“God morning, Henry,” Rose smiled. “Did you sleep well?”
Henry yawned and nodded. “What were you talking about?”
“I’ll get you some breakfast, my dear,” Aunt Cora immediately got up, serving him a plate, and Rose decided it was the right time to bring up the subject of him working at the manor. She knew it would be a difficult conversation.
“We were talking about my employment at Montford Manor,” Rose explained.
“I told you that wasn’t a good idea.” Henry shook his head as he buttered his toast.
“Well, that’s too bad,” Rose continued, “because I talked to the duke about the possibility of you working at the manor as well. I thought it might be a good opportunity for you.”
Henry’s expression changed instantly, and the knife in his hand lingered in the air, between the bread and the plate. Curiosity gave way to anger as he spoke. “You did what?” he snapped, pushing his plate away. “Why on earth would you do that, Rose? Why would I ever want to work for that horrible man?”
Rose held up her hands in a calming gesture. “Henry, please, listen to me. You don’t know that man. All you know is what you’ve heard of him. You shouldn’t judge people without knowing them.”
“Knowing him?” Henry’s voice was rising. “I know enough. That man threw stones at me and my friends! He is a monster. Everyone says so!”
Rose felt a pang of frustration. “Henry, you know what it is like to be judged unfairly,” she said gently, reminding him of a time when some of the other boys teased him as well. “You were teased and bullied because of things that weren’t your fault. Isn’t it unfair to do the same to the duke?”
Henry’s anger faltered for a moment as he considered her words. However, he wasn’t ready yet to let go of his resentment. “That’s entirely different, Rose. He’s an adult, and he chooses to be cruel.”
Rose sighed, reaching across the table to take his hand. “People change, Henry. And sometimes, people are different from what they seem. As I was telling Aunt Cora, the duke has been nothing but kind to me.”
“Well, I’ve had a different experience,” Henry pouted. She could see that there was no convincing him.
“Can you tell me exactly what happened that day?” she asked. “What did the man look like? The man who threw the rock. Because maybe it wasn’t the duke.”
Henry shifted uncomfortably in his seat, avoiding her gaze. “I… I didn’t get a close look,” he admitted reluctantly. “It was dark, and we were running away. But everyone said it was the duke.”
“Sometimes, people are quick to blame those they don’t understand, or those who are different,” she reminded him. “Are you sure it wasn’t all a misunderstanding?”
Henry shrugged, clearly conflicted. “I don’t know, Rose. Maybe. But I still don’t want to go and work for him. I just don’t trust him.”
Rose looked at him with sympathy, understanding his reluctance but aware of the fact that as the older sister, she needed to gently steer him toward practicality. “Henry, I understand how you feel. I truly do. But we need the money. It is wonderful that you are helping Aunt Cora and picking up odd jobs here and there, but we also need to think about your future.”
Henry frowned, his shoulders slumping. “I know, Rose. But I just don’t like the idea of working for that particular man.”
Rose nodded; her tone soft yet firm. “I get that. But we need to be realistic, Henry. You need to try and become apprenticed somewhere. Until then, working at the manor would be of huge benefit to our family. It could provide some stability and experience that might open up more opportunities for you at a later point in your life.”
Henry sighed deeply, his resistance waning in the face of Rose’s gentle persistence. “I guess you are right. It’s just… difficult.”
She smiled. “I know it is. But I believe you can do this. Trust me, it isn’t as bad as you think. The duke is nothing like the stories portray him to be.”
After a moment of contemplation, he nodded reluctantly. “All right, Rose. I shall give it a try. But only because we need the money and because you asked. Not because of him.”
Rose beamed at him, relief washing over her. “Thank you, Henry. I promise if it turns out to be difficult for you, we shall find another way. But I appreciate you giving it a chance.”
Henry managed a small smile, though his uncertainty was still evident. “When do we start?”
“Tomorrow,” Rose informed him, thinking about the willow bark she had wrapped for the duke.
The rest of the day passed by uneventfully, and Rose found herself eagerly anticipating the day of her return to the manor. As Rose and Henry made their way to the manor in the duke’s carriage, the morning air was crisp and filled with the scent of blossoming flowers.
The path ahead seemed almost serene, a stark contrast to the swirling thoughts inside Rose’s mind. Just as they reached the edge of the village, a well-dressed stranger approached and waved in an effort to stop the carriage, looking slightly disoriented. They immediately patted on the ceiling to let the coachman know and the carriage came to a slow halt, allowing them to exit and approach the man.
“Excuse me,” the stranger called out politely but urgently. “Do you know the way to the estate of the Duke of Montford?”
Rose hesitated, but she nodded. “Yes, we do. It is just up that hill over there.” She pointed him in the right direction.
