by Heather Boyd
His lips pressed together as if she was testing his patience. His hand fell away from her skin. “If that is all you wish, then I will give you leave to spend as much time as you need with your family. They are in the library.”
She followed his progress up the staircase, half of her longing to follow. But she’d come back to put the past into its proper place. Rosemary peeked into the library and was instantly struck by the easy camaraderie of those gathered. Leopold and his bride were reading the newssheet together and talking over the events inside. Tobias had laid himself out on a long sofa, his bride cradling his head on her lap as she read a book. Even Oliver was there, scratching out words on a sheet of parchment. At his side was a boy Rosemary hadn’t met yet and Beth, gazing fondly at the pair.
All around her, everyone had a place. Everyone had their own concerns to occupy their time. None of them spared a glance in her direction. She backed away from the doorway.
If this was what she’d come home to, she need never have bothered. Didn’t they want to question her about her life? Didn’t they want to hear from her own lips the indignities she’d suffered?
Rosemary rocked on the balls of her feet, disturbed that there would be no inquisition. It was as if they didn’t want to speak of her past. As if they didn’t care. Did it not matter to them that she was not the woman she should have been? She turned away from the library and slowly made her way up the staircase. Was it really that easy to ignore what she’d done with her life before Constantine?
A maid gave her directions to the nursery but she would have found it anyway, given the ruckus ahead.
Maisy screamed and Rosemary hurried toward the sound.
“Now, Willow, don’t do that.”
Willow started to cry. “She pinched me.”
“Maisy, sweetheart, don’t hurt your sister.”
Poppy began to wail.
“Dear God, this is intolerable. What the devil is taking that woman so long? Doesn’t she know we need her desperately?”
Rosemary nudged the door open with her foot.
Constantine stood in the center of the room, Poppy in his arms, middle child wrapped around his legs, and the eldest attempting to remove her sister from her father’s legs by pulling her hair. The young duke watched from a corner, a servant hovering at his side. The girls hadn’t ever been so badly behaved. Did everything have to fall apart as soon as she’d turned her back? She stepped through the doorway. “Who is desperate?”
Constantine looked her way with relief. “Me. They were about to come find you.”
The children stopped their crying and fighting, staring at her with huge eyes that never failed to melt her heart. They might not be her flesh and blood, but to Rose they were kindred spirits.
The baby wailed and all but threw herself from Constantine’s arms. His scramble to hold on to the slippery bundle made Rosemary laugh. She took the child. “Shh, little lamb. Here I am.”
The other two girls joined their sister until Rosemary was hampered from moving an inch by all three sets of arms. She touched each one gently, brushing their curls from their hot faces and listening to their complaints. After a few moments, they calmed down and simply hugged her. Rosemary smiled at her charges with pride. Just a little bit of attention went a long way with them. They were the easiest of children to manage.
She raised her face to see the young duke watching them in silence. The resemblance to her brother was so strong that she couldn’t possibly bear him any ill will. He might be the Duke of Romsey, but there was a chance he could grow into a good man. Hopefully he would do a better job of treating the wishes of others with more respect than his predecessors.
When she looked up into Constantine’s smiling face, her heart tumbled over, and her legs grew weak. He reached out to touch her face with his warm fingers. When she pressed her face into his hand, he winked. “Now do you know where you belong? You’re the woman we’ve all been waiting for.”
CHAPTER 29
CONSTANTINE PROWLED HIS bedchamber, frustration growing at his lack of success. Yes, he was happy that he’d brought Rosemary home to Romsey. Her brothers had congratulated him on convincing Rosemary and as they’d talked after dinner he’d realized they hadn’t expected him to succeed in changing her mind. He didn’t tell them what the bargain had been. If he had, he feared Mercy and even Blythe would have been upset over his plans.
He shook his head as the clock on the mantel chimed another hour since Rosemary had disappeared. Had she always been so stubborn, or had circumstances been responsible for her utter self-reliance? The problem with Rosemary was she still held back just enough so that he could never be truly sure if she was with him or not.
The only thing he was sure of was that his daughters had her undivided attention. She’d been more mothering toward them than any governess they’d had these past years. She treated them as her own, and Constantine didn’t mind that at all. But he was their father and couldn’t be left out. He wanted some of Rosemary’s attention from time to time. He feared he might have to wait his whole life for that.
He was pleased she hadn’t tried to take his late wife’s place. In fact, Rosemary mentioned her several times during the day. It was as if she knew they all needed those memories to forge ahead in life without Augusta standing beside them.
However, the second part of his plan had failed. Rosemary was determined to remain his children’s governess and that meant he had to keep a respectable distance. Never mind that her stomach would soon grow large with his child. He still wasn’t sure if he’d convinced her to keep it.
Constantine slipped his jacket from his shoulders and rubbed his jaw. It ached less than it had and he was relieved. He’d been an idiot to allow Mercy to winkle out the information about his lover. His only defense was that he hadn’t known she was Rosemary Randall, sister to a man who punched as if he held lead in his hand. He gently tested his jaw again.
The door closed behind him. “Are you in pain?”
