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Isaac.His brothers.Rose’s daughters.Who else had he helped?Who had he deemed worthy of his compassion?
He had promised her that he would correct things.What had she thought he meant?Not that she would ever been a duchess again.Not that he could magically make the child she carried legitimate in the truest sense.He had certainly delivered by marrying her, handing her the opportunity for the best ball in London and making them the most talked about couple in theton.
But fixing things shouldn’t mean others would be hurt or shamed.Or worse.
What have you done?What have you done?
Rose found a few of the shortbread-decorated treats on the foyer table and plucked them up before moving upward, toward her daughters and toward the joy in her life that required no pretense.The children would be awake, usually unable to sleep once the morning light entered their room.
As she entered, there was a sweet chorus of, “Mama, Mama!Tell us about the party!”They were fully dressed and sitting on the floor while Tilly read to them.Another servant was cleaning the table where they had had their breakfast.“Was it wonderful?Did you get to dance with the king?”
“Oh, my darlings, it was truly marvelous.I danced with handsome men and ate the very best food.And look what I brought you.I see you’ve already eaten your breakfast, but don’t assume you will get biscuits this early again anytime soon.”She handed over the shortbread with its purple gauzy wrap.
“Thank you, Mama!We watched the orchestra playing in the garden and the couples dancing on the floor were oh so beautiful, Mama, but we didn’t see you or Mr.Hardy.”
“We were very busy.”Ava was struggling to open the ribbon on her piece.“Let me help you.”Rose took the piece and kept talking.“Mr.Hardy made sure the king was happy and Raleigh took care of everything else.Lady Chester asked about you both and she wants us to travel to London soon so we can enjoy Hyde Park with her and the children.”
“When Mr.Hardy came up to see us,” Elaina leaned forward and whispered, “he saw us looking out the window.Well, he said that next year, when the Season starts again, we can have our own tea party and we could invite our friends.Do you think Lady Chester would bring Thomas and Charlotte?”
Rose smiled.“We’ll make a list.And I think we should have the party in our sunroom, overlooking the garden.”
They chatted happily while Rose felt the weight of exhaustion.And she refused to allow her feelings to soften because Matthew was considerate of the girls’ feelings.
The fatherless, the weak, the orphaned, the poor—Matthew was positively biblical in his knack for helping.And wielding a god-like vengeance upon those he perceived to be responsible for the bitter circumstances of his youth.
