Rose

by Lauren Royal

  “Thursday?” Rose echoed, her stomach souring with disappointment. Not only could she not see Kit, the roads were too dangerous to travel at night. The countryside was dark as sin, and highwaymen abounded. Standing on the doorstep, Rose looked helplessly at her sisters, then back to Graves. “Do you suppose we could stay the night anyway?”

  “Of course, of course.” The butler reached for her satchel. “Mr. Martyn would have my head if I turned you away.”

  In no time at all, he’d called for footmen to take their luggage and maids to ready rooms. He sent word to the cook to prepare a fine meal, then ushered the sisters through the magnificent entry hall and into the drawing room to await supper.

  Rose plopped onto the moss green settle. “I cannot believe this.”

  “All is not lost.” Lily shrugged and set down her cat before sitting beside her. “We shall have a nice sisterly evening together.”

  Rose had wanted to spend the evening with Kit. Her body all but ached, reminding her. “I think I just want to go to sleep—” Suddenly an alarming thought occurred to her. “Good God, this is terrible. I won’t be able to explain to Kit before we leave.”

  “Explain what?” Violet asked, perusing a book she’d found on a shelf.

  “About Ellen and the money. I need to explain. Else he might hate me and call off the wedding—”

  “Oh, Rose.” Lily covered her hand with her own. “I’m sorry we ever said that. Kit isn’t going to hate you.”

  Violet shut the book and sat on her other side. “As you pointed out, I meddled in Ford’s life, too. And he certainly didn’t hate me for doing those things. In fact, he thought it was wonderful.”

  But now that the idea had taken root in her head, Rose couldn’t help but worry. “Ford is different,” she said. “He thrives on invention, creation—he’s not a man driven by ambition, as Kit is. Ford’s happiest when other people take care of the details so he can concentrate on his science. But Kit is used to being in charge. He may not take lightly to my arranging his life.”

  “You said you know him,” Lily reminded her. “You said you were certain he wouldn’t react badly.”

  That was true. Her heart stopped pounding quite so hard. “You’re right,” she said, “I do know Kit. He’ll probably laugh when he hears what I’ve done.”

  But a moment later she was doubting again. She felt as though her emotions were buffeted by the wind.

  More than anything, she wanted to talk to Kit and see his reaction once and for all. But she couldn’t drag her sisters to Hampton Court, and she couldn’t send them home in the carriage and wait here until Thursday, either. Her wedding was Saturday. She had to make flower arrangements, help her mother…

  “I’ll leave him a letter,” she decided. “And I’ll ask him to send a message as soon as he reads it.” She’d be counting the hours until Thursday night when, she hoped, she’d receive words of reassurance. Words that would allow her a good night’s sleep.

  “The perfect solution,” Violet said.

  Not perfect, but the best Rose could do.

  “He loves you,” Lily reminded her.

  Rose could only hope he loved her enough.

  SIXTY-NINE

  HE WAS A coward.

  Kit had argued with himself on the entire drive from London. Should he give Ellen her dowry before the wedding, so she’d attend and neither of them would be sorry later? Or wait until she started talking to him again, no matter how long it took?

  He wanted to do the latter; he didn’t want to give in to her childish behavior, and he didn’t want to feel like he was buying her love. But he didn’t have the guts. As evidenced by the fact that, following his final inspection of the completed chapel at Whitehall, he’d detoured to visit his goldsmith before driving back here to Windsor.

  Not to mention that even though his work had kept him a day later than he’d intended—even though it was nightfall already and his wedding was tomorrow—he was even now heading up the High Street to Ellen’s house instead of down the hill to his own.

  Still, if he was a coward, at least he was a happy one.

  Amazingly, in less than twenty-four hours, Rose would be his. He hadn’t needed the knighthood, let alone a more important title. He’d won her as plain Kit Martyn, and there was satisfaction to be found in that.

