As Thomas stood beside Rose, he turned to the Earl of Derbyshire, a man of great influence in the House of Lords. "My Lord," Thomas began, "I have been giving much thought to the plight of widows and their children in our city. It is a tragedy that so many are left to suffer in poverty after the loss of a husband and provider."
He leaned forward, speaking with passion. "I believe it is our duty as members of thetonto do something to help. I propose that we increase the stipends given to widows, to ease their burden and help them get back on their feet."
Thomas looked around at the other guests, gauging their reactions. To his relief, some were nodding in agreement. He continued, "I know this may be a controversial issue, but I believe that it is the right thing to do. It is time for us to show our compassion and help those in need."
However, not all the guests agreed. Duke Elderton spoke up, his voice filled with disdain. "I must disagree, Thomas. This bill is nothing but a waste of resources. We have more pressing issues to attend to than this."
Another man chimed in, "I agree with Elderton. We cannot be seen as weak by caving into the demands of these people. We must put the interests of our country first."
Thomas sighed, feeling frustrated. He had known that there would be opposition, but he had hoped that more people would see the importance of this bill. He straightened his shoulders and replied, "Gentlemen, I understand your concerns, but this is not just a matter of compassion. It is a matter of justice. These people deserve better, and it is our duty to help them."
He turned to tell Rose to join his mother so she would not grow bored listening to him speak of politics. To his surprise, he found her deep in conversation with the Earl of Wexford and his wife. He leaned in to listen and was pleased to hear her echo his own views on caring for widows and orphans.
"I agree with His Grace," Rose said, her voice filled with conviction. "The plight of widows in the poor areas of London is a travesty. They should not be left without access to money or property, consigned to the poorhouse."
The Earl of Wexford nodded in agreement. "I could not agree more, Lady Rose. Your support of His Grace's plans is most commendable."
Thomas watched Rose as she spoke, his mind racing. He had to admit, he found her incredibly attractive as she spoke with such intelligence and confidence. He could see why the men at the soiree were so taken with her, and he could not help but feel a sense of pride at her quick wit.
As he listened to her speak, he was struck by the clarity of her ideas and the passion in her voice. He realized that she was not just a pretty face, but a woman of substance as well.
"You had better marry her quickly, Your Grace," one of the men said, tapping Thomas on the shoulder. "Before someone else gets her."
Thomas felt a pang of jealousy at the thought of someone else having Rose. He could not let that happen, he realized. "I just might do that," he said, trying to keep his voice steady.
He watched as Rose continued her conversation, her face alight with excitement. He saw the Earl of Turing make his way across the room. His eyes were fixated on Rose, and Thomas knew he would need to intervene. The earl was a rake and a bounder. Thomas would know since they had at one time been great friends enjoying their fun with the ladies.
Thomas approached Rose, his heart racing. "Lady Rose," he said, offering her his hand. "May I have this dance?"
Rose hesitated for a moment, but then she placed her hand in his. "Of course, Your Grace," she said, her voice soft.
Together, they walked toward the dance floor, where the small orchestra was playing a slow waltz. The other couples stepped aside as Thomas and Rose took their place, and Thomas felt a sense of pride as she placed her hand in his.
As they danced, Thomas could not help but be struck by Rose's beauty. Her skin was as soft as silk, and her eyes sparkled in the light of the chandeliers. He was drawn to her, and he felt an almost overwhelming urge to pull her close and kiss her. He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. This was foolish.He had a mission to complete, and he could not let himself be distracted by a pretty face.
But as they danced, Thomas found himself getting lost in the moment. He forgot all about his plan, and he simply enjoyed being with Rose. He was glad that she was finally helping him, and he felt a sense of hope that maybe, just maybe, they could make this work.
Thomas and Rose moved gracefully across the dance floor, their bodies in perfect time with the slow waltz. "You look beautiful tonight," Thomas said, trying to make small talk.
Rose's expression remained cool. "Do not think that flattery will change anything, Your Grace," she said, her voice low.
Thomas sighed. "I just want to enjoy this moment. Can we not have a pleasant dance?"
Rose raised an eyebrow. "You expect me to enjoy myself after making me lie and pretend to be your betrothed?"
Thomas frowned. "I understand that you are upset, but I promised that I would make it up to you if things work out for me. Where were you going to go after you escaped your wedding? Wherever it was, I will fund your way there after this and anything you have in store. Just give me a chance."
"I will take your money," Rose said, her voice firm. "But only to buy my way into freedom." She glanced around the room. "I seemany eligible young women from good families. Many of them would fall at your feet since you are both handsome and well-to-do. Why did you not rope one of them into your scheme? Why me?"
Thomas sighed and looked at Rose, his eyes filled with regret. "I tried," he said, his voice low. "But no one else would do it without a promise of a real marriage. I needed someone who was desperate enough to help me."
A low murmur of dismay grew amongst the crowd. Thomas looked and saw to his dismay that Miss Jameson was slowly wending her way through the dancers toward them.
"I find that quite hard to believe. Why would they not wish to grant a Duke his every wish?"
"I…uh…I—" Thomas could not speak because he felt as if he was watching a carriage rolling toward the edge of a cliff and the inevitable was about to happen. "We should go talk somewhere else."
Rose shook her head. "No. I shall not have you avoid my question. There is something you are not telling me about this whole affair. Why will not anyone else help you?"
