Page 103 of The Enigmatic Governess of Buford Manor
Their eyes locked and Rose was overcome with emotion as she stared at the duke. Never in her life had she been happier to see another person, not when she had been certain that she would not lay eyes upon Nicholas again.
“Children, go,” Nicholas ordered them, his voice gruff with upset. “And tell no one what you saw here.”
“But Nicholas – “
“Harry, you must trust in me,” the duke told his cousin kindly. “Miss Rose will be cared for, I assure you.”
“Thank you, Harry, Betsey,” she murmured, her dried eyes burning with gratitude. “I will be fine now, I swear it.”
“Nicholas, I must tell you something,” Harry said urgently, casting Rose a nervous look. “I should have told you long ago…”
“Harry, it can wait,” Nicholas insisted, extending his arm for Rose to take but the boy did not move.
“It is about Captain Balfour.”
The concern and anger on Nicholas’ face seemed to emanate from him in waves.
“Whatever it is, Harry, cannot make me despise the man more than I do in this moment,” the duke explained, helping Rose down the servant’s corridor and away from the tiny room where she had been held.
“Harry,” Rose told the boy kindly. “I will tell him but you and Betsey must go now. You have already risked a great deal for me and I will never forgive myself if you are caught. Go now and speak to no one about this – no one at all.”
The siblings gawked at them, apparently uncertain of what to do but Rose nodded encouragingly.
“This will all be over soon,” she promised Harry. “Captain Balfour will never hurt anyone again.”
“I solemnly vow the same, Harry,” Nicholas confirmed and for the first time, Harry seemed comforted.
“Go,” Rose insisted and this time, they disappeared through the dark corridor, leaving Nicholas and Rose to hobble in the opposite direction.
“I will get you to safety,” Nicholas whispered. “And then we shall have a long, meaningful discussion.”
Worry, shame and reprieve washed through her and she nodded. Nicholas was going to learn the entire truth about how Captain Balfour had come to be at Rosecliff, facts that would be difficult to hear and likely result in Rose’s banishment.
Yet, I am alive.
As he led her down the stairs, through the spiral case into the servant’s hall, she wondered if she would ever feel alive again if she did not have Nicholas.
Chapter 34
“Icannot stay here,” Rose murmured, looking about Nicholas’ apartment in awe. “It is inappropriate.”
“It is the most reasonable place to keep you for the time being,” the duke insisted, guiding her toward his bed. “I will ensure none of the servants enter while you recover but Balfour will not suspect I have found you if I do not give him cause to believe it.”
“He will be looking for me, Your Grace. Nowhere in Rosecliff is safe.”
“This is my manor, my duchy!” Nicholas growled, furious at himself for not having seen what was happening. “I will not permit that man nor any other to take it from me.”
Rose looked away and Nicholas turned to the basin for water, hurrying it toward her. She pressed the cup to her lips, drinking in long sips.
“With ease now,” he warned, gently prying the water from her shaking hands. “You will only lose your accounts if you drink too fast.”
Reluctantly, she bequeathed the cup to him and sat nervously on the edge of the bed. It was highly unusual and she worried that she would be caught at any second.
“Harry told me you were going hunting with the captain,” she finally whispered when she could muster the words. “You must not!”
Nicholas scoffed slightly.
“Twas his idea, yes but I reminded him that I had been quite near death and was not in the mood for such an outing.”
