Page 8 of The Duke and the Widow
“You have a good memory.”
“Well, you made me repeat it to you five times. Six, including that one.”
She hid her laugh behind her hand. “Well, we can’t have you stumbling into the chamber of some innocent miss. You’d have your duchess before the night was out.”
He scanned the room, ensuring they would still go unheard. “How do I know you aren’t tricking me and the directions aren’t to your chamber?” His tone was one of jest, but perhaps just a slight undertone of concern that she might play such a trick on him.
“You will just have to sneak in tonight and see who you shall find waiting, Duke.” She winked at him. “On that note, I believe I am headed for my bed this evening. I do hope you have a good night, Your Grace.”
Rosina caught Lily’s eye and nodded towards the door. Lily understood her meeting and said something to Lord Knox, then joined Rosina’s side. Rosina looped her arm through Lily’s, and they set off towards the staircase.
“What do you think of Lord Knox so far?” Rosina asked once they were out of earshot from the other guests.
There was something hesitant in Lily’s expression. “I’m not certain. He appears to be a kind man. I shall need more time to better ascertain his character.”
“You have many more days to spend in his presence. I am certain you will know your mind on the matter soon.”
Lily sighed. “I don’t think it matters anyway since my father is the one making the arrangements.”
“Your father shouldn’t force you to marry someone to further his own standing,” Rosina ground out. She would give Lily’s father a piece of her mind if it came to it. Her mother, too.
“Enough about that,” Lily said. “Tell me about the duke. I assume he is to be your…friend…for the duration of the house party?”
Rosina’s cheeks heated, and she wasn’t certain why. She wasn’t the type of woman to blush at the thought of a man. “You are correct. We are aligned with what we seek from each other.”
“I hope he is everything and more,” Lily said, then nudged Rosina with her shoulder. “Perhaps I’ll know one day what it is to have such experiences.”
They reached the top of the staircase and took the left towards their chambers.
“Indeed, you shall. Just remember what I told you the night we met. Only one man shall matter.”
When they reached Lily’s door, the third door on the right, Lily clasped both of Rosina’s hands in hers. “You seem to believe in love for everyone but yourself.”
She squeezed Lily’s hands. “I’ve already had my love, and that part of myself died and was buried in the cold dirt with him.” Rosina tamped down the thoughts of Ry for the second time that evening, refusing to let her emotions get the better of her. “Now go on. I have a duke to get ready for.”
Rosina was almost certain that Lily wished to say more, but she released Rosina’s hands and they both departed into their respective chambers.
Her lady’s maid, Molly, was waiting for her once Rosina was on the other side of her chamber door.
“I assume you won’t be alone this evening, my lady,” Molly said, smirking at her and pulling out a sheer night rail.
Molly knew everything about her life, given that she had been with Rosina since she was a girl of five-and-ten. She was there when Rosina fell in love, when she married, and she was the one who held Rosina’s hand and tried to force her to eat when she was devastated in the wake of her grief after Ry’s passing. Molly had also been there the entire time since, encouraging Rosina to pick up the pieces of her life.
“You assume correctly,” Rosina replied, turning so that Molly could unfasten the buttons of her dress.
“Please tell me it is that handsome duke I caught a glimpse of. The other maids were tittering about him.”
Rosina laughed. “It is, in fact, the very duke.”
“As long as he treats you right, my lady,” Molly said protectively. “Duke or not.”
“I’m sure we shall pass a pleasant evening. He is surprisingly not as haughty and demanding as I might have expected. The title hasn’t gone to his head yet.”
Molly laughed. “Then you might still have time to tame him to be what you want.” She pulled the dress over Rosina’s head, then helped to remove her stays, chemise, and stockings. Rosina slipped the night rail over herself and then moved to the washbasin.
Rosina completed her evening ablutions while Molly tended to putting the worn garments away. After Rosina finished, Molly held out a purple satin robe for her and once she donned it, she tied it closed with the sash around her waist. Motioning for Rosina to sit at the mirror, Molly began brushing Rosina’s hair as soon as she did so.
The pair chatted about some of theon ditfrom the servants that Molly had overheard, and who Rosina believed might pair up at the house party. With so many in close quarters and places to sneak off to, it was almost guaranteed that at least one couple would make such a declaration. It was a fun game to speculate about who the happy couple or couples might be.
