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Chapter Three
“Will the children besleeping?”Matthew asked as the carriage rolled up to the Sandhurst Mansion at St.George’s Square.Rose tamped down her fear.It was one thing to return to Sandhurst alone but quite another bringing a group of strangers to abscond with her belongings and life was proof she was no longer a duchess.Was there any dignity in this endeavor?Would anyone ever look at her the same again?
The two wagons Matthew had promised were there, his men still sitting on the boards.The horses were quarrelsome, shaking their leather-and-metal harnesses and stamping their hooves against the paver stones, unhappy to be about in the middle of the night.
“I told the girls we would have an adventure tonight.”It wasn’t so easy to explain the truth.
“You were going to marry, no matter who you met at Madame DuPuis?”
“Does that insult you?”she asked.She actually didn’t know the boundary between yes and no and hadn’t known until she’d seen Mr.Hardy.Was instinct alone enough?
He lifted a shoulder.“Then I will have to ensure they have adventures for a lifetime,” Matthew answered.“So no one is disappointed.”
Rose glanced at him, but he was already jumping from the carriage then whisking her to the ground.
She reached Sandhurst’s door first, where the mourning wreath still hung in desolate silence.As she was about to push the portal wide, it flew open from the inside.Cyril was standing there.Rose took a step back and bumped into Matthew.Why was Cyril home?Something must have alerted him to her plans to leave Sandhurst.
“Where have you been?”he demanded.
“Let me pass,” Rose said.
Cyril’s hand remained on the door.“No.You have disobeyed me once again and now forfeit your right to anything at Sandhurst.Including your children.And who are these men?”
Matthew stepped beside her.“Stand aside, Sandhurst.My wife is here to collect her belongings.”
Sandhurst, staring wide-eyed, barked in disbelief.“Married?I don’t believe it.What sort of ruse is this?”Two of the footmen stood behind Sandhurst.The servants had been kind to Rose, but what would they do if so ordered by Cyril?What would Cyril do if upset beyond his ability to tolerate?Oh, damn, why was he home?
Matthew braced his large hand against the door, countering Cyril’s attempt to keep them out.“It’s late, Your Grace.I don’t want to make a scene here at St.George’s Square that your neighbors will talk about for the next year, but that is exactly what I will do unless you allow my men to pass.My wife and her children will no longer reside with you,” Matthew said.Rose was thankful for his calm even though his words brooked no disobedience.
“This is not to be borne.A duchess whisked away in the middle of the night?You’ll be the laughingstock of London once it is known.”
“There are some things that require sacrifice, Cyril.And a name is only as good as the character behind it.My name will survive unscathed.Will yours?”Rose asked.
Sandhurst blinked, then took a step back.His gaze darted from one man to the other, deciding the fight was currently not winnable.“Be gone then.”
Matthew took her dainty hand, his rough hand clasping hers, the working man’s hand that promised to correct what was broken.And the firmness of Matthew’s resolve was immediately soothing when faced with Cyril’s unpredictable nature.Matthew led her inside and said, “Which way?”
