Page 91 of The Duke and the Lady in Red
He handed herArabian Nightsand she began to read “Aladdin’s Wonderful Lamp.” She found herself wishing they might have a thousand and one nights such as this.
Chapter 18
As Rose dressed in a gown of red, she could not help but acknowledge that Harry had settled in rather nicely during the week since he had first come to Buckland Palace. He was devouring books, walking in the garden, and twice more Merrick, Sally, and Joseph had joined them for dinner.
Each afternoon, Avendale presented him with some surprise: a windup acrobatic clown; a mechanized racetrack that took up a good portion of the parlor and had Harry enthusiastically wagering on the outcome even though the same horse always won; a kaleidoscope, a telescope. Last night the skies had been clear and they’d taken to the gardens to observe the stars.
So when Avendale had asked her to accompany him to the theater this evening, she had not felt that she was in a position to decline the invitation. He was giving far more of his time to Harry than she’d expected, and it wasn’t fair that Avendale’s hours alone with her only occurred late at night when they retired.
They deserved an evening out together. Harry had been terribly understanding. When she had suggested sending for Merrick to keep him company, Harry had told her he preferred to be alone. The duke had granted him permission to disassemble the racetrack, and Harry was looking quite forward to deciphering how it worked.
Looking past her reflection in the mirror, she watched as Avendale shrugged into his evening jacket. By now she shouldn’t take such joy in observing him as he dressed, although she preferred his clothing being removed. Shouldn’t the novelty have worn off, shouldn’t they be tired of each other?
Edith secured the last pearl comb in Rose’s hair, then reached for the necklace.
“I’ll handle that,” Avendale said, coming up behind Rose.
With a quick curtsy, Edith took her leave. Rose barely moved as Avendale draped the gorgeous piece at her throat. She watched him, saw appreciation light his eyes, and decided to take the jewelry with her when she left, because it would so well serve as a reminder of their time together. She would be able to recall the sensations he stirred as he placed it on her.
“Thank you,” she said when he was finished.
She began tugging on a glove, and he stepped back. In the mirror, she saw his brow furrow.
“Hmm,” he murmured.
When the glove was in place above her elbow, she began on the next. “What is it?” she asked.
“Something doesn’t seem quite right.”
With the last bit of kidskin in place, she stood and moved to the cheval glass. She turned one way, then another. “I don’t see anything amiss.”
“Perhaps it’s this.” Taking her hand, he draped a ruby and diamond bracelet over her wrist before securing it.
“Avendale—”
“Don’t say no,” he said, cutting off her objection, lifting his gaze to hers. “Leave it behind if you like, although it is from Harry.”
“Harry has no money with which to purchase something like this.”
“I taught him to play poker this afternoon. He gave me a sound thrashing.”
She knew beyond any doubt that he had cheated to receive that thrashing. She cradled his jaw. “I did not expect you to be so kind.”
“I’m not certain I expected it of myself either, but I’m not entirely unselfish. If we don’t leave soon, we’re going to miss the curtains opening. It will ruin the entire evening if we don’t see the play from the beginning.”
Draping her wrap over her arm, she followed him out into the hallway and began descending the stairs.
“What play are we seeing?” she asked.
“Some Shakespearean drama no doubt. Does it matter?”
“No, I suppose—”
She staggered to a stop at the sight of Harry standing in the foyer grinning up at her. He wore black trousers, a black swallow-tailed jacket, white shirt, gray waistcoat, and a perfectly knotted cravat. He held in the hand leaning on the gleaming cane a tall beaver hat.
“Avendale,” she whispered. He’d stopped one step below her, and she turned to him now. Her heart was breaking at his kindness, but it was also breaking for the cruelty he was unintentionally inflicting. “We can’t take him with us.”
“Trust me, Rose.”
