Page 48 of The Perfect Rose

She turned and put a hand on the duke’s chest. “It will be necessary for you to provide a little acting for me. I need you to act like you are interested in Rose.”

Frederick fumed. “But why? Aren’t I the one that is supposed to be wooing her?”

Miriam looked at Frederick as if he were just out of leading strings. “Of course you will be wooing her. As long as you keep acting like your charming self, it will all work out. We need for Lady Gardner to believe that there is a possibility that Samuel will propose to Rose. It is the only bargaining chip we have so that Rose’s mother won’t publicly insist that she marries Lord Hanby.”

Frederick ran his hands down his face.

Miriam continued, “I assure you that if Samuel goes back into that parlor and pays Rose particular attention, Lady Gardner will tell Rose that she cannot possibly accept any other offers of marriage until the end of the ball . . . unless it comes from Samuel.”

Samuel glanced sideways at his bride-to-be. “I don’t know if you heard yourself correctly, Miriam, but that would include Frederick.”

She turned and placed a kiss on Samuel’s cheek. “Trust me. I need you in there with Rose.”

He took her face in his hands and planted a kiss on her lips. “All right. Anything for you, Miriam.”

Frederick cleared his throat, reminding them he was still sitting a few feet from their display of affection. Samuel colored but smiled at Frederick before he left the room.

Miriam took Frederick’s hand. “Come with me. You have a big job ahead of you.”

Chapter Thirty-three

A sliver of sunshine spilled through a crack in the drapes across Rose’s face as she looked at the ceiling of her bedchamber. One day. She had precisely this one day of decision-making left before her future would be forever different. She would either be engaged to someone at this house party or promised to Mr. Dillard by tomorrow morning. The last thought was the only driving force that made her get out of bed. No one here could be worse than Mr. Dillard. She shuddered. Rose walked to the wash basin and filled it with clean water from the pitcher set beside it. She splashed the cold liquid on her face and rubbed the sleep from her eyes—well, what sleep she’d been able to salvage.

Last night had marked a turning point in Rose’s life. She felt in her heart a determination to help others around her more than think of herself. She’d spent far too much time wasted in selfish pursuit. And she had one day to try to repair the damage she’d inflicted on those at the house party. She patted her face dry and heard a knock at her door. Treading softly, she cracked the door open so no one would see her in her dressing gown.

Her mother, fully dressed with hair arranged for the day, arched an eyebrow at her. Rose couldn’t quite read the emotion her mother felt. An unease settled into the pit of Rose’s stomach as she opened the door wider to allow her mother to enter.

“Good morning, mother.”

“You’ve overslept, Rose.” Her mother brushed past her to her armoire.

Rose pulled her lips between her teeth and breathed out through her nose. “Yes, mother. I had difficulty sleeping last night.”

Her mother pulled out Rose’s ball gown and held it up to inspect it. “I’ll have my lady’s maid press this before tonight. You must look simply perfect. I have reason to believe that you have a chance to win the duke’s affections. He was quite upset at not having an opportunity to speak with you last night as you turned in early. Nothing must be left to chance.”

Rose knew very well where the duke’s affections lay, and it certainly wasn’t with her, nor did she want it to be. However, history told her arguing with her mother on the point would accomplish nothing, so she kept her opinion to herself. But the new Rose needed to be kinder, even to her mother. “Thank you for helping me today, mother.”

Her mother turned calculating eyes on Rose. “What is it you want from me? I am more than happy to help you secure this match. But I am afraid you will take the sole responsibility of its ultimate success or failure.”

“I understand that. I just wanted to thank you for what you have done already. I haven’t expressed my gratitude enough.” Gratitude was one thing Rose could focus on.

Her mother sighed. “That’s true. You ought to be more grateful. But if I’ve instructed you once on the topic, I’ve instructed you a hundred times. Now, stop your dallying. We only have half a day to be with the rest of the party before we all prepare for the ball tonight. I’ll expect you to come back here after tea so that you can rest before we get you dressed for the evening. Tired eyes are not in the least beautiful.” She paused for breath. “Oh, and Rose, if you receive any offers of marriage before tonight from anyone other than the duke, you must tell them that you will give your answer later in the evening. Am I understood?”

Rose swallowed. Thankfully, her mother didn’t seem to require a response. Rose crossed the room and picked up the day dress her mother had laid on the bed. She fingered the soft material, as blue as the morning sky. She’d been given so many luxuries.

“You’re supposed to wear it.” Her mother’s voice scalded Rose’s back.

“Yes, of course. I’ll call for my maid.”

Her mother swept from the room, leaving Rose to her own tumultuous thoughts. She tugged on a bell pull for her maid.

A few moments later, her maid came in holding a large bouquet of flowers. “A delivery for you, Lady Rose.” The girl smiled with delight as she set the offering down on Rose’s writing desk.

Rose looked at the wildflowers, so vibrant and happy in their wild bunch. “Who is it from?” She walked over to smell them.

“I’m not to tell a soul.” Her maid pursed her lips together.

Wildflowers? Who would send Rose wildflowers? Not Lord Hanby, certainly. Perhaps it was Owen. It seemed like something the sweet young man would do. A voice niggled at the back of Rose’s mind that it could have been Frederick. But would he? “Thank you for delivering them.” She smelled the blooms, and it made Rose wish she could go outside.