The following morning, Rose awoke in the luxurious bedchamber at Everness House. She rubbed her eyes and sat up, taking in the elegant furnishings and details of the room. Marie, the maid assigned to her, bustled into the room with a smile.
"Good morning, my Lady," Marie said, curtseying. "I hope you slept well."
"Yes, thank you, Marie," Rose replied. She stretched and could feel the pain of her fall from yesterday in every muscle and bone.
Marie helped Rose dress, choosing a simple but elegant morning gown. As she worked, Rose asked her about the duke.
"Marie, might I ask you a question?" Rose asked, her voice careful.
Marie paused, her expression becoming more guarded. "Of course, my Lady," she said.
"Can you tell me more about His Grace?" Rose asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. "He came to my rescue yesterday, but I had not made his acquaintance prior to this. I am curious as to what kind of man he is."
Marie hesitated, then shook her head. "I am afraid any questions you have about His Grace must be directed to him directly, my Lady," she said, her tone respectful but firm.
Rose nodded, feeling a sense of disappointment. She was eager to learn more about the man who had taken her in, but it seemed she would have to wait for the opportunity to do so. With a deep sigh, she made her way down to the breakfast room, determined to thank the duke for his hospitality and take her leave.
But as she entered the room, she was startled to find the duke already seated at the table, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. For some reason, this playful smile made her heart still in her chest.
"Good morning, Lady Rose," he said, his voice warm and inviting. "I trust you slept well. I just heard from the groom that your horse is fine."
"Yes, Your Grace," Rose replied, curtseying. "That is wonderful news about my horse. I wanted to thank you for your hospitality, but I fear I must be on my way, I could not impose on your hospitality any–"
The duke’s smile faded, and his expression became serious. "I am afraid that will not be possible, Lady Rose," he said, his tone firm. "You cannot leave Everness House."
Rose stood stunned as Thomas's words sank in. She found her voice and asked, "What do you mean?"
Thomas leaned against the table, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "I saved you from a disastrous marriage and whatever you were running away from. Now, I am afraid that… I want payback for my help."
Confusion and shock filled her.Payback. Whatever does he mean?
"A gentleman does not expect a lady to repay a debt, Your Grace," Rose said, trying to keep her voice steady. "I am grateful for your assistance, but I cannot stay here indefinitely."
Thomas leaned closer to her. "I am afraid that I will have to insist. Well, word of your scandal would get out and reachLondon sooner or later, besmirching your family's good name. But what about the fact that you have been residing in the house of a rake unescorted…?"
Daphne. I was selfish by running away like that, but Mama would find a way to lie and cover things up. Ruined by the Duke would be a whole different story though…
Rose's anger boiled over. "You are a brute who takes advantage of people. And I had thought–" she spat.
Thomas's eyes narrowed. "I am not taking advantage of you. I am simply making a reasonable request."
Rose stood up, her hands clenched into fists. "I will not be blackmailed by you. I will leave this very morning."
Thomas also stood up, towering over her. "You will not leave," he said firmly. Rose felt her heart racing. She was drawn to this man, despite the anger she felt toward him. She wanted to be near him and to feel the warmth of his touch. But she also wanted to slap him hard across his face for toying with her like that. But what if she ended up trapped between him and a scandal that would ruin Daphne's debut and chances to make a match?
"I will leave," she repeated, her voice strong and determined. "To make me stay against my will is not the act of a gentleman." She lifted her chin.
Thomas stood up from his chair and slowly circled around Rose, making her feel like prey. He got close to her and whispered, "I could ruin your reputation right here and now, if I wanted to. But I am a gentleman, who respects your boundaries. Yet, you keep calling me a brute." He took her hand. "It is most ungrateful of you." Rose tried to pull away from him and resist the heat that flared between them, but he held her hand tightly. "What do I need to do to win your favor and your smile?" he asked, his breath hot against her ear.
"Let me go," Rose said, ignoring the flame of desire at his touch. She tried to hit him with her free hand. "What do you want from me?"
Thomas caught her hand and pulled her closer, his gaze intense. "All you have to do is pretend to be my betrothed for as long as I need."
He leaned in to kiss her, and for the briefest of moments, Rose felt something stir within her. As his lips lightly touched hers, she allowed herself a brief moment to wonder what it would feel like to be made love to by a man like the duke, but then common sense took hold. She squelched the feeling and bit Thomas's lip.
"Ouch! You are quite the little vixen."
She pulled away from him and made a run for the door. She grabbed the knob and yanked, but it did not budge.Locked?