  No more mishaps had occurred, and, in fact, his work was proceeding extremely well. Lord Trentingham, of course, was enamored of his new greenhouse. Charles was pleased with the chapel at Whitehall, and when he saw the exquisite dining room here in Windsor, which was also now complete, Kit was confident he’d approve. It was unfortunate the new Hampton Court building was so far behind schedule, but as its intended occupant was currently in France, that wasn’t exactly disastrous. And Kit was certain that, when finished, it, too, would exceed Charles’s expectations. Despite losing the Deputy Surveyor post, his future was not at all bleak.

  A week from today, he and Rose would attend the queen’s birthday celebration at Whitehall, then leave for Italy the day after that. A dream come true for them both. He would learn from the great architects, and Rose would be there to translate.

  But first things first, Kit thought as his carriage drew up before the pawnshop. Before he could be happy with the new woman in his life, he needed to square things with the old one.

  He drew a deep breath, hefted the bag of coins, and marched up to the pawnshop’s door. It was locked tight at this late hour, but as he was raising his hand to knock, it swung open. Ellen and her husband both stood there, wrapped in cloaks, obviously on their way out.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked.

  “Where are you going?” he countered—then realized she’d actually spoken to him. Would wonders never cease? Just when he was ready to give in, she’d saved him from proving himself a coward.

  “Now that the shop is closed for the evening, I was going to try to see you,” she said. “As I’ve done the past four nights.”

  “I was away,” he said unnecessarily. “Here.” He held out the bag. “A down payment on your dowry. I never meant to keep it from you. My goldsmith is holding the rest for you in London.”

  “I know. I’ve been trying for four days to thank you.” Instead of taking the money, she threw her arms around him, the hard bag of gold between them. “Thank you so very, very much.” She kissed both his cheeks. “I love you. I honestly don’t know what came over me. But I’m sorry I didn’t trust you, that I tried to punish you by remaining silent.”

  Though clearly rehearsed, her words sounded sincere. But Kit was stunned. He pulled away. “How did you know I was about to give it to you?” Until a few minutes ago, he hadn’t been sure himself.

  Ellen exchanged a confused glance with Thomas, then looked back to Kit. “What do you mean, how did I know?”

  “There was no need to bring more gold,” Thomas added. “The first bag was sufficient proof of your intentions.”

  Kit shifted the heavy weight in his arms. “The first bag?”

  “The one you sent with Rose.” Ellen enunciated slowly, as though he were a half-wit who required the simplest explanation.

  Which wasn’t too far off from the way he was feeling at the moment. “Rose? What does Rose have to do with this?”

  Thomas looked even more confused than Kit felt. “She brought us your money. Or a thousand pounds of it, and a promissory note from your goldsmith for the rest. Abrahamson & Company.”

  “My money is with Lazarus & Sons.” Kit’s thoughts seemed to be moving through a fog, until suddenly everything cleared. “Lord Almighty. It must have been her money. Her inheritance.”

  Thomas blinked. “Is she mad?”

  “Clearly,” Kit said. “Insane, infuriating—”

  “Madly in love,” Ellen interrupted with a soft smile.

  Reeling, Kit leaned against the doorpost. Not light to begin with, the bag seemed to be growing heavier by the moment. “Do you think I could come in and sit down?”

&nbs
p; “ROSE IS anxious,” Chrystabel said later that night as she readied herself for bed. “Distressed. I never in my life thought I’d see Rose like this. Of all our girls—”

  “You’re the one who’s anxious.” Joseph stepped behind to unlace her, pausing to kiss the back of her neck.

  The little shiver that rippled through her wasn’t enough to really distract her. She reached up to unpin her hair. “I should have let her sleep with Kit.”

  “What?” Though he sounded astonished, his practiced fingers kept unlacing. “You cannot mean that, Chrysanthemum.”

  “I do. It’s the only explanation for Rose’s attack of nerves. It was a mistake keeping them apart. Our daughter should be happily anticipating her wedding tomorrow, and instead—”

  “You explained so well all your excellent reasons for forbidding their early union.” He spread the back of her gown, drawing it off her shoulders and kissing the newly bared skin. “Fear of an eight-month baby—”

  “We had a six-month baby and survived—”

  “Loss of innocence before the wedding—”

  “So what?”

