Page 51 of Once Upon a Devilish Duke

“I will go wherever you go, my lady.”

“Let us hope that the duke is right and Cecil is nothing but hot air.”

Marianne was waiting for them in the parlor, eager to see how things went at the bank. Rose poured tea and told them that the bank had not indicated anything was wrong.

“Why would your brother tell you such a thing if it was not true?”

“Perhaps he thought I would not check and just come running back to him. Even if I had not a penny to my name would I put myself under his charge.”

“You know we would always look after you, and the offer to be governess to Max still stands, but only if you need it.”

“Thank you. I hope I will not need to.” She hoped she did not sound ungrateful by not wanting to be Max’s governess. “I think I will go and have a rest. I have a megrim.”

“I do not blame you. Should I cancel our trip with Dunstan?”

“Absolutely not. I will be fine by then.”

“If you do not feel well, we will not go,” Marianne insisted.

“I will see you in a few hours. Did the footman take the sketch to the framer?”

“Yes, I believe he did. I wish I could see Max’s face when she sees it. She will be so excited.”

“She should not miss out just because she cannot be in London with us.”

“If not for your skill, she might not have met William until Christmas time. I am not good at drawing or painting people; my skills lie in landscapes and botany.”

“Is that not Lord Dunstan’s forte as well?”

“He is skilled in everything. He did the most magnificent portrait of Lucinda’s parents from two different miniatures.”

“I hope to see it before I leave London,” she said before hugging Marianne and leaving the room.

Rose made her way upstairs and sat in the window seat, looking out at the street below. Normally, watching people come and go would keep her occupied for a good hour, but despite the busy street below, she was really only looking for one thing. The duke’s carriage. Would he bring good news or bad, and what would she do if it were bad news? The thought of leaving and returning to Ashtonvale or anywhere else, for that matter, filled her with bitter disappointment. She did have an aunt in Bristol, but she would not bother her aunt, who suffered from nerves, unless absolutely necessary. Rose was in no doubt her aunt would accommodate her, but with eight children it would be tight, and she did not want to put any of the children out of their rooms just for her.

Truth be told, she had not expected to like Warrington. She certainly had not expected to be kissed by him. What did he mean by that kiss? Confusion warred with hope. Hope? Did she want something more? Or was he just playing her for a fool?

When the duke’s carriage came into view, she watched Edward alight. He looked up and frowned. Her heart sank; that must mean bad news. She bit down on her lower lip and paced the floor, trying not to cry. If her brother had somehow managed his nefarious deed, she would have to leave London. The money in the bank would keep her for a few months, enough time to find a position or travel to Bristol. She could ask Marianne to keep Elsie on, and she would be confident that Elsie would be happy here, as she had already made friends below stairs.

She should face the man who had brought her such delight this morning, but that might also be going to shatter all her hopes.

Rose stepped out into the corridor and turned towards the stairs, only to find Warrington standing on the landing, his face grim.

“Come, we have much to discuss,” he said and opened his study door.

Oh, lord. She took a breath and followed him into his office. Inside, she left the door open in case she needed a quick exit.

“Sit. Please,” he said as he pulled out the chair opposite his desk. She sat. Her heart sluggish in her chest.

“Your brother is a sneaky…Pardon. He thinks himself very clever. As you are unmarried, he thinks he still controls you. You are his responsibility until you marry, but as you have passed your majority, you do not need his permission to wed, as you know. He has used your unmarried state as an excuse to deem you unfit to handle your own money matters. He has petitioned to have full control of your finances with a judge until you are wed. He cannot legally take your allowance away, as the will stands, but he may be able to convince the court that he is best placed to handle your financial affairs.”

Rose looked down at her clenched fists in her lap. “I am doomed then.”

“No, we have found out in time. Tony is going to put together all your brother’s misdemeanors, all his debts. He will get character witnesses to testify to your brother’s character. And then there is me. I can vouch for your good character and fiscal spending. I will need all your credit notes. The bank will support your frugal spending since your father’s death.”

Rose simply nodded. What else could she do? Her stomach was tied in knots and nausea rose. She should have known her brother would try something like this. She should have stayed at Ashtonvale, but then he might still have tried this, and she would have been too far away to dispute the accusation or never have been warned about his plans, and it would have all been too late.

“What must I do?”