Page 64 of The Thorn and the Rose

“But Miss Fortesque is a most outspoken young woman with far too many opinions,” the man spluttered indignantly.

“Oh?” Thorn said, his voice dangerously calm now. “Did she object to having her liberty taken from her, and did she perhaps voice those objections in rather strenuous terms? Why, you miserable—”

Before Montagu could move, Thomas had hauled the man out from behind the desk and thrust him against the wall of his office, his hands at his neck.

“My lord!” the fellow squeaked, sweating and red-faced. “Please, please…”

“Thomas,” his father said with a sigh, deciding it was time he take a minor part in the scene. “Put him down. We do not sully our hands with such creatures. We employ others to do that.”

Thomas looked around and quirked an eyebrow at his father, noted the amusement in his eyes and let the fellow go so abruptly he sank to the ground in a heap.

“Quite so,” he said darkly. “You might think on that, Mr Ludlow, the next time you consider confining a woman who has done nothing other than speak out against her husband or brother, or perhaps expressed an opinion that some other man did not share. We might just hear about it and decide to act with less charity next time.”

Thomas left the fellow gibbering apologies and promises and strode from the room. Montagu straightened, leaning on his cane as he regarded the hapless Mr Ludlow.

“I’ve decided to invest in your asylum, but I think I need not tell you that there will be changes,” he said quietly, adding in a thoughtful tone, “I believe I shall introduce you to the Duchess of Bedwin. I have a feeling she will have some illuminating things to say to you. Good day.”

They travelled directly to Dern, through the night, only stopping to change horses and avoiding the train or anywhere public. Rosemarie didn’t care how long the journey was, she was in a daze of happiness. She had worried how her mother would endure the fatiguing journey, but discovered her fears were groundless. The presence of Lord Montagu had a galvanising effect on the lady, and she had rallied astonishingly well. The lavish picnic the man had acquired on route had gone a long way to perking her up, too.

Rosemarie stared at her hand. Lord Thomas sat beside her, their fingers laced together. Was this real? It seemed unlikely and for a moment she had the awful sensation it was only a vivid dream. She turned, staring up at him in the dimly lit carriage, to find his gaze upon her, his eyes filled with warmth and concern.

“Are you real?” she whispered, aware of the other occupants dozing around them.

“I am,” he said, squeezing her fingers. “Do you trust me now, Marie?”

She nodded, her heart aching with regret that it had taken her this long to do so. “With my life, my heart.”

He smiled at that, glancing over at his father and her mother, who both had their eyes closed. Slowly, he lowered his head to hers and pressed his lips against hers in a tender kiss. Rosemarie sighed, finally believing the nightmare really was over.

“Lord Thomas,” her mother said sternly. “I give you leave to court my daughter, but do not push your luck.”

Rosemarie bit her lip, astonished and a little amused that the woman who had appeared so frail only hours earlier had recovered herself so quickly.

“I beg your pardon, madam,” Thomas said gravely, giving Rosemarie a swift wink that told her he had every intention of pushing his luck as far as it would stretch. She smothered a laugh, knowing she would help him do it.

29th August 1849, Dern Palace, Sevenoaks, Kent.

Thorn looked out of the window to see his mother, Mrs Fortesque, and Rosemarie walking through the gardens together, with Tilly dancing around them. Though Thorn knew she trusted him now, the little girl had chased any doubts away. Rosemarie had seen how Pip doted on his daughter and knew everything Thorn had told her had been the truth. She adored Tilly, who made her laugh, and the two of them had quickly become as thick as thieves. She had made no secret of the fact she approved of them keeping Tilly with them, part of the family to be loved and cherished, not hidden away and denied like a shameful secret. This had been all his parents and his brother had needed to see in order to welcome her with open arms.

In the weeks since they found her, Rosemarie had bloomed in front of their eyes, quickly becoming a part of the family. Here, finally, was the girl he’d glimpsed the very first time he’d opened his eyes and seen her gazing down at him with such tenderness and concern. He’d not been wrong, and neither had she.

They had spent every possible moment of every day together, sharing their pasts, exploring the ways they were alike and different, recapturing those conversations they’d begun so many years ago.

Seeing as both her mother and his parents watched over them, they were taking things slowly, whether they liked it or not, and frustration gnawed at him. He wanted to be alone with her, not just to talk, but to take her in his arms again. Not that he was about to rush her into anything. Rosemarie had undergone an ordeal, and it would take time for her to recover. Besides, there was no hurry. Not now.

Thorn walked out into the garden, feeling a new and peculiar sensation in his heart as she looked up and saw him, and a smile dawned on her beautiful face. Lord, but she was lovely.

He hurried up to where their mothers had stopped to admire the roses, eager to have her to himself.

“Might I steal Marie away for a walk in the gardens?” he asked her mother politely.

Her mother—who was a sweet creature at heart, if rather vague—nodded benignly, but there was a sharper glint in her eye as she wagged a finger at him. “So long as you return her in the condition she leaves in,” she replied, lips twitching just a little.

“Mama!” Rosemarie exclaimed, blushing.

Thorn only laughed and took her hand. “I will bring her back with all fingers and toes intact,” he replied innocently, perfectly aware that was not what she’d meant.

“Oh,” Rosemarie said crossly as he led her away. “You encourage her. I swear, she’s becoming positively bold. I’ve never seen her so confident and pleased with herself.”