He glanced toward the voice and found Rosemary inside his room, robe wrapped tightly around her delicious body. She looked so tempting that his heart skipped a beat. “Some. How is your condition this evening?”
“What condition?” She came closer and caught his face in her hands and inspected the slight bruise forming on his jaw. “Who did this? Leopold, I assume.”
Constantine winced. “He seemed rather protective of your virtue.”
Rosemary snorted and released him, her hands falling to the ties of her robe. “Too late for that. The girls are asleep finally and it’s time you were abed. I realized you must have come straight back to get me. I’m flattered.”
Constantine jerked his eyes away from the white nightgown that was revealed as Rosemary parted her robe. Damn woman. She knew exactly how well she excited him. “I never wanted to leave you in the first place if you remember, but you were very convincing. I won’t be so easily led again.”
He sat on the edge of the bed and fought her allure. “Are the children happier now?”
“They are angels, as I keep telling you. Really, Constantine, if you cannot handle them at this age, then how will you get on when they make their debut? Do you intend to lock them in their rooms and deny them suitors?” Her robe fluttered from her fingers to the floor.
He groaned. “I’m trying not to think about that as it’s not for many years to come. When the time does come, you decide who is worthy or not.”
“Children age in the blink of an eye.”
“So do their fathers.”
A smile tugged her lips as she inched her nightgown up her legs. She struck one out, toe pointed, and teased him. “Won’t you come play with me tonight?”
“This is my sister’s house and your large and very easily irritated brothers are close by. I’d rather not fight them all if we are caught together in an intimate moment.”
She dropped her gown and set her hands to her hips. “What we do when alone is none of their business.”
> “Rosemary,” he said as he crossed the room and picked up her robe. “I can understand why it is they are protective. I have sisters. I would not be happy if they had carried on under my roof before marriage as we have under mine.”
“This is different. You know what I am.”
He drew her against him. “I know that you are too important to me to ever risk your reputation again. Can’t you see? Our affair must end.”
“What? Don’t be ridiculous. You asked me to ask you to marry you. Do you take it back?”
“I do think we should marry and I’ve given you every encouragement to ask. If I were to ask you now, I still believe you would refuse. I can only conclude that you don’t love me as deeply as I love you. I would do anything you wanted just to make you smile.”
She scowled. “I do love you.”
“Really? Well, that’s a relief. I hope I’m not old and decrepit before you take pity on me. It’s marriage or we go back to how things were before Christmas. Celibacy for both.”
She snatched the robe from his hands and stormed to the door. “You’ll regret this.”
The door slammed behind her and Constantine shook his head. He already missed her like the devil, but it was well past time to do the honorable thing. If she didn’t marry him, he didn’t know what he could do about the babe she carried. The scandal didn’t bear thinking about when society found out his governess was big with his child.
Yet he wouldn’t punish his daughters by forcing their beloved governess from his home. That would be cruel. The only thing he could do once he escorted them back to Stanton Harold Hall was beg her to marry him each and every day. He shuffled back to the bed, falling onto the mattress and drawing the pillow over his head.
The door banged open again. Constantine didn’t bother looking to see which brother had come to beat him up because Rosemary had just been in his bedchamber.
“All right,” Rosemary said, a decided reluctance in her voice. “I refuse to be celibate ever again. My lord, would you do me the honor of taking my hand in marriage? I promise to love, honor, and obey your every command for all the days of my life.”
“I’d be honored.” Constantine tossed the pillow aside and raised his head. “Every command?”
She threw her nightgown on the floor and crossed the room naked. When she crawled over his body and sat over his hips, her smile turned cunning. “As long as you obey every one of mine.”
The thing he liked best about Rosemary was that she wasn’t anything like his late wife. Bold, bossy and determined to win any challenge. He’d never had a dull moment in her company and couldn’t imagine one in their future. “I’d be delighted to. What is it that you want?”
She caught his hands in hers and threaded their fingers together. “I dislike the rooms the children sleep in.”
“Oh,” he said, frowning that her first demand did not involve him. “What do you propose as a solution?”
“There are a set of rooms not far from your own. I should like them to sleep nearby so they will always be close to us.”
Constantine wasn’t against the idea, but he waited a moment before nodding. “What else?”
“Miss Cunningham may have the makings of a fine maid, but she’s not the best around the children. She should have other duties elsewhere.”
Constantine sat up slowly and wiped a hand over his face. “As my wife, decisions about household staff and duties will be for you to decide and see implemented. I will not hold to past habits if you have other ideas on how best to run our home.”
Rosemary’s face grew thoughtful and she eased off his lap, coming to rest on her hands and knees. “You’re tired. Into bed with you.”
Constantine didn’t want to argue with her. Now she’d asked to make their relationship official, they were as good as married in his mind. She wouldn’t change her mind. When she drew back the covers, he flung himself between them, but before sleep claimed him, he patted the space beside him. “Come to me, my love. Let us spend tonight in each other’s arms.”
