Page 16 of The Perfect Rose

“I need your help. Your mother is . . . well, she is quite unnerving at times.” He looked like he was sitting on her pin cushion. But unnerving was an understatement, and Rose knew it. “I was wondering if you could help channel her energies into something that would allow Miriam to relax a little and enjoy herself. Her happiness weighs heavily on my mind.”

Rose looked down into her hands. That was not at all what she’d expected. “I admire that you place so much importance on your sister’s happiness. I am afraid my mother is quite single-minded right now.” He wasn’t proposing, yet. She was relieved and disappointed all at once, a tug of war pulling at her insides. Hadn’t she just thought that she was disappointed he was proposing? Why would she be disappointed that he wasn’t? She swatted the thoughts aside for later. Mr. Hastings had a good point: this party was likely an acute form of torture for Miriam thus far. She must feel like she is walking on eggshells with how Mother acted yesterday evening. Rose knew that feeling well.

She bit her lip. Was there any way she could distract her mother from taking charge when it wasn’t her place? The only thing that would seem like a distraction would be for her to actually watch Rose make progress toward securing a proposal. And her time was running short as it was. She’d been here all but half a week, and that only left a week and a half for her to find someone willing to marry her.

“There is a way I believe we could distract my mother from taking over too much. But I don’t know if I’m capable of doing it.” Her shoulders fell. Was her half-thought-out scheme even possible?

“I would gladly help you, Lady Rose.” Mr. Hastings looked and sounded earnest.

Rose knew he could help her, but did she dare bring him into her confidence? She was sure he would be happy to help. He would gladly show her attention and lead her mother to believe that he was interested in her. And he was interested in her, for her money. She knew that. She knew it was the only purpose the invitation to the house party had arrived. And she knew that her purpose for attending the house party was to get engaged. Failure to produce that would result in her being forced to marry the awful Mr. Dillard or some other inadequate gentleman that was desperate for her fortune. She was certain this was equal to her choosing to be miserable for the rest of her life.

Would marriage to Mr. Hastings prove to be as bad as that? She didn’t think so. But she hardly knew him. That argument wouldn’t stand for long though, as she hardly knew any gentleman at this house party. She had to rely on her intuition at some point. And she felt certain that Mr. Hastings would be civil to her. He loved his sister, she knew that at least. It was something to build on.

“Very well, Mr. Hastings.” Her eyes darted about the crowded drawing room and righted her posture. Although most everyone was at the card tables, there were still eyes upon them.

Mr. Hastings followed her gaze. “I propose we take a walk through the gardens in the morning. Would you join me?”

“That sounds lovely.” And it did, but he had used the word propose. Did he intend to move his case forward when they were truly alone?

“I will meet you with Dragon in the rose garden then.” His mouth turned up on one side. “What a picture that will be. One of you on each side of me.”

Lady Rose narrowed her eyes. “Do you want my help or not?”

He looked slightly repentant. “I’m sorry, I can’t seem to help myself. Teasing comes as easily to me as breathing.”

“Well,” Rose countered, “you might want to come tomorrow morning with a more serious attitude. This will be quite complicated.”

“Complicated is my middle name,” Mr. Hastings replied.

Rose shook her head. “I’m sure it’s not, but perhaps it should be, when we are through.” She appreciated his candor and his lightheartedness. If this plan she was hatching was going to work, she’d be relying on both of those virtues.

As she watched Mr. Hastings return to his conversation with the duke, she scanned the room. Miss Haybury was partnered with Lord Hanby in whist. After the picnic spectacle this afternoon, Rose wasn’t surprised that Miss Haybury was still attempting to grab the viscount’s attention. He looked as bored as ever. The question was whether Miss Haybury had a real attraction to Lord Hanby or just his title.

Rose would hate to meddle in a budding relationship if it had a chance.

Lord Hanby looked up and caught Rose’s eye. She flashed her eyes to Miss Haybury and tilted her head in an unspoken question. He shook his head and then smiled at her. Well, that seemed clear enough. Interfering there might be a welcome avenue for the viscount.

After further evaluation, Rose decided that the only people in the room that were truly attached to each other were Miriam and the duke. As Rose had already crossed him off her list of actual options, that was a good starting point. She would need as many pawns in her scheme as she could organize.

Chapter Twelve

Frederick’s knee started to bounce and he chided himself. He wasn’t nervous. Miriam always said he bounced his knee when he was nervous. He had absolutely nothing to be concerned about. As he sat waiting on the bench in the rose garden, he reached down and scratched a spot behind Dragon’s left ear. Frederick’s neck was still swelling; just one more thing that added to his anxiety for the morning. He needed to be walking, and Lady Rose hadn’t come to meet with him yet.

It was early, the sun having just made an appearance. The dew on the plants surrounding him made the garden look as if it sparkled, and the world smelled fresh and alive. He took a deep breath; she would come. She had said she would come, and Lady Rose didn’t seem like the type to go back on her word. He’d arranged everything he could to make it a comfortable morning. He needed Lady Rose’s help to change her mother’s approach to this house party, and he was prepared to cater to her whims to get it. Frederick had arranged for one of the stable hands to follow them into the winding gardens acting as chaperone, and the cook had wrapped up some rolls with jam. He was ready. And Miriam need not ever know that he’d stepped in to clear the way for her success.

The door from the house swung open, and Lady Rose glided toward him while she tied the strings of a sky-blue bonnet beneath her chin. His knee bounced again. She looked almost angelic. His stomach clenched.

For a moment, he was in a different garden, looking at a different woman. Kendra, the woman he’d been about to propose to, had almost floated toward him on a cloud, only to inform him that she would be marrying Mr. Williams. She was the only other woman that had ever inspired such thoughts about a woman’s beauty. Kendra had broken his heart and married one of his best friends; thus, Frederick’s feelings toward Lady Rose were not to be trusted; beautiful women never were.

He shook himself and forced a smile as he stood. “Good morning, Lady Rose.” He bowed and held out his arm.

She smiled back, but it was her London smile, not her devastating archery smile with light shining from her eyes. “Good morning, Mr. Hastings.” She gave the appropriate curtsey and took his arm.

Surprisingly, he was glad she had her court mask on. It meant she was considering their problem quite seriously. Frederick nodded to the man behind them. “Stuart will be accompanying us this morning, and Mrs. Hamilton has packed us a small breakfast for our walk.”

“You even brought your dog, as you said.” She held his arm a little tighter and he heard trepidation in her tone.

Frederick smiled guiltily. “I thought it might ease your mind to get to know him better. He really is very well behaved.”