Chapter 4 #2
As she went, she dared to search out the Duke in the crowd. He was watching the ordeal unfold with a cool gaze. She glared back at him, wanting him to see her annoyance with him.
“It really is no fuss,” Alison was saying as Rose led her into the kitchens, where she found a tub of water. Next, she snatched a towel, dunked it in the water, and began dabbing it onto the dress. “Truly, Rose, there is no need to worry.”
“I am sorry about Marianne,” Rose said as she tried to clean the stain. “She is… somewhat preoccupied.”
“Oh, I am sure,” Alison giggled drunkenly. “Engaged to a duke. She must be thrilled.”
Rose said nothing to that, not wanting to lend credence to the engagement because in her mind it was not going to happen.
But how can I stop it if Lord Ellery is not here? Or maybe he is by now, and I am inside dealing with this stain! I need to find him. I need answers! Or barring that, I need to find someone who…
Rose’s eyes widened when she realized suddenly who she was with. Lady Alison Huntington, a popular socialite of the Ton, friends with many, a confidant of many more, and the exact type of person who would know any rumors concerning men of Lord Ellery’s standing.
It was so darn perfect that Rose had to work her best not to smile.
“Say, Alison,” she started casually as she crouched down on her knees to get closer to the stain. It was bright pink, but slowly, with much work, it was washing off. “You haven’t seen Lord Ellery today, have you?”
“Lord Ellery?” Alison slurred. “Why are you looking for him?”
“Oh, I do not want to say but…” She clicked her tongue loudly. “My father wished for me to meet him.” She then laughed bitterly. “I think he is trying to set us up for marriage.”
“You and Lord Ellery?” Alison blinked dully. “You know he is married, don’t you?”
“He is?” Rose gasped. “I had no idea.”
“Very married,” Alison said. “I know his wife – I thought you did, too?” She blinked further, her vision looking to have doubled. “Although that is not nearly as happy a story as I would like.”
“What do you mean?” she asked without looking up.
“I…” Alison hesitated. “I should not say.”
Now, Rose knew Alison well, just as she knew how to get her lips flapping. Pressure was not the key, but disinterest. And Rose played that card perfectly.
“If that is the case,” Rose said. “Then forget I asked.”
“She does not know,” Alison said, sounding distraught.
“You do not need to say anything.”
“And if she found out…”
“Please, Alison, forget I asked.”
“Oh, alright, I will tell you. But you must keep it to yourself,” Alison pleaded as Rose finished up with the stain and stood back on her feet. “If anyone finds out it is from me…”
Rose was doing her hardest not to beam. “My lips are sealed.”
“Well, if that is the case,” Alison looked about the kitchen and then dropped her voice. “You know my cousin, yes? Michelle.”
“I do.”
“She was in Bath last weekend, where she saw Lord Ellery. Which in itself is not a surprise, for I am sure he has many reasons to visit Bath. Only, it is who she saw him with that raised concern.”
Rose’s heart was racing. “Who was he with?”
“A woman,” Alison said with wide eyes. “A commoner, to boot! And to make matters even worse, they had with them a boy of about four who Michelle swears was a spitting image of Lord Ellery. Can you believe it?”
“No!” Rose gasped.
“It is his child,” Alison continued, her words starting to slur even more. “It must be his child. Oh, his poor wife,” she then moaned with sadness. “How distraught she will be to find out. You will not tell her, will you? Please, Rose, you must keep this to yourself.”
“I have already forgotten,” Rose said.
From there, it was a bit of a struggle to drag Alison back outside, after which it was a chore to find her husband and hand her off, which Rose did as soon as she could.
“You won’t tell anyone, will you?” Alison slurred as her husband carried her away. “And give Marriane my best!”
Alone now, her task complete, she spun on the spot and scanned the gardens until she found the Duke down the path. Her eyes lit up, and she hurried for him, caring not for what people might say if they were seen speaking together, and for a second time.
“It is done.” Rose came in behind him.
The Duke started at the sound of her voice, as he was busy speaking with a small group of his peers. But he turned and found Rose standing there, hands folded behind her back, expression one of absolute delight and triumph.
“Done?”
She looked knowingly at him. “Concerning…” Her voice dropped. “Lord Ellery.”
The Duke sighed as he turned to gesture to his friends that he needed a moment. Then he scowled at Rose, indicating for her to follow him. Which she did do, almost dancing the whole way because she was that excited.
“I would have preferred subtlety,” the Duke said once they were alone. They stood in the corner of the large garden, far enough away that they would not be overheard.
“It is done,” she said again. “I found out everything you need to know.”
He frowned and tilted his head, only now seeming to notice the way that she was shaking from the excitement. “Did you, now?”
“I did.”
“And?” he asked. “What did you learn?”
“You were right to be worried,” she said, almost shouted. “Lord Ellery is…” The Duke widened his eyes, and she dropped her voice. “He is having an affair.”
“You are certain?”
Rose repeated to the Duke what Alison had told her. “She was quite insistent that the child looked just like him. And I know her cousin, too, just as I know she is not one who would speak such rumors without warrant. It is true, Your Grace. I promise you.”
Rose didn’t know what to expect as a response from the Duke.
She supposed she expected him to smile, clap his hands, and praise her for a job well done. If he were half as excited as she was, he would not hesitate to show it. That’s what she would have done.
It was only when she saw the shadow pass behind his eyes, which looked like sadness, that she realized how wrong she was. And not just concerning his reaction, but her opinion of the type of man that he was.
“You did well today,” he told her, his gaze now distant. “But I am afraid that I have business to attend.” With that, he stepped around her to leave.
“Wait!” she cried after him, caring not that it caused a few people nearby to turn and look at them both. “Our— our deal,” she hissed. “What of our deal?”
The Duke said nothing at first. He looked at her, standing there, his brow furrowed, his jaw clenched.
A serious expression on his face. The same darkness was behind his eyes as he studied her.
Rose felt a pulse ripple up her body, the sudden feeling that she had willingly walked right into the jaws of a hungry lion.
“I have not forgotten,” he said finally. “Just as I will be seeing you soon. That, I promise you.” With that, he turned and strode away.
Rose breathed a sigh of relief to see him gone. And this sigh of relief turned into a smile unlike any she had ever produced when she turned about and saw Marianne watching her. Rose flashed her that smile, and Marianne’s frown grew deeper.
I cannot wait to tell her! Oh, how pleased she will be! She is free now, no longer tethered to the Duke; her life is her own, and I just know that she will not waste it.
She was about to join her sister and tell her everything when, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the Duke crossing the garden. He walked quickly, his expression still serious, even angry, and it was enough to see those in his way hurry to remove themselves lest he trampled them.
He was a man of power. A man of respect and honor. A man whom many feared, most adored, and all stood below.
It was only then that Rose realized what she had done.
As strange as it might have sounded, Rose had not stopped to consider what would happen if she were successful. She was so concerned with her sister’s well-being that she had not once thought about her own future.
Her stomach dropped suddenly. The garden started to turn. Rose stumbled as her knees just about gave out, and it was all she could do not to collapse. Yes, her sister was now saved, and that was something she would never change. However…
What of me? What of my future? What is my life going to be like now that I am set to marry the Duke? And why did I not think this through?
Again, Marianne was who mattered, and Rose fixed that thought firmly in her mind. But it did little to dispel the sense of dread that started to creep up inside of her, just as it did little to dispel the fear of the unknown that was her life from now on.