Page 46 of Marry in Secret
But he was a weary husk of a man with a dead stump for a heart. And obligations elsewhere.
He hardened his voice, needing her to understand. “I would be six kinds of villain if I allowed you to base your decision on... emotion.”
“Yes, Thomas.” She rose on her toes and planted a swift kiss on his mouth.
“Stop it, Rose—I’m serious here.”
She tried to look serious, but he wasn’t fooled for a minute.
“Promise me you’ll give it a few d—a week before you decide. And listen to your family. Give their opinions serious consideration.”
“Serious consideration.” She repeated it like an obedient schoolgirl, her expression showing she was anything but.
He had to get her out of here. If she looked at him like that for an instant longer he wouldn’t be answerable for the consequences. “I’ll see you in a few days. Or a week.”
“Come riding with us tomorrow. Seven o’clock, Hyde Park—weather permitting.”
He stamped down on the temptation. “Good-bye, Rose.”
Her laugh was soft, pure, delectable mischief. “See you tomorrow, Thomas.”
He closed the door behind her and leaned against it. He’d failed her once; he wouldn’t fail her this time. For all her experience, she was still something of an innocent, and he had to protect her, even if from himself.
Especially from himself.
A knock came on the door. He wrenched it open. “I told you—”
Baines recoiled, holding up his hands in a gesture of peace. “Just came for the dishes, sir. I saw the young lady leave, but if it’s not convenient...”
Thomas sighed and waved the man inside.
***
The rain having eased to an occasional spatter of drops, Rose walked home, pondering the situation. Whatwas Thomas so worried about? Was it simply an excess of nobility? Imagining she cared a lot more about social status than she did? The duke had given him ideas, perhaps, but she’d only agreed to marry the duke because he’d assured her he didn’t love her and preferred she didn’t love him. Which she didn’t.
Give her a poor and loving Thomas any day over a rich, phlegmatic duke.
Fresh from Thomas’s embrace, she couldn’t conceive of agreeing to such a cold-blooded bargain. And yet she had. Thomas’s return had shattered the shell she’d built around herself, the shell she hadn’t even realized existed. She felt more alive now than she had in forever.
She gave a little skip. Thomas kissed like a dream. She couldn’t wait to get him back in the marriage bed.
She entered the house quietly, wanting to avoid any questions about where she had been. She washed and changed, and came downstairs again as if she’d slept in and had only just woken up.
Following the sound of voices, she found Emm, Cal, George, Lily and the two aunts seated in the back drawing room. Emm had her writing desk out and was poring over sheets of paper, making notes. Cal too had a list in front of him. George was sorting papers, Aunt Dottie and Lily were winding wool and Aunt Agatha was peering through her lorgnette, overseeing whatever it was that Emm was doing.
Emm looked up with a warm smile as she came in. “Ah, there you are, Rose dear. Did you sleep well?”
“Very well, thank you, Emm.” It was a lie, but she felt as refreshed as if she had slept beautifully. Kissing Thomas had that effect on her. Her blood was fizzing like champagne. She sat down beside Emm. “What are you doing?”
“Going through the lists.”
“What lists?”
Emm gave her a dry look. “Canceling a wedding turns out to be just as much work as planning one, if not more. The food was easy. Thank goodness we decided on a smallfamily wedding breakfast. The servants took what they wanted and distributed what was left to the poorhouse.”
“Oh.” Rose hadn’t thought of the trouble she was putting everyone to. “What can I do to help?”
“I can deal with most of this.” Emm gestured to several closely written sheets. “This list is for the return of the wedding presents. George is helping with that, and Lily will be wrapping them back up.”
