Page 42 of The Marquis' Game of Seduction
“Is it so ridiculous?” Anna asked.
Rose lowered her voice, conscious, suddenly, of the swarms of maids and servants and ladies of the house around them. “You’re speaking about the Marquees…” she began. “And I’m only a governess. The sheer idea that the two of us would ever spend any sort of time together—let alone the rest of our lives—is absolutely…”
But Rose felt her heart dipping into her stomach as she spoke. She swept her hands over her chest and felt an overwhelming urge to whisper the feeling she knew, truly, to be brewing within her soul. Anna squeezed her hand and gave her a knowing look.
“Love can surpass any kind of barriers society puts around it,” she said.
Rose tilted her head. She wanted to demand how Anna could be so certain. But behind her, she caught sight of Ernest once more, peering down at the letter Anna had given him. Anna’s grin widened, and her dimples cut deeper.
“Don’t you see? I can be an example for you,” she breathed. “All my life, I hadn’t a reason to learn to read and write. Yet suddenly, I found myself falling—falling terribly in…”
Anna seemed not to be able to finish her sentence. She cut her teeth onto her tongue, then gave Rose a playful shrug. “It’s only that that was an enormous barrier between Ernest and I. And now? Now that I’ve given him a reflection of my soul? I know he can see me more clearly. And perhaps—perhaps, against everything else, there’s a chance.”
Rose hadn’t the proper words to respond. Anna slipped her hand behind her back and tapped her playfully, whispering that they had better get to work, finding her a beautiful dress for the Marquees’ party. Rose felt as though she was walking around underwater, in a kind of dream. As they passed Ernest’s vegetable stand, he announced to Anna that he would have her order prepared in twenty minutes. Anna thanked him and pressed on. Her hand felt warm on Rose’s back, through the petticoats and the corset. Still, as they stepped forward, Rose could hear Anna’s words swirling around and around her head. “Love can surpass any kind of barriers society puts around it.”
Somewhere in the back of her mind, Rose prayed that Anna was right.
Chapter 18
On Saturday mid-afternoon, whilst Duncan played upstairs in his bedroom alone, Rose and Anna splayed the dress they’d picked for the party across her bedspread. The sunlight filtered in through the window.
The light pink gloss of the dress glowed, and highlighted the golden outline that dipped across the breasts and slipped down toward the waist. The skirt was enormous, the kind of thing Rose imagined at the palace itself. She shivered, still wearing her everyday “governess” dress.
“I don’t know,” she murmured.
“What do you mean?” Anna chirped, sounding a bit impatient.
“It’s just. I don’t know that I’m worthy to wear such a thing. And imagine it. Around the Marquees’ friends and acquaintances? I imagine they’ll approach me and ask me who I am. And I’ll be forced to say I’m nothing but the governess…”
Anna clucked her tongue. “Forced? I think it’s an honorable profession. None of the people at this party could have learned to read and write and perhaps even chew their food without their governesses. Remember that. Their governesses were akin to their mothers and fathers and older siblings. I’m certain they don’t look down upon them.”
Rose considered this. In actuality, she couldn’t imagine Duncan speaking ill of her in his later life. Perhaps these upper-echelon creatures that the Marquees had invited would be similar?
There simply wasn’t a way to know, and the anxiety of it stirred in her belly. As she and Anna stood gaping at the dress, there was the patter of little feet behind them. Rose yanked around—admittedly still with the idea of ghosts in the mansion—and found Duncan just behind them, carrying one of his teddy bears.
He grinned and waved and said, “Goodness. I had meant to sneak up on you, but you’re making it very difficult, aren’t you?”
Rose drew her fingers over his ear and tugged at it, returning his smile. “You’re such a monkey, little Duncan.”
“There’s a party this evening, isn’t there?” Duncan asked. “That’s what the dress is for.”
“Yes.” Rose dipped lower, so that she could speak to Duncan directly, face-to-face. She always felt this allowed more mutual respect between herself and the children she taught. “And if it’s all right with you, Duncan, you’ll attend the first portion of the party. When you grow tired, just tell me, and I’ll bring you up to bed. Okay?”
“You’re going to wear that beautiful gown?” Duncan asked, seeming to ignore the question.
Rose felt her grin emanating wildly, brighter than the sun. “I suppose so,” she murmured.
“It’s really wonderful, Rose,” Duncan said, his voice lowering. “I know my uncle will think the same.”
Rose arched her brow and gave Anna a curious look. Anna mouthed the words, “Told you so. Everyone knows,” before ducking out of the room, her hand slipping over Duncan’s hair. In her proper voice, she said, “Goodness, look at the time. I’m letting it slip away, aren’t I? Much to prepare for before this silly party, isn’t there?”
Rose watched her skip down the steps. She felt a twinge of sadness, watching her best friend dive into the belly of the house—knowing that she couldn’t attend the party that evening. In a way, it felt almost like a betrayal (something that Anna had absolutely forbidden her to say aloud, when Rose had attempted to bring it up that morning).
But of course, there wasn’t even a sliver of herself that told her she would miss the party for the sake of Anna. There was much at stake, and so much to see. Duncan tugged at her sleeve. He’d already forgotten the party and was requesting a bit of play in the library. Rose agreed, praying that this would make the time fly away.
***
The party began in the ballroom, located off the side of the mansion, with an opening toward the garden and the front gate. From Rose’s bedroom, she spotted the carriages already streaming in and depositing glittering women in gorgeous gowns, their arms slipped around those of their men.
