am not so certain that that would be a
sound choice for you, but take your time and look about at your
options. You should be a good girl and settle down to a normal
life. I would not want my daughter to be involved with espionage on
a regular basis.”
Rose could see that her father was ready to
have an end to the conversation. While he had been perfectly happy
accepting her help when it was convenient, he was not about to
countenance her entry into the profession. That, in a nutshell, was
why she could not settle in to the rhythm of the Season. She wanted
so much more out of her life, she thought with a sad twist of her
heart.
Rising from her position in the wing-backed
chair in front of her father's desk, Rose took another deep sniff
of the much-loved scent, wishing she could somehow transfer that
restful, comforting smell to some other room in the house, such as
her own sitting room or bedroom. Then she could enjoy it at her
leisure. With a resigned sigh over her own silliness, she bade her
father a fond goodnight and made her way upstairs to her bed.
It would be some time before she could relax
into sleep, as she had many things on her mind to mull over. Her
mother's odd behavior was a matter of some concern, as was her own
ambivalence toward the search for a husband. But uppermost on her
mind was the conversation she had overheard at the musicale between
Lord Austen and Sir Broderick.
Who could I possibly confide in about
this? she asked her own reflection as she brushed out her hair,
having dismissed the maid. Lady Yorkleigh was very kind this
evening and even seemed to be inviting me to enter into her inner
circle. I feel as though I could confide in her about certain
things. Rose gazed at herself with a wrinkled brow. For
instance, I could discuss my marital options with her, or perhaps
even ask her opinion about Mama's strangely conflicting behavior.
But I do not see how I could discuss this situation with
her.
There were highly confidential matters at
stake. Possibly even matters pertaining to the security of the
government, or even the prince. And besides that there was the
matter of a young woman's reputation and the duke's future
happiness being in jeopardy.
Rose's reflection turned sadly pensive at
this. Alex's happiness was none of her concern. Their families had
quite clearly declared a feud. She ought to loath him. No doubt he
loathed her. But she still could not bring herself to hate her old
friend. And she really could not stand by and do nothing about what
she had heard. For the time being, until she could figure out who
to speak to about the bigger issue, or find out more details so
that it would be a manageable project to pass to her father, she
needed to protect the duke from getting caught in a trap set by Sir
Jason Broderick. That duplicitous weasel would not get his teeth
and claws into her old friend if she had anything to say on the
matter. Once she had the Duke of Wrentham out of the equation then
surely she would be able to pass the situation over to Papa.
Thus resolved, Rose set herself to pondering
just how to manage protecting the duke from the Austens' clutches.
The Alex she knew hated any sort of subterfuge, so she would just
have to come right out and tell him. At least, she had to tell him
about what she had overheard. It would no doubt be best to leave
out the details about how very unscrupulous Sir Broderick was. He
would want to know how she knew and the entire issue would get
murky.
Or even murkier than it already was, she
reminded herself as she gazed at her reflection. She remembered the
moment where her eyes had locked onto his. Her stomach clenched at
the memory. He truly was a remarkably handsome specimen of a man.
But not for her, she reminded herself once more. He was a Wrentham
after all. She pulled her thoughts back to the matter at hand.
Now all she had to do was figure out a way to
have a conversation with the Duke of Wrentham without anyone
finding out. Especially
sound choice for you, but take your time and look about at your
options. You should be a good girl and settle down to a normal
life. I would not want my daughter to be involved with espionage on
a regular basis.”
Rose could see that her father was ready to
have an end to the conversation. While he had been perfectly happy
accepting her help when it was convenient, he was not about to
countenance her entry into the profession. That, in a nutshell, was
why she could not settle in to the rhythm of the Season. She wanted
so much more out of her life, she thought with a sad twist of her
heart.
Rising from her position in the wing-backed
chair in front of her father's desk, Rose took another deep sniff
of the much-loved scent, wishing she could somehow transfer that
restful, comforting smell to some other room in the house, such as
her own sitting room or bedroom. Then she could enjoy it at her
leisure. With a resigned sigh over her own silliness, she bade her
father a fond goodnight and made her way upstairs to her bed.
It would be some time before she could relax
into sleep, as she had many things on her mind to mull over. Her
mother's odd behavior was a matter of some concern, as was her own
ambivalence toward the search for a husband. But uppermost on her
mind was the conversation she had overheard at the musicale between
Lord Austen and Sir Broderick.
Who could I possibly confide in about
this? she asked her own reflection as she brushed out her hair,
having dismissed the maid. Lady Yorkleigh was very kind this
evening and even seemed to be inviting me to enter into her inner
circle. I feel as though I could confide in her about certain
things. Rose gazed at herself with a wrinkled brow. For
instance, I could discuss my marital options with her, or perhaps
even ask her opinion about Mama's strangely conflicting behavior.
But I do not see how I could discuss this situation with
her.
There were highly confidential matters at
stake. Possibly even matters pertaining to the security of the
government, or even the prince. And besides that there was the
matter of a young woman's reputation and the duke's future
happiness being in jeopardy.
Rose's reflection turned sadly pensive at
this. Alex's happiness was none of her concern. Their families had
quite clearly declared a feud. She ought to loath him. No doubt he
loathed her. But she still could not bring herself to hate her old
friend. And she really could not stand by and do nothing about what
she had heard. For the time being, until she could figure out who
to speak to about the bigger issue, or find out more details so
that it would be a manageable project to pass to her father, she
needed to protect the duke from getting caught in a trap set by Sir
Jason Broderick. That duplicitous weasel would not get his teeth
and claws into her old friend if she had anything to say on the
matter. Once she had the Duke of Wrentham out of the equation then
surely she would be able to pass the situation over to Papa.
Thus resolved, Rose set herself to pondering
just how to manage protecting the duke from the Austens' clutches.
The Alex she knew hated any sort of subterfuge, so she would just
have to come right out and tell him. At least, she had to tell him
about what she had overheard. It would no doubt be best to leave
out the details about how very unscrupulous Sir Broderick was. He
would want to know how she knew and the entire issue would get
murky.
Or even murkier than it already was, she
reminded herself as she gazed at her reflection. She remembered the
moment where her eyes had locked onto his. Her stomach clenched at
the memory. He truly was a remarkably handsome specimen of a man.
But not for her, she reminded herself once more. He was a Wrentham
after all. She pulled her thoughts back to the matter at hand.
Now all she had to do was figure out a way to
have a conversation with the Duke of Wrentham without anyone
finding out. Especially
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