Chapter Fourteen

 

Once Aunt Eleanor and Lord Bradshaw left the room, Rose did her best to keep her annoyance in check as Holden appropriated most of the conversation, just as he had done previously. Her patience was running thin, and she sent covert glances at Caroline, who seemed as bored as she.

As she smoothed the skirts of her white day dress, Holden paused, and an odd smile crossed his face.

She stopped mid-swipe and raised her brows. “What has you smiling?” she asked. “Is there something wrong with my dress?”

“Not at all,” Holden replied, his smile never wavering. “I have never paid much attention to dresses before, but I find yours to be as lovely as you.”

Rose knew her cheeks had to be a deep crimson. It was a nice compliment. “You are too kind,” she murmured.

Then she shook her head. He was playing games once again. “We must speak about last night while we do not have an audience—and I am not in an embarrassing state of undress.” Oh, her cheeks had to have been warm enough to heat the room at that memory! “Never do that again. Coming to my room in the middle of the night, indeed! What were you thinking? If my aunt had come to the door at that moment, my life would have ended and my name would have been forever ruined.”

Of course, she had expected an arrogant response concerning her prudish ways or something to that effect, but instead he said, “You are right. I must admit that it was an act of desperation, but I swear it will never happen again.”

Stunned, Rose could only nod. Was that humility she heard in his tone? It did not sound as odd as she might have expected.

“I suppose you will wish to know the conditions of our arrangement.”

“Please, especially when precisely our courtship will end. And how often will I be forced to endure your company?” The latter was a bit harsh, but at this point she did not care. This was all his fault, and she had no obligation to be solicitous.

He chuckled. “The party David Banner will be hosting is to take place in just over a week. I will not call on you before then.” He sighed and adjusted the lapels on his coat. “My father will not be pleased with me once we have ended this courtship, so whatever reason you are able to devise to bring it to a close, it will need to be believable.”

“Why must that burden be placed upon me?” she asked in disbelief. “This is your doing. It should be you who must propose the rationalization. You must be the one to disappoint your father, not I. In what light will that place me when I reject a perfectly acceptable proposal for courtship? You may care about your reputation, but I certainly care about mine.”

The pain that crossed his features made her regret her tone. Confusion filled her. Why should his feelings concern her?

Despite the fact they should not, she could not help but add, “I am sorry. I did not mean…”

He raised a hand, and she clamped her mouth shut. “You are right. I must take responsibility in this matter. I do have an idea that may work, but I had hoped whatever you devised was better. Father will be attending the party, as well, and I thought that toward the end, after you have left, I will tell him that I decided to end our courtship.”

A strange sensation washed over her. Regret? Why would she feel regret? She pushed it back and said, “That seems a sound plan.” She sighed. “I am sorry that things did not go as you thought they might.”

“As am I,” he murmured.

The door to the drawing room opened, and Lord Bradshaw entered the room.

“We must go,” the baron said, giving Rose a polite smile. “Miss Skylar, I believe we shall see you at the Banner Party, will we not?”

“Yes,” Rose replied. “I look forward to it.”

Lord Bradshaw bowed to Rose and Caroline and then shot a glare at his son.

As if the idea had just occurred to him, Holden also bowed. “Good evening, Miss Skylark, Miss Thrup.”

When Rose went to stand, the baron said, “We will see ourselves out.”

Before Rose or Caroline could comment on the strange conversation they had with Holden, Aunt Eleanor entered the room. “Did you enjoy yourselves?” Rose and Caroline nodded as Aunt Eleanor sat between the two women. “I had the most interesting conversation with Lord Bradshaw.”

“Oh?” Rose said, picking up the teacup from the table and sipping at the cold tea to help ease the dryness of her mouth. “What did he have to say?”

“He wishes you to marry his son.”

Marriage? Courtship was bad enough! What had Holden gotten her into? “Did he?” she asked innocently. “But I have no interest in the man. Even if I did, it is much too soon to make such a consequential decision. I mean, I have yet to accept other suitors.” She gasped. “You did not agree, did you?”

Her aunt smiled and patted her hand. “No. I told him you would marry whomever you wish whenever you chose and not a moment before. What do you think of Mr. Bradshaw?”

Rose was uncertain what to say, for she was muddled when it came to what she thought of the man. She knew he was arrogant, self-serving, and quite annoying at times, but there was something about him that intrigued her. “I believe he is a kind man.” She shot Caroline a glare when she giggled and then covered it with a cough. The woman was well practiced at it. “However, we have little in common.”

