come back to the table as he walked away. Did not call his name or follow him. Everett walked out of the gentleman’s club alone, wallowing in the terrible mess he’d made, not just with Rose, but with his friends.They did not deserve such surliness from him, and he knew it. They had only ever tried to help. Then again, so did Rose, and look what he did to her? Crushed her heart. Crushed it, and what for? Too simply prove to himself that he truly did not need her, or anyone. It was a lie, but he was too much of a coward to accept the truth.
“Girls,” Everett said with surprise when he made it back to Stapleton. “Whatever are you doing outside? Where is Miss Holliday?”
“Just on the patio around the house,” Leah replied.
“We did well with our lessons today, so Miss Holliday gave us the last half an hour to play,” Diana explained.
Everett’s worry eased, but only a little. He was happy that the girls were now more comfortable, but seeing them reminded him of who had made that possible. Rose.
“Well, I am happy to hear that you did so well with your lessons today, girls,” Everett finally replied, “But you should not have wandered so far off from Miss Holliday. You have probably worried her.”
“We heard your carriage return and wanted to speak with you,” Diana told him.
“We want to know when Lady Rose will be back,” Leah stated.
“She said she would not be long,” Diana added.
“But it has been three days and we miss her terribly,” Leah said as soon as Diana’s words stopped.
Everett rubbed the back of his neck, trying his best not to feel overwhelmed by their curiosity and his own foul mood.
“I am sure she shall be home soon, girls,” Everett replied.
“But what if she does not?”
“What if she left us?”
His mind and heart falling apart, Everett struggled for answers.
“I…girls…-”
“Leave you?” Rose’s beautiful voice said from behind him.
He spun around, unable to believe his ears.
“Now, girls, why on earth would I ever leave you?”
Rose didn’t look at him once as the girls rushed past him, as if he didn’t exist. It did not matter, though. What mattered was that she was there, despite how he had crushed her. Her smile was warm and wide as she knelt down and caught the twins’ tight embrace.
Beautiful. So very beautiful.
“You came back!” Diana exclaimed, hugging Rose’s neck tight.
“Of course I did, you silly girls,” Rose laughed, “I promised you I would, did I not?”
“We were good!” Diana informed her.
“We even finished all of our lessons early today!” Leah added.
