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Rosaline crumpled the letter and threw it aside. “I’m sorry, Cordelia, I don’t know what else I could have done.”
Cordelia leaned back in her seat, sighing. “I daresay you made yourself too interesting. Look, now we have the problem of the promenade today. Mama had written a note of acceptance before I’d even had a chance to read the blasted letter. Obviously, I can’t go. You will have to go again. But this time, Rosaline, make sure you put him off for good. I can’t hold off Mama for much longer. She wanted to promenade with me, and of course that’ll unravel the whole thing. If he keeps wanting to see ‘Cordelia’, they’ll invite him to supper or something.”
Rosaline winced, not wanting to imagine how the Duke would react when he found out he’d been duped. He struck her as a man with a frightening temper. He probably wouldn’t be the sort of man who raged and swore and got violent. No, his anger would be icy cold and terrible. He would doubtless never forget if he was wronged.
Rosaline very much didnotwant to wrong the Duke of Ice. She suspected she’d live to regret it.
“Of course I will, Cordelia. Mark my words, he won’t want to see you again after this. Can I borrow another dress?”
“Idaren’t let you. One of the maids noticed the yellow dress was gone and mentioned it to Mama. I’m afraid to tell her that I gave it you, not after everything that’s gone between our families. I am sorry, Rosaline. I shouldn’t have dragged you into all this.”
Rosaline laid a hand on Cordelia’s arm. “It’s not your fault. Besides, what are friends for if not duping rich and unpleasant dukes?”
Cordelia snorted. “Exactly.”
The afternoon was the prime promenading hour, and that worried Rosaline. What if an acquaintance spotted her, and called her by her real name? Or worse yet, what if they told her mother?
Rosaline knew fine well that if they saw her in the company of such an illustrious -and rich- man as the Duke of Keswick, they would immediately decide upon her marrying him. That would lead to mortifying conversations and invitations as they tried to push her onto the Duke of Ice.
Ugh. Rosaline didn’t even like to think of that. It sent a shudder down her spine which she was decidedly thinking of as a feeling of dislike, and nothing more complicated.
Helen came with her again. She had the same sharp look in her face, and there was definite disapproval there. No doubt she hated sneaking around like this, even under the orders of her beloved mistress.
Or perhaps she just blamed Rosaline for not properly putting off the Duke.
Hyde Park was full of people, of course, but the bad weather put them off dawdling too long or talking to each other. Young ladies on the arms of their escorts made a quick circuit of the park, ensuring that they had been seen, and hurried home to get dry.
As she watched the ladies and gentlemen hurry on by, Rosaline realized with a sinking heart that she had no idea where she was supposed to meet the Duke.
Rosaline had borrowed one of her mother’s promenading dresses. Today was cold and grey, with a faint drizzling rain soaking the streets and whoever was foolish enough to walk on them. The promenading dress was old, but not so out of fashion as to be ridiculous. More to the point, it fit Rosaline, and kept out the worst of the wet.
She tucked loose wisps of hair under her bonnet and wished that she’d thought to bring an umbrella.
“Good afternoon, Miss Atwood.”
The deep, silky voice made Rosaline jump. When had the Duke come up behind her? She spun around, glaring at him.
He was dressed in a black riding suit and a very damp top hat. The simple cut of the coat seemed to accentuate the breadth of his shoulders and his broad chest.
Oh, and hisheight. Rosaline was struck anew by how tall he was. She wished she’d worn shoes with a block heel. That might have made her seem a little taller.
What was more, he’d brought an umbrella. Two umbrellas, in fact. He had one large, black umbrella opened over his head, and a smaller one was hooked over his arm.
“Didn’t your mother ever tell you not to sneak up on people like that?” Rosaline said, as pompously as she could. He only smiled, showing a glint of white teeth.
“My mother died when I was child, so I don’t believe she had time to teach me much.”
Rosaline deflated. “Oh. I am sorry, Your Grace, I didn’t know.”
“Really? I thought everyone knew of the McCarthy Tragedy. It’s a duller story than you think, I’m afraid. Now, I’ve brought an umbrella for your faithful lady here,” he paused, handing over the small umbrella to Helen, who smiled gratefully, “And you and I will share the large one.”
The Duke offered his arm to Rosaline. There was really nothing to do except take it.
They walked on.
Silence descended. Rosaline frantically thought of topics. She felt far more exposed here than she had in Dainty’s, and the fact that the Duke had wanted a second meeting was making her nervous. He walked quickly, forcing Rosaline to hang onto his arm to keep up. Poor, middle-aged Helen quickly fell behind.
The Duke led the way, and Rosaline noticed in relief that he was heading towards the more heavily wooded walks in the park. If one’s aim of promenading was to be Seen, there was no point taking to the secluded shrubberies and tree-lined avenues. After only a couple of minutes’ walking, Rosaline found herself walking along a narrow path, barely large enough for two people to walk side by side, hemmed in by bushes. Trees met overhead, filtering out the worst of the rain.