“Not an unusual scenario for many newly acquainted people,” her aunt said. “That is the reason a courtship is so important before marriage; it allows time to see if a couple is compatible.” She stood. “Caroline, do not forget that you are to return home for a few days tomorrow. I will help you pack your things.”

Caroline nodded and turned to Rose. “Will you be all right by yourself?”

“Yes,” Rose replied. “I believe it will be nice to be alone for a few days in order to give me time to think. No offense to you, Caroline, for I do enjoy your company.”

Caroline laughed. “None taken, I assure you. You most certainly have much to consider.” She turned so her back faced Aunt Eleanor and winked.

Once the two women left the room, Rose sat back into the cushions, relieved the day was coming to an end. At least it was only a short period of time that she had to endure pretending that Holden was courting her. Once he ended the arrangement, she could return to her life and become available for a more appropriate suitor to call on her.

However, as she considered this, a sense of sadness filled her. An image of Holden appeared in her mind, and she suddenly found the idea of saying goodbye to the man did not sit as well with her as she thought it would.

***

Holden peered out the window of the drawing room at his home thinking about his life. Although he would prefer to remain unmarried, he knew he would never be allowed such freedom, not when he was the heir to the Bradshaw barony. Yet despite his eagerness for bachelorhood, Rose had caught his attention, more than he cared to admit. Each time he thought of her, he found himself further in awe of her beauty and intelligence.

If only I did not become a bumbling fool when I am with her, he thought with a growl.

He would never be willing to admit it, but he found her outlook on life refreshing. She was not one to compromise her ideals, even for the possibility of a secret kiss or marrying a baron.

Most women he encountered pretended truth and propriety mattered, but most used their convictions to garner what they wanted, which was wealth and station. Rose was different. She truly believed what she touted.

Granted, she was a bit stuffy for the likes of him but witnessing her drinking with Caroline in her bedroom had shown she took risks. Yet, she also had an innocence about her that he found appealing, which only added to his confusion.

Oh, he had seen innocence in other women before—few to be sure—but this time it was somehow different. Rather than viewing her as quarry for his desires as he would have in the past, he found himself in the strange position of wanting to protect her, to guide her. To be the man who opened her eyes and mind to the delights of the world. To earn her trust and her love.

He chuckled. What a strange world he had entered. Many of the great poets wrote of such balderdash, but he never thought he would succumb to the aura of any woman. Yet, here he was thinking of her once again.

It was odd, but the prospect of love, of having a woman truly care for him, was appealing. With a groan, he dropped his head in his hands and hoped he had not become one of the insipid men he despised.

What a fool he had been boasting of his forward views in an attempt to impress her. New ways to approach life indeed! Rather than attract her, he had managed to repel her instead.

And that kiss! He massaged his temples to alleviate the pain the humiliation had caused him. He should have recognized how different she was, but as was typical for him, he did not. He barreled into it like a wolf chasing what it assumed was the weakest of the flock. Yet, Rose was not weak, not by any definition of the word.

He sighed. Something good had finally come into his life and he had pushed her away without even trying.

Then an idea occurred to him. He would not beg her to remain in the courtship, but he could make the request. Perhaps he could prove to her that he was a worthy gentleman, one she may be able to guide in the right direction. Not only would that please him, but it would please his father, as well. Everyone would win.

“Is that Parkinson I see counting butterflies outside his window?”

Holden turned to find David in the doorway, a churlish grin on his face. “Do not be silly. A man is allowed to look out his window whenever he chooses.”

David joined him, peered out the window, and then looked back at Holden. “I suppose,” he replied as he leaned a shoulder against the wall. “Just think. In just a few days, I will be hosting the biggest and grandest party that Rumsbury has ever seen. I will be offering the finest foods, wines, and music for my guests to enjoy. I will be touted the best host of all times.”

“I look forward to it,” Holden lied. “I am sure it will be a grand spectacle.”

David pushed off the wall and walked over to the liquor cart. “Caroline Thrup and her mother joined Father and me for dinner last night.”

Holden raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Was it a pleasant evening?”

David snorted. “The women were more than happy if their incessant talking was any indication. Of course, I took great interest in anything Caroline said, which proved that the woman is as enamored with me as I had suspected.” He handed Holden a glass of brandy.

