“I do not think it. Iknowit. The men who might be interested in her believe that you will come after them if they try to court her.”
“Oh dear God.” Rose’s thoughts tumbled chaotically as she turned to him again. “But what of Beth and Cecily?”
Robert shrugged one shoulder. “Broxley and Northey are expendable. Most of the other gentlemen on the Marriage Mart knew of their reputations with women. And, astonishingly, the last few days has seen a spread of information regarding their gambling debts to Ballast Bill.”
“You demented devil.” Rose tilted her head to one side, watching as Robert’s face lit with his pleasure at her words. “Will that not get you in trouble with your boss?”
“Trust me. Bill is quite amused about all this.” His expression sobered. “Rose, when Thomas told me about this little deal of yours, I was convinced it was a mistake. This could ruin everything you have built. It could ruinyou.”
“Not if you two hold up your end of it.”
“Oh we will. But it’s still risky.” He paused. “I do not want to see you hurt.” He glanced at the dancers, who were in the final steps of the cotillion. “By anyone.”
Rose felt something gentle break in her chest. Robert had always been a good friend, who often seemed to want more from her than she could give. She glanced briefly at Thomas, then back to his brother. “I will be careful. I promise. For all of us.”
He nodded and started to rise, but she caught his arm. “Robert. You know why I could not... why I cannot... with anyone, much less someone who has been such a good friend.”
Robert looked at her, the expression in his eyes tender. “I know. I also know the right man would not care.”
A horrific thought crossed her mind, that Robert might be hinting at something far-fetched and beyond her wildest hopes. “Doesheknow?”
He hesitated, then nodded slowly. “Men are terrific gossips, and most of them know Thomas will not tolerate belittling any woman’s honor. He’s too quick with that cane of his. He would not wait for pistols at dawn—he would just beat them senseless where they stood.”
Rose fought the sense of despair that drifted down around her shoulders. “But someone still told him.”
Again, a slow nod. “His stance with you at the Higginbotham Ball brought out the evil in some men, who will try to hurt anyone who stands against them.”
She sighed. “Broxley.”
“He wanted to make sure that any interest you may have in Thomas—”
“No! He cannot—I do not want him to think that I’m—” Her voice cracked. “That I’m trying to—”
Robert’s grin returned and he picked up her gloved hand, brushing a kiss across the back of it. “He does not, I assure you. I even tried to suggest such a thing, and he almost beatmesenseless.”
“Youdon’t think—”
“No.” Robert stood. “Thomas keeps his emotions wound fairly tight, and always has, but they do run deep, can sprout suddenly with little warning, and can be all encompassing—witness his behavior with that cane. But I was not about to let the elephant in the room sit there and look ominous.”
“Heaven forbid.”
“Never forget it. Robert is a flirt.” He winked at her as he stepped behind the chair. “Robbie is another creature entirely. Now, my lady.” He tipped his head. “I have a waltz to attend to.” He moved away, melting back into the crush of people.
Her emotions swirling, Rose watched Robert weave through the clusters of people until he reached Thomas and Ann, who had left the dance floor. Ann’s face was lit with glee, pure happiness glowing on her lovely face. Robert kissed her hand, then turned it so that he could see her dance card. Before he could claim the next dance, however, a young man stepped forward, easing Ann’s hand from Robert’s. For a moment, Robert appeared affronted, then stepped away, saluting the younger man.
Rose studied the young blond, recognition slipping in. He was the eldest son of an earl and had been on the Continent for the past two years—which meant he would not be familiar with some of Rose’s most recent antics where rakes were concerned. He had a stellar reputation, and had re-entered the Marriage Mart this season with the notion that it was time to settle down and find a wife. He had called on Cecily and had been a perfectly acceptable choice in Rose’s mind, had Cecily not already set her cap for Philby. Best of all, he and Ann had known each other as children. As he led Ann away from the Ashton brothers—both of them with bemused expressions—Rose noticed that the young man was only a head taller than her friend.
Don’t wed her off yet, Rose. It’s just a dance.
Rose looked down at her hands, fiddling once again with her own empty dance card. No... no wedding yet, but a low ache thrummed through her, that she had cost Ann a blow to her reputation. Ann was as adorable and pristine as a new snowfall, and certainly did not deserve to spend life as a governess—and she would be a good one—if another type of happiness could be had for her.
Rose shot a quick glance at the other women sitting around her. Her whole goal with this had been to defend these women from men who would seek to harm them. She had tried to do so—as she had with Northey—in a way that would not harm the women. But had she caused harm in other ways? Ways she could not immediately see? Her finger twisted the dance card until it ripped away from the ribbon holding it around her wrist, dropping in two pieces to the floor at her feet.
“Lady Rose?”
She closed her eyes. That blasted baritone again, the one that echoed in her dreams. She held her breath a moment, bracing herself. Well, she had agreed to this game. She would see it through.
Rose looked up at him, a little surprise by the concern in his eyes. “Good evening, Lord Newbury.”
