Page 44 of The Duchess’ Second Chance

“Well, yes, as a matter of fact I have,” Rose said, lifting her chin. “You did tell me that you thought I should practice my reading. And the books in the library are interesting. I like the romantic ones best of all. I like the stories they tell. The women are always so clever, and the men are dashing and kind. I wouldn’t mind marrying a gentleman someday if he could be like that.”

Amanda relaxed. So, Rose hadn’t actually decoded the mixed-up nature of her feelings for Sampson. She was just indulging in a bit of girlish fantasy.

“I’m sure you will find a man just like the ones you read about,” she said with a smile that was finally genuine. “But that has nothing to do with what’s going on between me and Sampson. This isn’t a fairy tale. We’re just trying to make the right impression on the rest of society.”

“Hmm,” Rose said doubtfully. “I’m not sure I believe that.”

“Our marriage began with a scandal,” Amanda reminded her. “We have to address that matter now, before we can move on with our lives. We have to show people that we’re respectable members of society. That’s what’s most important here. At this moment, neither Sampson nor I have time to waste thinking about things like romance. We have to keep our attention where it should be.”

“So, you’re saying that if it weren’t for the scandal, if you did have more time to focus on romance, then you would do so? It’s only because you’re worried about appearances that you’ve chosen to neglect that aspect of things?”

“I don’t know when you developed this interest in romance,” Amanda murmured. She gazed at herself in the looking glass. A strand of hair had come loose from its elaborate style. She went to the vanity and picked out a hairpin. Carefully, she worked it through her hair, putting the stray piece firmly back in its place.

“I became interested in the subject when you told me you were getting married,” Rose said. “Can you blame me, Amanda? That was the day romance because a part of my life. That was the day I understood I would have to pay attention to the business between ladies and gentlemen. You were going to marry someone, and I was going to have to go and live in his house, and then I thought about the fact that such things are always the fate of ladies. That you always find yourself leaving your home for the home of a man. It’s a fate that has found you three different times already in your life.”

“But my case is unusual,” Amanda told her. “Most ladies marry only one time, and that’s the end of it.”

“I know,” Rose agreed. “But even tonight, you said I might be called upon to do it when I’m older. And it just makes me think. What kind of decisions have to be made when the time comes to marry? How will I know, when someone asks me, whether or not I want to accept him?”

“There are a lot of ways you might make that decision,” Amanda said. She hadn’t realized Rose thought about such things. But, of course, it made sense that she would. Nine years old wasn’t so young. Rose wouldn’t marry anytime soon, but someday it would happen, and she was old enough to ponder that fact.

“That’s why I pay attention to you and Sampson,” Rose said. “I want to know what love looks like.”

She spoke the word so simply that Amanda couldn’t even find the words to argue. It was simply too far beyond her.

“Anyway,” Rose said, getting to her feet, “if you did love him, I wouldn’t blame you. He isn’t anywhere near as bad as I once believed him to be.”

“You don’t think so?”

“No. I thought he was a monster. Those scars on his face…I thought they must be a sign that he was evil. But he isn’t evil at all.”

“So, you’re saying you like him?” Amanda’s heart lifted. Maybe that was what this was really all about. Maybe it was just Rose realizing that Sampson was a good man, seeing him differently than she ever had before, and that was why she was thinking of him as a potential romantic interest now. Maybe that was why she seemed so eager to see Amanda fall in love.

“I didn’t say I liked him,” Rose said. “I said he wasn’t evil. He isn’t as bad as I thought he was. But that doesn’t mean that I like him.”

Still, she was smiling, and Amanda could see through what she’d said. In spite of herself, Rose was growing fond of Sampson.

We both are. I never expected it.

“You make sure you do as Mrs. Linden tells you when I’m out tonight, all right?” She took one last look at her reflection and straightened the sapphire pendant. “I want to hear good things from her about your behavior when I get home.”

Rose nodded. “You will,” she said. “I know I can be difficult sometimes. A burden.”

“No, Rose,” Amanda said quickly. “You’re never a burden to me. Don’t think that. I’ve never been anything but happy to have taken you in. I’m glad you’re a part of my life.”

“But I do cause mischief.”

“Well, we all do that sometimes,” Amanda pointed out. “Remember, I’m the person who ran out on a wedding because a different gentleman showed up and made a bid for my hand. That was fairly mischievous. There isn’t anything wrong with the way you are. But I do want Mrs. Linden to have an easy night, so she won’t object to my attending any future balls.”

“Yes, all right,” Rose said with a smile. “I can do that. I’ll be so good that you won’t even believe it was me.”

“And I’ll try to bring you home something from the ball,” Amanda pledged. “A flower, perhaps. A rose for a Rose. Would you like that?”

“A white one, if possible,” Rose said, brightening considerably. “Though any color would be all right. And could I keep it in a vase in my room?”

“Of course, you can,” Amanda said.

“You don’t think Sampson would mind?”