“That is good,” Holden replied. “She has been Rose’s companion since the woman’s arrival to Rumsbury, and I have found her to be pleasant company. She is a kind and thoughtful woman, much different than I remembered. She and Rose have grown quite close.” He glanced at David and was surprised to see the man staring at him as if he had grown a third eye.

“Kind?” David said with a laugh. “What do I care if the woman is kind? What I care about is that she has a very firm backside beneath those skirts and a pair of breasts that simply call out to me to use as a pillow. No, I want nothing more than to take her to my bed.”

In the past, such talk would have sent Holden writhing on the floor with laughter. Now, however, he felt nothing but discomfort. Was he ill? Had he contracted some sort of horrible disease that affected his mind? Yet, he did not feel flush or weak as he should have if that were the case.

“I would be careful,” Holden said in an attempt to navigate the man away from Caroline. It was his fault David had set his sights on the woman after all. “Her mother may be in attendance and therefore will make it impossible to sneak her away. Perhaps another woman would be more…”

“Lady Thrup will not be in attendance,” David interrupted with a wide grin. “And even if she were, I have ways to see that certain guests are distracted for long periods of time.”

“Be that as it may,” Holden said, making one more attempt to change the man’s mind, “others may notice a woman as outspoken as Caroline disappearing. Plus, if you were caught, it would do you irreparable damage, not to mention what it would do to her reputation.”

David eyed him curiously as he took a sip of his drink. “It appears you do not agree with my plan. Has that Skylark woman befuddled your mind? Shall I request the musicians leave early so you may recite poetry instead?”

“Do not be a half-wit,” Holden growled. “Rose has done nothing to me.” As he said this, he knew it to be a lie.

It appeared David did as well. “You have allowed that woman to set up shop in your head. You have become enamored with her; I can see it in your eyes.”

“Enamored is a strong word,” Holden replied coldly. “I admit that I do enjoy her company, but there is nothing wrong with that, is there?”

David glared at him. “Not at all, but do not presume that you are now better than I simply because you have begun to enjoy a woman’s company.”

Holden shook his head. “I think no such thing.”

“Then perhaps you can explain why this great concern over Caroline Thrup. We have both heckled about women in the past. Did you not purposefully invite your Miss Skylark to my party because I wished to invite Miss Thrup?”

“I was the one who mentioned the party to Miss Thrup, not you.”

David waved a dismissive hand and walked over to sit on one of the green and gold chairs. “Who did the actual inviting is of no consequence, but you knew I would be inviting her regardless.”

Holden sighed. “Let us not argue. We have been friends for a very long time, and I do not wish to destroy what we have built. And yes, I have shown little respect to women such as Caroline. However, as I have spent more time with the woman, I find that she is not as insipid as I once thought.”

“You mean since you have spent time with Miss Skylark. You could not care less for Caroline and what becomes of her.” He chuckled. “Or perhaps you are having romantic notions for both women.”

This made Holden laugh. “Not at all. It is just that I have spent enough time with Caroline to think of her as a friend.”

Granted, he had not spent an exorbitant amount of time with the woman, but he did not lie that his view of her was changing, even if it was not to the degree he proclaimed. Plus, he knew that any impudence this man showed to Caroline would undermine anything Holden wished to do with Rose.

“I simply believe that what you are planning will devastate her,” Holden continued. “Do you not see? There is no need to become rogues to get what we want. Let us be admired for our sense of decency for once.”

Holden waited for David’s rebuttal, for the man enjoyed a good debate. They had spent countless hours arguing about one subject or another until one of them relented. Therefore, the response David gave was a great surprise.

“What you say has merit,” he said with a sigh. “Perhaps we no longer need to act as we once had. From this moment on, I will do what is right and proper as dictated by society. After all, we are gentlemen, are we not?”

Holden eyed him skeptically. “Do you jest?”

David smiled. “Not at all. In fact, I find your wisdom quite sound. Caroline is a lady and shall be treated as such.”

Relieved that David would not ruin whatever chances Holden had with Rose, Holden lifted his glass as if to toast, David doing the same.

As they continued to talk, Holden felt a sense of pride he had not felt in many years. It was the pride of doing what was right after doing wrong for so long, and it felt good. Caroline was now safe from harm, and, if Rose recognized the changes in Holden, perhaps she would consider allowing him to court her in actuality.