Page 97 of A Duke for Stealing
Everett went rigid against her, then sat up with a quickness.
“I cannot believe I forgot,” he stated, his eyes glistening with guilt.
“Well,” Rose said with a laugh, “I cannot be mad at you for it. We had more pressing matters to attend to.”
Everett let out a throaty chuckle as he grinned and brought her hand to his mouth.
“And I am so very glad those matters have been attended to,” he replied, “However, that does not excuse my forgetfulness. Rose, I believe I know who started these rumors.”
Rose’s smile faded as she sat up against the pillows.
“Who?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
“Ishould be the one to handle this,” Everett insisted. “I have put you through enough, Rose. Allow me to take care of this problem.”
Rose smiled lovingly at her husband, seated across from her in the carriage. She appreciated his willingness to take care of this matter for her, but she’d already made up her mind. She was going to address the culprit herself- and she was going to do it alone.
“All will be well,” she promised him. “We are just going to have a civil chat. However, if she truly shows she is not willing to listen, I shall let you take the reins.”
Although Everett looked openly displeased with her decision, he gave a begrudging nod.
“You will not at least let me come inside with you?” Everett asked in a last-ditch effort to stay by her side.
Smiling, Rose shook her head.
“Kiss me,” she implored as Everett hung his head, “And wish me luck.”
With a sigh, Everett lifted his head, lovingly stroked her cheeks, and gave her a warm kiss.
“Good luck,” he whispered against her lips.
Rose pulled away from their kiss with a blush on her cheeks and knocked on the carriage ceiling. A moment later, the door opened, and as she stepped into the rainy street, she opened her baby pink parasol. It was fitting, she thought as she strode up the walk of the house they were parked in front of, that today’s weather had turned ugly. For she was about to broach a rather ugly subject.
“Hello, Harriet,” Rose greeted as the woman behind the rumors answered the door. There was no butler to do so. No maids to assist. Just Harriett, who narrowed her eyes into a glare as she saw the woman who ruined all her schemes.
“What are you doing here?” Harriet demanded. “How did you find me?”
“Won’t you please let me in?” Rose asked.
Harriet glared at her a moment longer, then begrudgingly opened the door wider so Rose could step in.
“Thank you,” Rose replied, shaking out her parasol, “I believe that is the first polite thing you have done since all of this has started.”
“Do not speak to me of manners when it was you who ruined my wedding,” Harriet bitterly retorted. “Now answer my question. How did you find me?”
“You work in rumors,” Rose answered, tapping the end of her parasol against the hardwood floor. She then leaned on the handle. “My friends and I work in fact. Even if they do mostly come from whispers.”
Her eyes dropped to Harriet’s waistline, where a small bump had formed upon her otherwise small figure. Harriet followed her gaze, then wrapped her arms tightly around her abdomen.
“A dear friend of mine holds the leads to many spies. Spies in London and many other places around the world,” Rose went on, “It was not difficult to discover that your Italian husband had thrown you out after he discovered the truth of your condition, nor was it difficult to discover that your parents had discreetly shipped you here. Not Mayfair, but certainly not a bad part of London. They could not fully forgive you for your indiscretion, though, so they gifted no maids or help. Simply an allowance to feed and clothe yourself.”
Harriet’s eyes narrowed with hatred.
“Witch,” she hissed.
“No, my dear,” Rose replied, straightening her posture. “To you, I am a godsend.”
