Page 45 of The Perfect Rose

Could she possibly have seen such a change in him these past two weeks? Frederick himself had felt those protective barriers around his heart losing their footing. But facing his problems: that was easier said than done. Miriam, for one, wasn’t easily pacified when she was angry. “Do you have any hints for me on how to disarm Miriam? I’m afraid I’ve upset her, and she is trying to hold me back from facing my biggest problem.”

“Miriam? That angel sister of yours wouldn’t thwart your purpose for a thousand pounds. She has become quite attached to Lady Rose.”

“I never said anything about Lady Rose.” Frederick could feel heat creeping up his neck.

She raised one haughty eyebrow at him. “You didn’t have to say it for it to be true. Your feelings for her are as clear as day to me.”

Frederick looked around the room; there was no one close enough to hear their conversation without purposefully eavesdropping. Still, he’d rather not discuss his feelings in a room full of people. “Miriam doesn’t see things quite so clearly.”

“Then what are you talking to me for? Go enlist Samuel’s help. I can assure you, he can speak some sense into Miriam, or distract her if necessary. They seem to get lost out in the gardens on occasion.” Her eyes lit with merriment.

Frederick laughed. There was no doubt in his mind that Lady Gilfordshire approved of the match. At least one of the Hastings siblings seemed to be destined for a marriage of happiness. “You don’t have to tell me twice. Excuse me, Your Grace.” He bowed over her hand and went toward the door to locate Samuel.

It was almost as if his friend, the duke, was guarding the room. He watched the doorway with as much attention as a fox watches a rabbit hole. Frederick put a hand on his shoulder. “Samuel, your mother has informed me that I need to enlist your help. Are you capable of distracting Miriam for a quarter of an hour so I might have some time to talk to Lady Rose?”

Samuel’s grin could have reached both his ears. “I’m happy to pull Miriam away.” He cleared his throat. “Might I speak to you in your study first?”

Frederick chuckled. “No, but we can step into the hall.” Knowing full well what his friend would need a private audience for before he took Frederick’s sister, quite alone, for an extended period of time, Frederick led his best friend away from prying ears and then turned. “If you want to marry Miriam, you know you’ll have to put up with me as a brother-in-law.”

“That is just an added bonus.” Samuel shifted his feet. “Do you believe she would be happy with me? Be honest. I know she isn’t easy to please.”

“I have no doubts, Samuel.” Frederick’s throat was closing off. He was happy for his sister, but he didn’t think he’d be emotional about the thought of her leaving him. “You are the best person to love her for who she is.”

Samuel seemed to notice the distress he was causing Frederick. “Don’t worry Freddy, I won’t take her away from you completely. And I can give you more than quarter of an hour.” He winked. “Wish me luck.”

As if a duke needed luck to propose to a woman madly in love with him. It was Frederick that needed the luck.

Chapter Thirty-one

Where had Frederick gone? First he’d been talking with the dowager and then he’d left the room entirely. Rose was ready to feign tiredness and take her leave of the party. Lord Hanby had glared at anyone who looked their way and, almost possessively, not allowed her to speak to anyone else. His show of control and dominance was likely supposed to show her that he valued his time with her, but instead he was showing just exactly how restraining he could turn out to be in Rose’s life. She looked about the room for someone, anyone to save her. Even Miriam had disappeared. From the corner of her eye, Rose could see her mother preening as she watched her daughter manner-bound to the conversation. The situation obviously could not give her more delight.

Owen Redford approached them, again; Lord Hanby had turned him away the first time. “Might I take you for a turn about the room, Lady Rose?” Mr. Redford’s innocence shone through his eyes. He would certainly be an improvement on Lord Hanby.

“I’d love to.” Rose stood from her chair. “Thank you, Lord Hanby, for your stimulating company.” She noted his look of utter annoyance and pointedly turned away from him.

Rose threaded her hand through Mr. Redford’s arm. “How are you this evening?”

Mr. Redford pulled his eyebrows together as if he were confused. “My body feels well,” he tapped his temple with his free hand, “but there is much on my mind.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Is there anything I can get you? Or perhaps it would help to rest? Have you tried working on your boats? I know how much you love it.”

He shook his head. “No. But thank you for asking.”

They continued walking together. They passed Miss Trenton and Mr. Quentin Redford shuffling through the sheets of questions Miriam had read earlier for their game. It looked like the answer to each and every question would be discussed between the two of them. Miss Haybury had taken Rose’s seat next to Lord Hanby. She looked far too happy with the arrangement, and Lord Hanby had returned to his typical bored expression.

Mr. Redford cleared his throat. “Lady Rose, I . . . I wanted to ask you something.”

Rose’s heart quickened its pace. If Owen Redford was going to propose to her in a room full of people, she would either break his tender heart publicly or resign herself to a marriage of convenience, not love. She still hadn’t made up her mind on the subject. “You do? Was it the answer to any of those questions from the game we played? There were so many answers I didn’t know for people. I am ashamed that I haven’t gotten to know everyone as well as I ought to have while we’ve been together.”

“No, well yes, I do want to know the answers to the questions. But, there is a bigger question I have.” He slowed their pace.

No, no, no! If Rose just kept talking, maybe he wouldn’t get a chance to ask her the dreaded question. Not because she thought it abhorrent—it was really sweet, actually—but because she could not commit her fate one way or the other right now. Her emotions were too tied up in a laughing face and a pair of green eyes that made her question everything. “There are ever so many questions we could consider that are bigger than those questions, aren’t there?” She rambled, trying to buy time. “Like why we have a favorite color; I’m certain that every person here came to have a favorite color because of some memory they have associated with it. Knowing why someone likes something would tell us more about their character than simply knowing the answer. Don’t you think? And to know why someone has a favorite food. That too would come with a story. Oh, I’d love to hear all those stories.”

“Lady Rose.”

Rose jerked back at the voice. It was Lady Gilfordshire. In all Rose’s ramblings, she hadn’t been aware of her approach. Bless this dear woman: Rose could have kissed her for her interruption. “Yes, Your Grace?”

The dowager threaded her hand through Rose’s other arm. “Would you be so kind as to walk me to my room? I have something I’d like to give to you before I rest for the night.”