  “—when the wedding could be called off for various reasons—”

  “What reasons? It was different with Lily and Rand, where his father was against the match. But Kit has no living parents, no one he has to please. He’s his own man—”

  He laughed, pushing the gown and her chemise down to pool at her feet. “And you’re your own woman, my love. Truly one of a kind.”

  Wondering if he meant that as a compliment or a complaint, she turned and kissed him anyway. “Thankfully, tomorrow it will all be settled, all three of our girls married.”

  He skimmed his warm hands down her sides to her hips. “Do you find that sad? Another reason to be anxious?”

  Nodding, she bit her lip. And reached for her night rail.

  “Oh, you won’t be needing that.” Snatching it from her hands, he threw it artfully over his shoulder. “I suspect a prewedding night might take your mind off tomorrow’s anxieties.”

  SEVENTY

  NO NOTE HAD come from Kit.

  Wearing a sapphire silk dressing gown, Rose paced her crimson bedchamber while her sisters and Judith watched. They were here to help her dress for her wedding.

  But she couldn’t help wondering if she was going to have one.

  She lifted the bouquet she’d made for herself and stroked the soft red and white petals. If she hadn’t given all that money to Kit’s sister, she wouldn’t think twice about the fact that he hadn’t arrived yet; in truth, she had no reason to expect him this early. And he wasn’t supposed to see her before the wedding, anyway.

  But she’d thought she’d hear from him Thursday night. And now it was Saturday…

  “You look worried,” Judith said.

  Rose inhaled deeply of the sweet floral scent before she set the flowers down and forced a smile. “Wedding nerves. You suffered them, too, if you’ll remember.”

  “Did I?” Judith laughed, looking happier than Rose had ever seen her. “But there was no cause for nerves, as I discovered. If it’s the wedding night you’re dreading…don’t. It was ever so wonderful—” She must have suddenly realized what she was saying, because she broke off, her cheeks flushing pink.

  Struggling to keep a straight face, Rose exchanged glances with her sisters. “Thank you,” she told Judith primly. “I feel much better.”

  “Oh, good.” Judith smiled.

  Rose’s hair was already dressed with pearls and red ribbons, her lashes darkened, and her eyes lightly outlined with kohl. For want of something to do, she sat at her dressing table and fluffed more powder on her face.

  “You’re going to look like a ghost,” Violet said.

  “Good God, you’re right.” Staring at her pale self in the mirror, she pulled a little sheet of red Spanish paper from a tiny booklet. “Where’s Kit?” she asked, rubbing it on her cheeks.

  “Now you look like a harlot.” Lily grabbed a handkerchief to rub some off. “Let me help you.”

  Rose sat rigid under her ministrations. “Is it time for me to get dressed?”

  “Might as well.” Violet swept the red gown off the bed. “Shall I call Harriet?”

  “No. You three can help me. I cannot stand any more of her chatter. All she ever talks of is Walter and getting married. I almost wish they’d chosen to live at Hampton Court instead of with me.”

  “That isn’t true,” Lily said.

  Of course it wasn’t. Harriet’s chatter hadn’t bothered her before she gave the money to Ellen. She just couldn’t take so much unadulterated happiness right now. It set her teeth on edge.

  She slid out of her wrapper and stood in place while Judith slipped the diaphanous chemise over her head, being careful not to ruin her hair or her carefully applied face. Then her sisters brought over the gown and helped her wiggle into it. Violet smoothed the satin skirts over her hips while Lily stepped close to lace her tightly into the bodice.

  “I think I may be with child,” she murmured to Rose’s chest.

  Rose blinked and glanced down to Lily’s still-flat stomach. In her dusky pink gown, her sister’s body looked as lithe as ever. “Are you sure?”

  Lily looked up with a dreamy smile. “I’m two weeks late.”

  “Oh, Lily!” Violet threw her arms around her.

  “Me, too,” Judith said shyly.

