"Hannah," Rose said, breaking the silence. "If you were free to do anything in the world, what would you want?"
Hannah paused in her ministrations and looked at Rose thoughtfully. "It wouldn't matter what I did, My Lady," she said. "As long as I was with the person I loved."
Rose nodded, her mind turning this over. It was a simple answer, but it held so much truth. She realized that she was drawn to Thomas, not because of the false engagement, but because of the person he was. He was kind, intelligent, and passionate.
"Thank you, Hannah," Rose said, settling into bed. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, My Lady," Hannah said, blowing out the candle and leaving Rose to her thoughts.
''
Chapter Eleven
Thomas could not find his mother anywhere. Her maid had already informed him that she was not in her chambers nor in the ladies' sitting room. The only place he had not looked was in the library. He had not wanted to disturb Rose as he knew she was working on a new experiment and needed to concentrate. He loved the depth of interest Rose took in science and her growing passion for politics. The two of them had stayed up late the night before discussing another bill related to orphanages.
He slowly opened the door to the library so as not to disturb her but found his mother standing next to Rose and her experiment table.
Thomas watched the scene unfold before him, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. He had never seen his mother so engaged in conversation with anyone before, let alone a woman half her age. He leaned against the doorframe, listening to their conversation.
"Rose, dear, I need your help," his mother said, her voice almost pleading. "I need to look young again. Will you help me prepare some beauty masks and salves?"
Thomas could see the surprise on Rose's face, but she quickly recovered. "Of course, Your Grace. But you are already a lovely woman. You do not need any beauty aids."
Thomas chuckled to himself. He had never heard anyone speak to his mother like that. She was used to getting her way and having people cater to her every whim.
Thomas watched as Rose and his mother continued their conversation, talking about different ingredients and recipes. He was struck by how comfortable Rose seemed in his mother's presence. He had never seen her like this before.
He realized that he was enjoying the moment, so he decided to slip away quietly, not wanting to disturb them. As he walked away, he knew that Rose was going to be a valuable asset to his mother and to him.
"That's kind of you to say, Rose. I do hope that you two will consider setting the wedding date soon," the Dowager Duchess said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I would love to see Thomas settle down and start a family."
Rose smiled politely, avoiding looking at the Dowager Duchess. "We are waiting to set a wedding date, Your Grace," she said, deflecting the question. "With my mother not feeling well, I want to make sure she is well taken care of before I make any big decisions."
The Dowager Duchess nodded understandingly. "Of course, Lady Rose. Family always comes first. I hope your mother is feeling better soon."
Rose smiled, grateful that the matter was closed. "Thank you, Your Grace. I hope so too."
After the Dowager Duchess left her alone in the library, Rose continued to think about Thomas's mother's wish that they marry. It would never happen since Rose did not want to be tied to any man, but she also knew that she needed to write to her parents. Enough time had passed that any planned marriage would not be revisited.
She pulled out her writing paper and pen, and her thoughts swirled as she tried to put together the right words to tell her parents. She dipped the pen in the inkwell and began to write, her hand shaking slightly as she tried to come up with a believable excuse.
Aunt Matilde. She would be the perfect person to say she was visiting. She told them about the beauty of Scotland and how much she was enjoying her stay with her aunt. She painted a picture of a carefree and happy life, far removed from the reality of her situation.
As she wrote, she could feel her emotions bubbling up. She missed her parents and her old life, but at the same time, she knew she could never go back. She had to find a way to make a new life for herself, one where she was free to pursue her interests and dreams.
She finished the letter and re-read it, making sure it sounded believable. Satisfied, she folded it and sealed it, then placed it in her drawer for safekeeping. She leaned back in her chair and took a deep breath, trying to push away the feeling of guilt that had crept in. She knew that she lied to her parents, but she had no other choice. She needed to protect Thomas and his dream, even if it meant lying to the people she loved the most.
Thomas strode into the club, the sound of his boots echoing on the marble floor. The air was thick with the scent of cigar smoke and the sound of indistinct murmurs and clinking glasses. The club was a place for gentlemen to gather, enjoy good food and drink, and discuss the latest news and politics. It was a place where they could relax and be themselves, away from the prying eyes of society.
As Thomas entered, the room fell silent. All eyes turned to him, the Duke of Everness, one of the most eligible bachelors in London. The club members rose to their feet, greeting him with nods and bows.
"Good evening, Your Grace," the maître d' said, bowing low. "It's a pleasure to see you this evening. May I show you to your usual table?"
Thomas nodded, still a bit preoccupied with thoughts of Rose. "Yes, thank you."
The maître d' led Thomas to his table, where a group of his friends was already gathered. They rose to greet him, clapping him on the back and welcoming him to the table.
"Everness!" one of them exclaimed. "It's good to see you. We were just discussing the latest news from Parliament."
