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“Yes, she knows. I have something to tell you, Delia, and I couldn’t risk having you in my house again. There are too many listening ears.”
Cordelia’s eyes bulged at the prospect of gossip.
“He wants to court you?” Cordelia repeated disbelievingly, after Rosaline had been forced to repeat her whole story twice.
“No, not really. It’s all a pretense.”
She pursed her lips. “Well, he wanted to court you for real before, when he thought you were me.”
“Yes, that was when he thought I was a well-bred lady with a good family and a substantial dowry. Now that I’m a disgraced nobody without a penny to her name, circumstances have very much changed.”
“But surely his feelings will not.”
Rosaline shrugged. “In men like the Duke, feelings are very much dependent on circumstances, in my opinion.”
Cordelia got to her feet, pacing her bedroom. The two girls were reclining on Cordelia’s immaculately made bed, with the door closed.
“And he’s going to pay you?”
“One hundred pounds per event. I could make so much money, Delia! I shan’t give any of it to my parents. This money is for me and my siblings. It’s our future.”
“Yes, but imagine how much better off you would be if he married you.”
“He won’t marry me.”
“This is getting dangerously close to being a…” Cordelia paused delicately, “…a lady for hire, if you know what I mean.”
“All I have to do is arrive with him at social events and look in love. I don’t have to do anything, let alone anything improper. It’s not that sort of arrangement.” Rosaline insisted.
Cordelia sighed, scratching her head. “Well, I can’t deny how well this could work out for you. Be sure to keep your head, and your heart. They don’t call him theDuke of Icefor nothing. If he’s decided that your relationship is all business, that is what it will be. The instant you’re no longer useful to him, he’ll get rid of you. Make no mistake, this man is not given to sentiment.”
Rosaline paused for a moment. “Is his reputation in Society really so bad?”
Cordelia nodded. “People are terrified of him. Still, that doesn’t stop various Mammas throwing their daughters at him. He’s still a rich duke, no matter how monstrous.”
“Ididn’t find him monstrous.”
Cordelia lifted an eyebrow. “You didn’t find him frightening at all?”
Rosaline winced. “Yes, I did. He has this mesmerizing stare – it’s like blue ice – and it’s hard to look away. I can see how he could be truly frightening.”
“It sounds like he doesn’t want to frighten you. Not yet, at least.” Cordelia shuddered. “I shouldn’t like to be you, Rosaline.”
“You have plenty of money, Delia. You don’t have to be like me. I have to make my own way. If we can send Edmund to a good university, he can get a good job, and that will be a lifeline for us all. If I can save up money for my sisters’ dowries, they might get married.”
“And what about you, Rosaline? Where is your future?”
She shrugged. “I’ll take whatever money I have left over and find myself somewhere to live. I can’t stand living with Papa and Mama for much longer.”
“Oh, Rosie. This must be so difficult for you.”
Rosaline sat up, forcing herself to smile. She couldn’t stand pity.
“I’m quite alright, Delia. The only difficulty will be in managing my parents and the Duke. You know how they are around rich, titled people, and I daresay he’ll be disgusted by them.”
“My advice to you, Rosaline, is to let the Duke handle your parents. Trust me, he’ll teach them some manners.” Cordelia shivered. “He’s very good at that.”
Rosaline was quiet for a few moments. She was going to have to be careful how she thought about the Duke, and for how long.
