cared for.
That realization humbled him more than any serrated blade ever could.
“Thank you,” he blurted. Startled glances shot his way. “Both of you.”
Camilla, paused in the middle of pouring herself another cup of tea. “Whatever for?”
“For your kindness.” A huge lump seemed to have formed in his throat as his gaze locked with Rose’s. “I am honored to have your friendship.”
Rose’s expression softened into something he couldn’t read, but it seized his heart all the same. What the hell was wrong with him? A few hours in her company and he already unmanned himself.
“You shall always have it,” she told him quietly. Then, a quick glance to the woman near him. “Isn’t that right, Mama?”
Damn it all, in those few seconds he’d forgotten about Camilla. “Of course,” she replied with a gentle smile as she laid her hand over one of Grey’s. “Always.”
Somehow, he managed to smile. Then he made some foolish excuse so that he might leave their company. He felt Rose’s questioning gaze upon his back as he left the room, and he had to force himself not to look back. Because if he did, there was no telling what insanity he might get up to.
He had his pride, after all.
“You simply have to try some of this cake.”
Rose knew better than to argue with her friend Eve, so she obligingly opened her mouth and allowed her friend to deposit a bite of soft, chocolaty goodness inside. She would have to eat light at supper that night or she really wouldn’t fit into any of her gowns.
“Mmm,” she agreed as the cake melted on her tongue. “That’s divine.” They were on the terrace of Eve’s family’s London townhouse. The Viscountess Rothchild held a tea at this time every year to celebrate the opening of the Season. It was barely two weeks into May, but her lawn and terrace were awash with ladies of all ages in prettily-colored day gowns and lacy parasols twirling under the midday sun.
“I might have to help myself to another slice,” her friend allowed with a sigh. Blonde with ivory skin and cornflower blue eyes, Eve had the delicate grace of a spring lily and the determination of an oak in a storm.
Rose eyed her shapely friend in disbelief—and a little envy. “If I ate like you I’d weigh twenty stone.”
Eve set the empty plate aside and dabbed the corners of her mouth with a napkin. “It’s only because Mama watches everything I put in my mouth when we’re alone. She hardly lets me eat a thing.”
Looking around the gathering of chatting ladies and gentlemen, Rose easily spotted Lady Rothchild laughing with her mother, who looked like a black orchid amongst a field of bright spring blossoms. “Won’t she notice how much you eat today?”
Her friend licked a spot of chocolate off her lip. “She’s too busy being hostess. Besides, if she asks I’ll say I’m getting it for you.”
Rose laughed. “Just like the time you got caught with two of your father’s cheroots?”
Eve’s patrician nose wrinkled. “Nasty things. And you got into far less trouble than I would have had I told the truth.”
That was true, though she didn’t voice it aloud. Eve’s mother was something of a termagant, always finding fault with her sweet, pretty daughter.
“Then you should go and get another slice of cake before it is all gone.”
Eve rose demurely from her chair and made her way to the sweets table where a livery-clad footman waited to serve her.
Rose took advantage of the time alone to look at all the ladies in their finery. Most had welcomed her warmly when Eve’s mother made introductions. Of course no one would be obviously rude and risk Lady Rothchild’s censure. And despite the scandal clinging to Rose’s past, she was still the daughter of an earl. Her father’s title had been in the family for centuries and was one of the oldest in England.
And there were some who were genuinely overwhelming in expressing their pleasure at seeing her. She renewed a few
That realization humbled him more than any serrated blade ever could.
“Thank you,” he blurted. Startled glances shot his way. “Both of you.”
Camilla, paused in the middle of pouring herself another cup of tea. “Whatever for?”
“For your kindness.” A huge lump seemed to have formed in his throat as his gaze locked with Rose’s. “I am honored to have your friendship.”
Rose’s expression softened into something he couldn’t read, but it seized his heart all the same. What the hell was wrong with him? A few hours in her company and he already unmanned himself.
“You shall always have it,” she told him quietly. Then, a quick glance to the woman near him. “Isn’t that right, Mama?”
Damn it all, in those few seconds he’d forgotten about Camilla. “Of course,” she replied with a gentle smile as she laid her hand over one of Grey’s. “Always.”
Somehow, he managed to smile. Then he made some foolish excuse so that he might leave their company. He felt Rose’s questioning gaze upon his back as he left the room, and he had to force himself not to look back. Because if he did, there was no telling what insanity he might get up to.
He had his pride, after all.
“You simply have to try some of this cake.”
Rose knew better than to argue with her friend Eve, so she obligingly opened her mouth and allowed her friend to deposit a bite of soft, chocolaty goodness inside. She would have to eat light at supper that night or she really wouldn’t fit into any of her gowns.
“Mmm,” she agreed as the cake melted on her tongue. “That’s divine.” They were on the terrace of Eve’s family’s London townhouse. The Viscountess Rothchild held a tea at this time every year to celebrate the opening of the Season. It was barely two weeks into May, but her lawn and terrace were awash with ladies of all ages in prettily-colored day gowns and lacy parasols twirling under the midday sun.
“I might have to help myself to another slice,” her friend allowed with a sigh. Blonde with ivory skin and cornflower blue eyes, Eve had the delicate grace of a spring lily and the determination of an oak in a storm.
Rose eyed her shapely friend in disbelief—and a little envy. “If I ate like you I’d weigh twenty stone.”
Eve set the empty plate aside and dabbed the corners of her mouth with a napkin. “It’s only because Mama watches everything I put in my mouth when we’re alone. She hardly lets me eat a thing.”
Looking around the gathering of chatting ladies and gentlemen, Rose easily spotted Lady Rothchild laughing with her mother, who looked like a black orchid amongst a field of bright spring blossoms. “Won’t she notice how much you eat today?”
Her friend licked a spot of chocolate off her lip. “She’s too busy being hostess. Besides, if she asks I’ll say I’m getting it for you.”
Rose laughed. “Just like the time you got caught with two of your father’s cheroots?”
Eve’s patrician nose wrinkled. “Nasty things. And you got into far less trouble than I would have had I told the truth.”
That was true, though she didn’t voice it aloud. Eve’s mother was something of a termagant, always finding fault with her sweet, pretty daughter.
“Then you should go and get another slice of cake before it is all gone.”
Eve rose demurely from her chair and made her way to the sweets table where a livery-clad footman waited to serve her.
Rose took advantage of the time alone to look at all the ladies in their finery. Most had welcomed her warmly when Eve’s mother made introductions. Of course no one would be obviously rude and risk Lady Rothchild’s censure. And despite the scandal clinging to Rose’s past, she was still the daughter of an earl. Her father’s title had been in the family for centuries and was one of the oldest in England.
And there were some who were genuinely overwhelming in expressing their pleasure at seeing her. She renewed a few
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