  Lily froze. “You’re not jesting?”

  “No,” Judith said, and they both let out excited little screams.

  Beaming, Lily turned from Violet’s arms into her friend’s. “Remember when you said we should be newly wedded together? Now we’re going to become mothers together, too!”

  Rose watched them embrace, slowly tying her abandoned laces in a bow while her own flat stomach churned. Lily and Judith and Ellen, all pregnant. And Violet had three children already.

  On this day that was supposed to be happy, she felt so left out. She reached for her stomacher and plastered it against her front, beginning to fasten the tabs. Would she ever have children of her own? Not if Kit didn’t show up to marry her—

  “Edmund is thrilled,” Judith gushed. “What did Rand say?”

  “I haven’t told him yet.” Lily hugged herself round the middle as though she were protecting her child. “I wanted to be sure. We’ve been disappointed before—”

  “Oh, heavens,” Judith said. “You’ve been wed just two months. You must tell him. If he’s half as happy as Edmund, you’ll end up spending a night that makes you wonder if you could possibly conceive a second child when you’re already increasing with the first—”

  She clapped a hand over her mouth, her cheeks looking like she’d used a whole booklet of Spanish paper.

  Lily laughed. “I’ll tell him today.”

  “Tell who what?” came a voice from the doorway.

  Kit.

  Rose’s heart thundered beneath her laces.

  “Never mind,” Lily blurted.

  Kit locked his gaze on Rose, but she couldn’t read his face. “You’re not supposed to see me before the wedding,” she said inanely. “It’s bad luck.”

  “I’ll risk it. I need to talk to you.”

  He looked so serious. The little breakfast she’d managed to choke down this morning was threatening to come back up.

  “Well…we’ll leave,” Lily said.

  “Excellent idea.” He waited by the door while the other three women scurried out, then shut it decisively behind them. “Do you need help with that?” he asked, indicating Rose’s half-attached stomacher.

  “No.” Her fingers began moving again, albeit shakily. He was walking closer. “Kit—”

  Her sentence was cut off when his mouth crushed down on hers.

  This was no gentle caress, but hot and emphatic. His lips coaxed hers open and his tongue swept her mouth in a declaration of possession that made her senses dim and her knees threaten to buckle.

  By the time he broke contact, she was gasping fo
r breath, reeling with the sudden reversal of worry to elation.

  He kissed her chin, her neck, between her breasts where her stomacher dangled drunkenly. “God, I love you,” he murmured against her skin. Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply. “You smell like sin.”

  She threaded her fingers into his hair and pressed her lips to the top of his head. “I was so afraid you’d hate me.”

  “Hate you?” Straightening, he lifted her chin until her gaze was forced to his. His incredible eyes searched hers. “Why?”

  “For meddling in your affairs. I only wanted your happiness…”

  “Did you think I didn’t know that? Did you think I wouldn’t fall in love with you all over again when I realized you were willing to give up your inheritance to bring me and my sister together? What kind of man do you think I am?”

  She’d known what kind of man he was—she shouldn’t have let her sisters lead her to doubt. “You didn’t answer my letter.”

  “What letter?” His thumb moved from her chin, skimming tenderly over her cheek. “I never received any letter.”

  “I left it propped on your washstand.”

  He shrugged. “No one’s ever done anything that touched me the way you have. Lord Almighty, sweetheart, when I went to give Ellen her dowry and she told me—”

  “What?” She forgot about the missing letter as her hand flew up to grasp his wrist. “You gave Ellen her dowry?”

  “I tried to,” he said with a wry grin. “She told me you already had.” His gaze softened. “However was I lucky enough to win a woman as special as you?”

  Rose’s throat tightened. No one had ever called her special. “I should have known you would do the right thing.” She’d known he was a good man—that was why she’d decided to marry him.

  He kissed her again, more gently this time, a tender kiss that made tears well in her eyes. No matter what he said, she knew she was the lucky one—lucky he hadn’t given up when she’d pushed him away for all the wrong reasons.

  But if he had given up, he wouldn’t have been Kit.