Page 90 of Once Upon a Devilish Duke

She fidgeted with her reticule. Something she only did when she was uncomfortable. “As long as we are not lying to her.”

“So, only the three of us know the truth, and we will keep it that way.”

Marianne and Rose both nodded. The carriage pulled up, and they all sighed.

Edward put Rose’s arm through his as they went through the doorway and were confronted by his mother, his brother Charles, and his wife Gabrielle.

“Mother, we have something to announce. Let us go into the parlor,” he said and watched as they all filed into the room, their faces wary. “Rose has accepted my proposal of marriage,” he announced and left that to dangle in the air.

His mother gasped and then tears appeared in her eyes. “Oh, my dears, this is what I have been praying for.” She rushed over and embraced Rose, who looked up at him with eyes full of worry, but she recovered quickly, smiling and returning the hug.

“I must say I am relieved,” Charles said. “To be honest, it is not a surprise. Anyone with eyes could see that you admire our Rose.”

Edward raised a brow and smiled. “I have been smitten from the first day I saw her.” Which wasn’t a total lie.

“Yes, well. Despite how this has come about, I wish you only happiness in the future.”

“Thank you, Charles.”

“When will you marry?” Gabrielle asked.

“We are in no hurry. We have another wedding to have first,” he indicated.

“Edward, Phin, I mean Lord Dunstan, has not yet proposed.”

“That is but a technicality, my dear sister.”

“Maybe for you,” Marianne said, her eyes narrowing on her brother.

Edward wanted to laugh but thought better of it.

“I suppose you will want your grandmother’s ring, seeing as mine remains with Victoria,” his mother said. He could have done without that reminder, but he nodded.

His family surrounded Rose, and it was all smiles and laughter as champagne was ordered up from the cellar to celebrate. Toasts were made, and then they were called to luncheon. Edward escorted Rose to her new place at the table, and she smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. She was not comfortable playing the happy bride to be. She would get used to it, he told himself.

Funnily enough, it felt good not to be the object of everyone’s disappointment for once. To be the source of happiness. He would take it all now because once the engagement was called off, they would be back to hating him. A situation he was used to. He suspected that they all thought Rose would somehow change him. Make him into a new man. One that they may actually like.

His good mood vanished. It was not real. None of it.

He was not going to change, not even for her. Did he even want to? His soul had been burned to ashes, and no phoenix would magically rise from those ashes to save him. He was what he was. It was all for her. To keep her safe.

He hoped the magistrate would see through Brookhaven’s ploy and dismiss his suit against her. The sooner, the better.

Chapter Twenty-One

Barlow stood next to Rose as she took her place on the witness stand. “Now, just answer honestly. Plainly and clearly is best.”

She looked around at all the faces peering down at her from the balcony above. Some she even recognized. Oh, lord, this was awful. It seemed half the ton and the rest of London had come to watch the show. Her blood was a staccato in her ears, and embarrassment flushed her face. The magistrate banged his gavel, and she jumped. This was her chance to end her brother’s vindictive revenge against her once and for all. At least that was what Edward had told her this morning.

“Lady Rose Marjorie Montgomery, you are here because your brother, the Earl of Brookhaven, has petitioned full and total control over your finances and wellbeing,” the magistrate’s voice boomed.

Barlow spoke. “Your Honor, my client, Lady Rose, was issued an allowance by her late father. By all accounts, he was a sensible man. He must have believed his daughter capable of handling her own affairs. Why would he have made such arrangements otherwise?”

“Indeed,” the magistrate said, looking over his spectacles.

Cecil’s barrister stood on her other side. “Your Honor, it is our opinion that it is highly unusual for such a sum to be placed in such a way.” He turned to her then. “Unless, he expected that she would not marry. And one would wonder why that may be.”

The judge looked her way. “Lady Rose?”