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Chapter Thirty-Three
Rose stepped down from her carriage and walked up the stairs to the front door.
There was an inner radiance from within her that exuded happiness, peace, and contentment. She was hopelessly and completely in love with Kenneth, Marquess of Walsrock.
Leaving him behind at Lord Rockgonie’s manor because of nightfall, had been one of the hardest things she’d ever done in her life.
“Don’t worry. We can be back here tomorrow and continue like we never parted,” he promised.
“But I don’t want to go. I don’t want to ever leave you,” she protested, and the memory brought a smile to her lips.
As she reached the door, floating on clouds, it was opened from within by the butler.
“Welcome, My Lady. Lord Somerholm requests an audience with you in his study,” the butler announced as he stepped aside to allow her passage.
Her eyes thinned cautiously as she wondered why her father wanted to see her. She walked in and thanked the butler as she made a quick decision whether to head to her chambers first and clean up, or head straight to the study.
“I’ll prepare your bath,” Elsa said, coming in behind her and effectively making the decision for her.
“Tell my father I will be with him shortly,” she announced to the butler as he bowed slightly and walked off with her message to the Earl.
As promised, after a while, she walked into the Earl’s study, fresh from her bath.
“Good evening, Father. You asked to see me?” she asked as she walked in and took a seat.
“Oh, yes, I did. How was your visit with Lord Rockgonie?” He asked, causing her heart to skip a beat.
“It was splendid,” she replied cautiously, not sure why her father was asking.
“Wonderful!” He beamed, putting her mind slightly at ease. “That means you will like the next thing I’m going to say. I have decided to announce your engagement to Lord Rockgonie at Lady Martha’s ball a week from now.” Her father was smiling.
Her heart literally stopped in her chest even as she struggled to guard her expression.
“Why have you made such a decision, Father?” she asked.
“Your wedding is almost here. Even though preparations are being made, it is only proper to have you and Lord Rockgonie be officially announced to the public,” her father answered.
Announcing such an engagement would turn everyone’s attention on her. It was also going to make it extremely difficult for her to come out with the truth about her and Lord Walsrock if the opportunity ever presented itself.
Not to mention what this will do to Lady Anna.
“Father, please. Do not do this,” she asked.
“Why?” he asked in confusion, the smile disappearing from his lips. “Give me one good reason why?”
“Because I do not love Lord Rockgonie,” she answered simply. There was nothing else she could say besides appeal to her father’s softer side.
“Even after all the time you’ve been spending with him?” her father asked, perplexed.
“Which is why I know that I do not want to marry him, Father. Please!” she said in response. Her meetings with Kenneth didn’t have to be made known to him.
A silence settled between them. She hoped that what she’d said was enough to change her father’s decision, once and for all.
“You do not have to love him in the beginning,” her father began. “But you will learn to love him as time goes by.”
“But Father…”
“My decision is final. I have had enough of this childishness. You will marry Lord Rockgonie and I will go ahead and announce your engagement at the ball next week,” Her father said with finality.
