Page 86 of A Duke for Stealing
“Well, I am so very proud of you both!” Rose answered emphatically.
“Can we show you? Can we show you all we learned?”
“But of course,” Rose replied.
Everett continued to simply stand there, too astounded to move or speak. Like the girls, he had feared that Rose was not going to come back.
“Let us make a plan,” Rose urged the girls. “It is almost supper time. Would you please wash your face and hands, and bring what you want to show me to the table? Then we can talk all you want.”
“And then you will read us our bedtime story? Just as you used to?” Leah asked, her tone wary but hopeful.
“Of course I will,” Rose promised. “I have missed reading to you very much while I have been away.”
“And we missed you,” the twins replied in unison.
The three of them hugged each other tightly once more, and then the girls raced off to do as they were told. When they were gone, Everett only continued to stare in silent wonder at Rose. She still did not look him in the eye, and although that hurt him, he did not mind. She wasback.
“We need to speak,” Rose stiffly stated.
Everett blinked, cleared his throat.
“About?” He asked.
Rose finally glanced toward his face —just a glance— but it was enough to send a surge of joy through his heart.
“There are new rumors,” Rose stated, “About me. About our marriage.”
The news surprised and disappointed him. He’d hoped she’d be willing to have their last conversation again. So he could try to not only be honest with her, but with himself.
“I do not care,” Everett said quickly. “Rose, that is not what I want to talk about.”
“Respectfully, I do not wish to know what you want to talk about,” Rose replied in the same stiff manner. “If you do not want to hear what is being said, that is fine, but we must take action.”
Everett would have been hurt by her dismissive tone if he were not still so overjoyed to be standing in front of her.
“What do you propose we do?” He asked.
“We received an invitation to a ball from the Marquess of Bakerton and his wife before I left. It is in two days. We must appear as a solid, happily married couple, so that is what we shall do.”
Everett nodded.
“Rose, if I may-”
“You may not. Now I am weary from my time away,” Rose said, cutting him off. “I must go change before I meet the girls for supper. If you are done being so distant with them, you should join us. They would like that.”
“I will,” Everett readily agreed.
Rose gave him a nod and, without another word, walked toward the house. He watched her leave. Stunned. Hurt by her coldness. Even more, overjoyed at her return.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“What has gotten into you?” Rose whispered by Everett’s side.
He didn’t have to look in her direction. He’d already been doing that all night. Ever since they’d gotten into the carriage to leave for the ball, ever since they arrived. It didn’t matter who tried to talk to him, who tried to gain his attention. His eyes were on her. Even if she was still barely speaking or looking at him in return.
“Whatever do you mean?” Everett asked.
“Your hand, Everett,” she murmured, flicking her eyes toward her waist, “It has been upon me all night.”
