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How had she found such contentment, given all the changes?
As she descended the carriage steps, the girls rushed into her arms.“Mama!Mama!”
“My darlings!”
They had a hundred questions, but they didn’t stop long enough to hear her answers.She finally said, “Why don’t I have breakfast with you?”
“Mama, we’ve already had breakfast.Mrs.Callis said she will teach us how to make bread this morning.”
Rose knew the answers she would have given a year ago:How dare Mrs.Callis?Of course not!The kitchen is no place for the daughters of a duke.Yet there was a time in her life when she had learned.
“I can’t wait to taste it.Maybe Mrs.Callis can make some fresh butter, too!”
“Or I will,” Elaina proclaimed.
“All right then.Tilly is waiting for you.”She kissed them both on the top of their heads and off they ran.
Her legs felt like lead weights as she climbed the stairs to her room.Raleigh was just coming down the hallway.“A bath is waiting, Your Grace, and a few more buckets of hot water will be up in about fifteen minutes.”
“Thank you, Raleigh.And accept my apologies for whatever Mr.Hardy is going to say because of my pleading.”
“You are not to worry.He and I have had such conversations many times over the years.”
Eunice had been alerted and had towels, soaps, rail and robe waiting for her.Rose listened as Eunice chirped like a bird with her quick littleon-ditsfrom around Highwood.Once Rose’s dress was off and all the pins from her hair were removed, she dismissed Eunice.Rose wore a corset and chemise.She still had not allowed Eunice to see her burgeoning form.If it weren’t for Ava and Elaina, she would be ready to leave for the warm paradise Matthew had promised.
Rose disrobed, stepping into the warm bath.The tub was small, but with her knees bent, the water covered the top of her breasts and heated the bump she tried so hard to hide.But she could use another bucket.She leaned her head back and closed her eyes.Eunice had placed a folded towel to soften the edge and the water was already perfumed with her favorite soap.
She covered her face with her hands.Where had the Duchess of Sandhurst gone?The Greek maxim about knowing yourself was wasted on her—she’d never had to apply it to her life as she flitted from ball to ball, happily entertaining and being entertained with no thought of who she trampled upon, who she hurt, who she could have helped.For all Matthew’s superficial flaws, he was especially mindful of the need to help those around him.
Her mind settled thanks to the soothing comfort of the heated water.
How she had grown to hate Cyril.And seeing him crumble before her eyes!She wasn’t fully to blame, but she was a catalyst.Maybe it had all started when she’d agreed to share his bed.Maybe he had wanted her to say no.But Liverpool’s knowing actions seemed to indicate that even he knew something about what had shaped Cyril’s deterioration.His career in the military?Cyril had never talked about it in front of her.Well, he wouldn’t, would he?
Had he told Edmond?Had Edmond’s death perhaps facilitated Cyril’s descent into darkness?
Eunice tapped on Rose’s door and came in carrying the steaming buckets.Rose sloshed her hand through the bathwater to whip up protective bubbles.
Her lady’s maid poured.“There ye be, Mrs.Hardy.”
“Thank you, Eunice.I’m going to sleep until lunchtime or until Mr.Hardy returns.”
“Of course.I’ll be up to help you dress then.”
She washed her hair and finished her bath, taking a chill and wishing she’d asked Eunice to have a fire stirred up.Just as she tied her robe, another knock sounded, and Eunice came in with a tray.Rose immediately smelled the hot chocolate.
“You were reading my mind.”
“Raleigh, Mrs.Hardy.He thinks of everything.And if he doesn’t, Mrs.Callis does.”Eunice went to the fire and grabbed a poker, stirring up embers before propping three cut logs over.
Rose curled into her chair and drew her feet beneath her.She gripped the cup of warm chocolate, sipping as she replayed the night.
Was she more upset with herself for trying to out play Matthew?As if it were a game when there was a man’s life in the balance.Matthew had a plan and a reason.That didn’t excuse him from making her believe he’d taken her diamonds, though.What a scoundrel he was!A lovable, hard, clever, lying scoundrel.
There was nothing she would miss from her life as a duchess.Not with Matthew as her husband.It was a hard admission, considering she’d dreamt of being a duchess since she understood it was important for a young aristocratic girl such as she.
She’d never thought being a duchess would feel like being shackled—to propriety, to etiquette, to behavioral norms that were near impossible to attain.Matthew had freed her, in a way.But he’d also bound her to him for life.
* * * * *
