Page 9 of A Duke for Stealing
A terrifying screech erupted from Harriett as she threw her bouquet down, and without another word, she stormed back down the aisle and out of the church. Chaos filled the church as gossip began to run rampant.
“Your Grace,” Harriett’s father said, striding up the aisle with his wife. “We demand an explanation this moment!”
“What other explanation is there to give?” Everett asked, setting a hard, intense look upon Rose that made her shiver. “I am in love. That is all there is to it.”
With his friends ushering everyone out of the church, Everett strode toward Rose and snatched her hand, nearly dragging her to one of the private rooms. He’d found Rose’s outburst comical at first, but now that real damage was done, he no longer found it amusing.
“Tell me what that was about and tell me now,” he commanded, shutting the door behind them. “I know you do not love me, so what is it? Jealousy? Anger toward the poor woman? Her reputation may never recover, you know.”
“Oh, posh,” Rose retorted, snatching her hand away from his, “Do not pretend that you actually cared about her.”
“I certainly did not, but I do not go around purposely andpubliclydestroying reputations for the fun of it,” Tristan shot back.
Before him, Rose flinched, and he could have sworn guilt shimmered in her eyes.
“I was not trying to destroy her reputation,” she said, her tone defeated. “I was simply trying to save yours.”
Everett raised a brow. Over the last couple of years, he’d gotten to know Rose, but always thought she was annoyed by him than anything. Did she really care what happened to him?
“Explain yourself,” he demanded.
Rose drew a steadying breath through her small, pert nose and wrung her hands.
“I overheard Harriett talking to her friends last weekend. She was telling them that she had taken a dalliance,” she told him.
Everett let out a dry laugh.
“So? It is not as I am going to our marriage bed as an innocent.”
“Obviously not,” Rose shot back, giving him a judgmental look, “Your reputation is well-renowned, Your Grace. Her dalliance is not why I spoke up…but what came from that dalliance is.”
Everett stared at her with narrowed, questioning eyes. Then suddenly he understood. His eyes slowly widened with realization, and he took a step back.
“Oh,” he breathed.“OH.”
“Yes,” Rose hissed, “thatis why I spoke up.”
“And you could not have spoken up sooner?” He demanded, “You had to wait until my wedding day?!”
The door opened before he got an answer from Rose, but he saw her pale even further as her mother stopped in. Everett immediately caught the scent of stale alcohol wafting off of her, and even though he was still angry at Rose, he felt a sliver of pity for her.
“Mama!” Rose exclaimed, her cheeks suddenly crimson. “What are you doing here?”
“You did not wake me, so I was late to the ceremony,” Betty stated, “I was walking into the church just as the others were coming out and heard the news! Rose, what have you done?!”
Everett saw panic rise in Rose’s eyes and stepped between them.
“She did me a service, Lady Lightholder,” Everett stated. “I knew this marriage was a mistake, but it was Rose who saved me from it.”
“Well,” Betty scoffed, planting her fists on her hips, “That is all well and good, Your Grace, but what are you going to do to save my daughter?”
“Mama, stop,” Rose pleaded.
“Are you going to marry her now?” Betty demanded. “Or will there be two ladies ruined today?”
Everett felt like his head was ready to fly into pieces as he tried in vain to sort through the chaos that had suddenly engulfed his life. The question was valid, but is that what he was going to do? Marry Rose? The idea seemed preposterous!
A knock on the door drew everyone’s attention, and Everett turned to see Dominic, Tristan, Hugo, and Alistair; their wives and Ophelia standing right behind them.
