AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Unfortunately, I am not interested.
Fortunately for her, however, her father had misinterpreted the look on her face.
“I understand how you feel. But he is on his way back to honor his engagement to you. Give him one more chance,” her father remarked.
“Father, would you afford me the opportunity to think this through?” Rose requested, handing the Earl’s letter back to her father, suddenly disgusted but doing a wonderful job of masking it.
“Most certainly. Take all the time you need. After all, he arrives a week from now,ceteris paribus.”
“Thank you, Father,” she said as she excused herself to retreat to the safety of her chambers.
Her mind was reeling. When she was told of this arrangement initially, she’d been sad. Now, however, she was distraught.
Somehow she’d silently hoped that the business with Lord Rockgonie had blown away on its own, giving her a chance to explore a relationship with Lord Walsrock. Apparently, it hadn’t and now Rose was going to be forced to face it. In spite of all the thoughts going through her mind, all she was worried about was the Marquess finding out and knowing she’d lied to him.
She walked briskly to her chambers and burst through the door, startling her maid in the process.
“My Lady, is anything the matter?” her lady’s maid asked, after noticing she was upset and visibly worried.
Rose, on the other hand, stayed quiet and fuming at what had just occurred in her father’s study. After pacing back and forth for a bit in a very un-lady like fashion, she turned and dashed for the bed to retrieve the Marquess’ letter from where her lady’s maid had hidden it.
As soon as her hands felt the letter, her heart went soft.
Spreading the letter open, the beauty of his handwriting hit her square in the face as it had done before. No matter how many times she’d seen the Marquess’ writing in the past week, she’d not gotten used to it.
Dear R,
As always, the opportunity to write you a letter fills my heart with so much joy. It’s been only a week and yet I feel like I’ve known you for half of my adult life.
This is certainly a feeling that is new to me in all ramifications that I dare say I just might be experiencing something I’ve never felt before. The fact that I know I’m not in this alone and that you feel it too also makes me look forward to the future with so much hope. I most certainly look forward to the time when our correspondence shall no longer have to be in secret anymore.
My mother asked about you this morning though as she always has every morning. I think she’s beginning to grow fond of you even though she knows nothing of our continued conversations.
Even as this letter hasn’t reached you yet, I so eagerly look forward to receiving a response from you.
Sincerely
W
A smile formed on her lips as she briefly forgot the dilemma she was facing. Lord Walsrock’s letters had a way of suspending her from reality and leaving her in a state of ecstasy.
She read it three more times before turning to find that her lady’s maid had pulled out the writing desk for her to respond to the letter.
She sat at the desk and debated within herself on what her response should be. The Marquess needed to find out the truth from her if she ever hoped for a chance to control this situation. However, informing him through a letter didn’t seem like the best way to go about it.
I need to get him to meet me in person.
Her decision made, she dipped her quill in ink and began writing.
