Page 41 of The Perfect Rose

He gave a short moan, that sounded half upset, half frustrated. “It was my pleasure, Lady Rose.” He dropped his hands from her waist and clasped his hands behind his back, but he didn’t step away.

Stuart came and took the reins of Rose’s mare and Frederick thanked him. The stable hand raised an eyebrow but smiled wide. To avoid looking at Frederick, Rose watched the older man as he walked her horse back to the safety of the stable.

Frederick cleared his throat. “My bonnet?” He gestured to the headwear that hung in Rose’s gloved hand.

“Oh yes.” Rose took the bonnet in both hands and raised her arms to place the pale-yellow bonnet with white lace trim on his head. The yellow was almost the same shade as his hair, but not nearly as intriguing. She took another step closer to him and he ducked his head toward hers to allow her to place the hat. She swallowed. Why were her hands shaking? She ran her fingers down the length of the ribbons to tie a bow beneath his stubbled chin. “I do not think yellow is the color I would have picked for you. It doesn’t leave much to contrast with your hair.”

She fumbled the ribbons in her hands and brushed her fingers along his jawline. Bumps erupted across her skin. She watched his Adam’s apple bob in his neck. It was distracting, to say the least. How difficult was it to tie a simple bow? When she finally finished, she took a big step backward, breathing as hard as if she’d just run around the house.

Frederick smiled. “How do I look?”

Rose laughed. “I think you ought to leave the wearing of bonnets to the women. I liked the look of your flower crown better.”

“Just so long as there aren’t any bees about.” His face transformed on cue to look over her shoulder as if he were being pursued by a tiger.

“Mr. Hastings. I was unaware you took interest in millinery.” Rose’s mother’s voice was calm as a summer’s morning and cold as a winter’s wind.

Rose turned to face her. She was walking as stately as ever across the stable yard, as if she commonly made the trek, which she didn’t. She’d been looking for Rose.

Frederick chuckled, but it was forced. “Your daughter tells me I ought to end my millinery career early.” He untied the ribbons and gave the bonnet back to Rose, then he took a step and stood beside her. “I had better listen to the best-dressed lady in all of London, hadn’t I?”

Rose’s mother’s eyes tightened as she looked down her nose at the two of them. “It is time we change for dinner, Rose. Come along.” She turned on her heel, leaving Rose no room for argument.

Rose looked up at Frederick. “Thank you, Mr. Hastings, for your concern in finding me and for a pleasant ride.” She curtseyed and added in a whisper, “I’m sorry to miss our appointment in the kitchen.”

He bowed low, took her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “We’ll reschedule.” He winked, and it set her heart fluttering all over again.

She considered her plans for the day as she followed her mother out of the yard and back to her rooms. Wasn’t it supposed to be an easy thing when a person had two, perhaps three, gentlemen on the precipice of proposing marriage to them? She had options, finally. She felt wanted, needed, or at the very least welcomed for the first time since the season began. But with those feelings of acceptance came feelings of self-doubt. She’d been stronger in London. She’d always known what she was doing and why. But here, at Greenridge Manor, she was behaving recklessly. She was going on rides to visit a little girl and putting a bonnet on a gentleman because it was what she felt like doing at the time. Even so, she’d been proper. She’d taken servants, and she’d not gone into a private area with Mr. Hastings. Her mother could not fault her on her impropriety.

On the other hand, Lady Gardner was in league with Lord Hanby, if the duke was to be believed. For her mother to find Rose with Mr. Hastings would be annoying at best and frustrating at worst. What pruning was ahead of her? She ascended the stairs toward her room as her mother whisked out of sight ahead of her. No doubt she was preparing to inform Rose of her scheme. She would likely insist Rose play a part to keep Lord Hanby happy. But Rose had made up her mind. She was not going to accept a marriage proposal from the viscount. She couldn’t say it right out though, or her mother would simply act in her behalf. Rose took deep breaths and prepared herself for a battle of wills. She would not agree to anything she’d decided against. In a few short weeks, her mother would no longer be her keeper. Rose intended to accept a husband that would give her more freedom than she currently possessed.

Chapter Twenty-eight

The kitchen smelled divinely of fresh lemons. Tonight’s dessert would be lemon cream. It was one of Frederick’s favorites, especially with strawberries. If Lady Rose wasn’t going to be allowed to raid the kitchen, Frederick would bring the kitchen to her. He swiped a bowl from the shelf and spooned a serving of the thick, lemon cream into it. Then he asked their cook, Martha, for a handful of strawberries. He wrapped up the concoction in a tea towel and carried it to his study. He scratched out a message on a piece of parchment and hid it in his gift, then he marched up to Miriam’s room and knocked at her door. There was a flurry of activity going on beyond the threshold.

Miriam’s maid opened the door a crack. “Yes, Master Frederick?”

“Is Miriam decent? I have a favor to ask of her.”

The woman cast a glance over her shoulder. “Just one moment.” She closed the door softly before him to help Miriam with something.

Frederick pressed an ear to the door.

“It’s just a backup plan. You retrieve it for me, and don’t let it be found. Hopefully, we never have to show it to anyone.” Miriam hissed. “He’ll let her get away without my help.”

He heard a thud and then a scrape of some sort before steps sounded closer to the door. He took a step back from his post and bounced on his heels in an attempt to cover the curiosity welling inside him.

Miriam opened the door wide, and her maid left the room quickly before he walked in. “How do you like my dress for dinner tonight?” She spun in a circle showing off her lavender gown. He’d seen it many times before.

“You look lovely, as always.” The fact that she was trying to capture his attention with something so frivolous was another clue of trouble brewing.

Frederick stepped past her into the bedchamber and swiveled his gaze from her four-poster bed to her washing stand. Nothing seemed out of place. Hmm. “I’m certain you owe me a favor for something, but nothing comes to mind that I can call upon.”

Miriam smiled and looked heavenward. “Oh, something like tricking you into throwing a house party? I’m sure I still owe you for that little deception.”

“Yes. Of course. That. I’m claiming my payback.” That was easy enough. “Would you deliver this to Lady Rose for me?”

His sister pinched her lips together. “Why don’t you deliver it yourself? Her room is only down the hall.”