“Of course,” William agreed. “When would be a convenient time for you to come by?”
The man scratched his chin thoughtfully. “We could come by tomorrow morning, if that suits you, Your Grace.”
“Tomorrow morning it is,” William confirmed. He quickly provided directions to his estate, not that any of them needed it, and thanked the men before moving on.
William felt a wave of relief wash over him as he spotted Rose approaching through the bustling market. She was accompanied by a middle-aged woman who, he guessed, might be her aunt. As they drew nearer, Rose’s face lit up with a smile, which eased the tension in his shoulders.
“Your Grace,” Rose greeted him warmly. “I’d like you to meet my aunt, Cora Roberts.”
Rose’s Aunt Cora gave him a respectful curtsy, a friendly smile on her face. “It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Your Grace.”
“The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Roberts,” he replied. “You have raised an exceptional young lady.”
“Why, thank you, Your Grace,” she beamed back at him. Her smile widened, as she studied William for a moment. Then, with a knowing look, she turned to Rose. “Now, I understand why you spent so many hours up at the manor. It all makes sense now.”
Rose’s cheeks flushed, and she looked as if she wanted the ground to swallow her up. “Aunt Cora, please...”
William chuckled, sensing Rose’s discomfort but also appreciating the warmth in her aunt’s demeanor. “Mrs. Roberts, I assure you, Rose has been a tremendous help at the manor. Her presence is always most welcome.”
Aunt Cora patted Rose’s arm affectionately. “I have no doubt about that, Your Grace. Rose has always had a way of making herself indispensable.”
Rose gave a shy smile, glancing between her aunt and William. “Shall we walk for a bit? I’d love to show you some of my favorite stalls.”
“Of course,” William agreed, offering his arm. “Mrs. Roberts, I hope you will join us?”
“I would love to, Your Grace,” Aunt Cora nodded with a smile.
They continued to stroll through the market together. The tension of the earlier encounter faded, replaced by the comfort of each other’s company. William couldn’t help but feel grateful for Aunt Cora’s friendly reception and the chance to spend time with Rose outside the confines of the manor.
Chapter 26
Rose felt all eyes were on them, but she didn’t pay any heed. She could barely notice them. The only thing that mattered was that William was by her side. She could see that he was enjoying himself, finding pleasure in the simple things and the tension of the earlier events was slowly easing away.
Although it had been only a day, Rose had to admit that she was curious regarding Mr. Trent and his fate. Hearing his story, she felt sorry for the man who seemed to suffer another man’s fate. In fact, it seemed that a cruel twist of fate had rendered everyone on the losing side of this game. And Mr. Trent was simply unable to cope with the aftermath of everything that had happened. She could understand him. She could sympathize with him. But actions had consequences. And everyone had to pay the price for them. It seemed that her aunt’s curiosity was even greater than her own, because she was the one who asked the question first.
“Your Grace, if you don’t mind me asking, but… what will happen to the man responsible for this dreadful incident? Will he be held accountable?” her aunt wondered.
William nodded, his face growing serious. Rose preferred him when he was smiling. He had the most beautiful smile in the world, one that could not be compared to anyone else’s. But right now, he had no reason to smile. “Yes, of course, Mrs. Roberts. I shall see to it myself.”
“Because…” Aunt Cora sounded concerned as she continued. “Sometimes, people who are responsible for certain wrongdoings end up escaping justice.”
“I assure you that this won’t happen,” William affirmed. “Stephen, I mean Mr. Trent has been taken to prison, where he is awaiting trial by the magistrate. Now, it is highly likely that his father will try to intervene on his behalf. Unfortunately, it will be difficult to prove Mr. Trent’s involvement with the fire, since he didn’t commit the act himself. The word of a few boys will not hold much weight against the son of a nobleman.”
Aunt Cora’s eyes widened in shock and grief. “But the attack on Rose—”
“Is entirely another matter,” he interrupted her in an effort to reassure both her and Rose, who looked equally concerned. “I was present and witnessed it firsthand. My testimony will be hard to dispute. He will most likely face punishment for that.”
Aunt Cora’s eyes narrowed with determination. “It is despicable that he might escape justice for the fire.”
“I’m just glad that no one got hurt,” William said with relief. “No humans, and no horses. As for the stables themselves, it’s just a construction that will easily be mended. Do not worry yourself, Mrs. Roberts.”
Aunt Cora smiled at his words. “I suppose you are right, Your Grace. But I am still glad that he will be held accountable for his actions against Rose. Thank you, Your Grace, for… being there for her, for standing up for her, for saving her.”
William shook his head. “We all worked together, Mrs. Robert. Rose had as much part in saving herself as I did, or Mr. Hancock. She deserves justice for what she has gone through, and I will do everything in my power to ensure that she receives it.”
“Thank you, William,” Rose gushed, then she hastily corrected herself. “I mean, Your Grace. Your… support means everything to me.”
She wanted to say love, but there were too many people around them, and they had not discussed their future together. There were still so many things left unsaid, but the most important one she knew. He loved her, and she loved him. They would find a path to mend everything else.
