Page 47 of The Duke and the Lady in Red
“Friends.”
“Why must you go alone?” he asked again.
With a deep sigh, she twisted around on the bench at the dressing table that he’d had temporarily moved in from another bedchamber, and glared at him. With a wave of her hand, she dismissed Edith. Once the girl was gone, Rose said, “I’m not going to have a tryst if that’s what you’re thinking.”
He didn’t know what to think. “I simply find it odd.”
“That I should like a little bit of time to myself? Besides, I’m certain you’ll welcome a respite from my presence.”
He wouldn’t. Not that he was going to confess that and give her absolute power over him. He also realized there was the matter of trust. She had given of herself so freely, so easily. He didn’t trust it, didn’t quite trust her. He’d known some truly diabolical women in his life. She didn’t fit the mold and yet the others seemed more trustworthy.
“If you don’t return here as promised, I shall hunt you down.”
She pressed both hands in a cross over her heart. “Oh my word. Such romantic prose. Careful lest you cause me to swoon.”
“I’m serious, Rose.”
She got to her feet and walked to the foot of the bed. “We’ve made a bargain, you and I. I will keep to my end of it.”
“Why should I believe those words when so many others were lies?”
She didn’t appear the least bit offended or hurt. “There was a purpose behind the lies. Nothing is to be gained with my not being truthful now.”
Why couldn’t he have faith in those words, and why did it matter that he couldn’t?
With a duck of her head, she gave him a small smile. “I shall miss you while I’m away.”
“I’m not quite certain I believe that.”
“I shall seek to convince you when I return. I haven’t time now.” She crossed the room, picking up her reticule along the way.
“Why are you so secretive?” he asked.
Stopping at the door, she glanced back at him. “Why are you?”
His gut clenched. “I’m not.”
“Of course you are. Our conversations involve only the surface of our lives. I find no fault with that since we are only interested in exploring each other’s surface.” She gave him a knowing smile. She had the right of it. He knew it. She knew he knew it.
“Bring me a list of all your creditors that I can send to my man of business. He’ll see that they are all paid.”
“I know you have doubts regarding my honesty, but consider this. I gave you what you wanted before the accounts were paid. Because I do trust you, implicitly.”
“Have I ever done anything to make you think you couldn’t?”
“There is that, I suppose. I know I’ve given you ample reasons not to trust me, yet here we are engaging in something that I believe requires absolute trust. At least for me. I’ll see you in a bit.”
She left then, closing the door quietly in her wake. Tossing back the covers, he leaped out of the bed and rang for his valet. While she was away, he had matters to which he needed to attend. Setting things right with Beckwith topped the list.
Beckwith buried his face in his hands. “A swindling female. How could I be such a fool?”
Sitting in a chair in front of the solicitor’s desk, Avendale confessed, “If it’s any consolation, I fell for her ploy as well.”
Beckwith lifted his dark head, his blue eyes magnified by his spectacles. “My brothers are going to have a jolly good laugh at my naiveté.”
“No reason for them to know. I’m here to make restitution for any expenses you’ve incurred and any fees you are owed.”
Beckwith furrowed his young brow. “I should report her to Scotland Yard.”