The bed dipped and a chilled, slender body cuddled up against him. In the flickering firelight, Constantine thought he might actually have everything he needed. The woman curled up against his chest sighed contentedly, hands clutching him possessively. “Do you really not mind what I’ve done?”
“Rosemary, there is nothing you can say that will drive me away from you.”
“There might be one.”
Constantine hugged her close. “What more is there that I do not know?”
“I detest condoms. I refuse to have relations with you again if you insist on wearing one.”
Constantine laughed and then clenched his jaw as it ached. “I think we can dispense with that if you are certain you want me.”
“Good. Because the last night we lay together, I snooped into your possessions and found the blasted thing. I burned it.”
“Well, that settles that.” She’d taken the decision of protecting Rosemary out of his hands. The strange thing was, he really didn’t mind that she’d taken the matter over. Even if he had the condom, he would debate its use as a preventative measure. Yet if she found it so uncomfortable, he wouldn’t inflict it on her. “Rosemary, could I ask a favor now?”
“I suppose you could.”
“If there is any other possession of mine that you do not like, could you at least talk to me about the matter before you allow your destructive tendencies free rein?”
Rosemary wrapped her arms about his waist. “You can keep Rothwell and Lady Farnsworth as friends.”
Constantine stilled. “About Arabella?”
“Still worrying?”
“Well, yes. Of course I am.” He swallowed. “Please tell me she is not going to throw herself at some reckless rogue who will abandon her after the first dance, so to speak.”
Rosemary began to laugh. “Oh no, she’s not going to be taken advantage of. That’s not her plan at all.”
“So there is a plan? Is she going to marry again? If so, I should make a point of warning her away from Rothwell. The man has a reputation and he was rather inquisitive about her on his last visit.”
Rosemary kissed his chest. “Don’t worry; they say reformed rogues make the best husbands.”
He tossed Rosemary onto her back and pinned her to the bed. “Does that apply to reformed Randalls?”
“I doubt it. We Randalls were born to break the rules. There’s not much that can tame us.” She smiled wickedly. “But I don’t mind if you keep trying.”
EPILOGUE
ROSEMARY HUNT, Countess Grayling to larger society, eased into a chair and accepted the bundle from the housekeeper with a contented sigh. She had been lady of the manor for close to seven months and at last she had everything she’d ever wanted. A devoted husband, children, and comfort. But most of all, she knew in her heart where she belonged and whom she belonged with.
Mrs. Smith peered out the window and scowled. “He’s finally returned, my lady?”
Rosemary smiled at the revenge she was about to inflict on her husband. Until now, she had not found a suitable opportunity to repay Constantine for their surprise trip to Romsey nine months ago. But a perfect solution had fallen into her lap today and she wasn’t about to squander the moment. Everything was ready. “And not a moment too soon. I thought I might have to resort to violence to keep my siblings at bay.”
“They love you, my lady.” Mrs. Smith’s eyes softened. “As do each of us at the Hall. I am sure I even glimpsed a tear in the corner of Cunningham’s eye at your news.”
Rosemary caught the housekeeper’s hand and squeezed. “I could never have found my place without your help. Can you please make sure my husband does not linger belowstairs overlong?”
“You have my word.” The housekeeper bobbed a curtsy and hurried for the door. Just as she reached for the handle, it opened and Constantine strode in. Windswept and out of breath. Rosemary would like nothing better than to rub her hands in glee, but they were rather
occupied at present.
“I’m sorry I was so long,” he said quickly as he flung his hat to the far corner of the room. “The tenants over by the mill were celebrating. Their daughter has just become engaged and they insisted I share in the celebrations.”
“Did you pass along my congratulations?”
“Of course. They sent along their best wishes for the coming birth.”
She stifled a laugh. “Did they? It was kind of them to remember me.”
“The estate talks of nothing else. I’ve had every woman I meet reassure me, but you know I will still worry about you.”
“There’s no need.” Rosemary smiled at the bundle in her arms. “Don’t worry about changing. There’s been a slight alteration in our plans for the evening. Why don’t you come tell me how clever I am?”
Constantine’s footsteps grew closer and then stopped a few feet away. “How did you…?”
Men were so predictable. She’d have to tell Mercy that Constantine was every bit as shocked as they both expected him to be. The sudden labor and fast delivery had thrown the house at sixes and sevens. “Oh, it all happened in the usual way. I won’t bore you with the details.”
He came closer and fell to his knees at her side, staring in stunned amazement at her lap. “When? You were sleeping peacefully when I left.”
Rosemary lifted her gaze away from their son and cupped his cheek. “Obviously in the intervening hours.”
Her husband blinked rather foolishly. “I wanted to be here.”
“Well,” Rosemary said, “this little man had other ideas. He was born very quickly. It seems I must take after my mother in that. We each were faster than the last to present ourselves. Tobias reminded me just last night that Mama barely made it to the birthing chamber before he appeared. Have I surprised you?”
“Beyond belief.” Constantine leaned in and kissed her full on the mouth. “You are the cleverest, most beautiful, most ingenious woman in the whole world.”
Rosemary nodded. “That’s more like it. Would you like to hold your son and heir?”