Reuben straightened. “Do we speak of murder?”
Gerard looked away. “I’ve known people to… disappear, but I’ve heard my father in private say that he doesn’t wish his enemies death.” And just before Reuben could relax, he added, “Instead, he likes to watch his victims suffer. He’s driven men and women to take their own lives, yet his remains clean… for the most part.”
“I’ve been known to make people disappear as well,” Reuben said coolly. “I’ve also been known to end lives.”
Gerard chuckled. “Yes, I could imagine that your military career has given you the means to do things others would only dare to dream of.”
Reuben gave no reply and neither did he seem to react. It was clear that the thought of killing the duke didn’t bring him any joy, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t do it.
Gerard sighed. “You can’t kill my father.” He didn’t need the blood on his conscience. He was not as strong a man as Reuben. He’d never taken a life and didn’t plan to even if he thought of it daily.
“So you’ve decided to give in to his demands?” Reuben asked.
“I’ll do what I must to keep Rose safe.” But he wouldn’t marry Miss Louisa, no matter what his father threatened him with. He looked at Reuben and said, “You must think me weak.”
Reuben went to the window and stared out into the bright afternoon day. “Not at all. It isn’t as though you refuse the match for monetary reasons or even fear for your own safety. You obviously care for Rose.” Then he turned to Gerard. “But if you will not have her, then you must let her go. Today. Before your guests are informed about what London already knows.” Reuben and Lord Stonewhire had ridden hard from the city to deliver the news. Usually, the London papers were five days late, meaning the party wouldn’t know about Rose’s connection to the marquess until two days hence, unless Stonewhire announced it.
“No,” Gerard said.
Reuben continued as though Gerard hadn’t spoken. “You must cut your ties with Rose and set her free.”
Gerard glared. “But Rose and I are simply friends.”
“What I saw in your sitting room was not just friends,” Reuben countered. “And she is already going through enough. She won’t need your presence to cloud her mind.”
Gerard slowly stood. “Cloud her mind? I’m her friend. She’ll need me more than ever. I can’t abandon her now.”
“She’ll survive,” Reuben said. “She’ll have me and Alex. I’ll take her to Chantenny Hall tomorrow, and she’ll remain there until the Season commences once more. There’s no point in returning to London. The library is likely full of people wishing to get a glimpse of her. Her life is changing. She’s an heiress. The country will give her time to adjust to her new life.”
A life that would no longer include Gerard.
It all made sense, he knew. But the thought of a future where he could no longer spend time with Rose was unthinkable. He needed her and, surely, she enjoyed him just the same. He’d thrown a party just to be in her presence a month more.
“I… can’t do what you ask,” Gerard told him.
Reuben could be frightening at times. Gerard had seen people react when he moved through a ballroom. His smile could easily put those around him at ease, but his glare caused the beau monde to scatter.
At the moment, Reuben neither smiled nor glared.
But his words held a mixture of conviction and sadness. “She can no longer afford rumors about you two if you hope her to have a chance at making a good match. She’ll face challenges, only to be accepted when they discover her to be in possession of great wealth. Rumors of past lovers—even if you two were only friends—will ensure either spinsterhood or a match with someone who will not treat her well in the end. So if you love her, you’ll do the right thing.”
And that was that.
Reuben didn’t have to threaten him. This was a test to see Gerard’s true feelings for Rose.
And so, if Gerard loved her, he had no choice.
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I’ve tried giving her up before,” he confessed. “I’ve tried keeping my distance, but I can’t seem to. She smiles at me and I—”
“Then don’t give her reason to smile,” Reuben replied. “If you can’t keep yourself from her then give her a reason to keep herself from you. Make her hate you if it’s the only way.” He spoke as though his strategy were a simple one. It was clear he was used to issuing plans that wouldn’t fail.
This was the only way. Reuben was right. He had to make Rose loathe him.
* * *
27
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SEVEN
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“What’s she like?” Rose asked.
Stonewhire grinned and leaned back on the bench. “Who? Your mother?”
She nodded.
The sun was sinking beyond the hill in the distance, but a few splashes of light still highlighted the flowers in the garden and warmed the air, filling it with the scent of lilies. It had been an hour since he’d told her the news. The rest of that time had been filled with more stories about his past, but Rose had been far too distraught to ask any intelligent questions. With the brush of fresh air, she was calmer.
Her father shrugged. “I’ll be honest with you. I was never entirely certain Jessamine revealed her true self to me. I believe it was a way to protect herself from the inevitable pain of my leaving.” He smiled wickedly. “Though I kept her for a year, I wasn’t known to remain with one woman for long.”
“You’re still not known for that,” Rose pointed out, feeling as though she could be franker with him than ever before. He’d laid the entire story out for her, leaving out only the details he thought to be too harsh for a woman’s ears. Jessamine and her father had met at the theatre. He’d charmed her, set her up in a beautiful townhouse not far from his own, and continued to see her for a year.
When Rose’s mother had given birth, the baby had been given to Miss Best, which had been the plan since the moment they knew about her.
Neither had planned to keep her. Stonewhire didn’t know if her mother had ever looked on her after giving her away, but while Stonewhire had been one of the Home’s largest sponsors, he’d not approached Rose until she was ten.
That knowledge hurt her greatly, but she hid it with a smile and thought she and her mother were similar in a way. Both hid behind something when the pain of reality was too great. Jessamine was an actress and Rose a dreamer… and writer, if one asked her journal.
He chuckled and looked toward the hill that was lined with trees. “You’re right. I was faithful to my wife for all of a few months. Once she conceived...”
“Why?” she asked sincerely, not only wanting to know because she was a part of this man, but also because she wished to understand.
He looked at her. “Why? I honestly don’t know. It’s just our way.”
“Men?”
“Society. And I mean both the men and women,” he said with a sigh. “Most of us are engaged in an affair or two.” He studied her. “Not everyone is lucky enough to marry someone they actually love.”
Like Alexandra and Justin. That was true love. Rose could see it in the way they respected one another. It was in the way Justin would do anything to protect her and in the way Alex championed him. Their match was indeed made of love, and now that love would beget a child.
Rose looked down at her hands. “Do you think you’d have changed had your children survived?”
“No,” he whispered. “I never really liked children.” He smiled at her. “But I might have liked you.”
And before she could decide that she didn’t like him and should have used her wishes more wisely, hoping that instead of Stonewhire the local dairy farmer was her father, her actual father went on. “You’re beautiful, intelligent, and have a quick mind. You also have your own style of charm.” He looked away.
“I’m impressed with myself.”
She laughed because she couldn’t help but do so. She understood how some women could fall for him, bless their hearts. He was straightforward, nearly brutally honest, but very charming.
“Do you have any siblings?” she asked. And then she thought of a better question. “Do I have any siblings?” She thought about Henry again. The mystery would drive her mad until she knew the answer to it.
Still, it was better to deal with the latest revelation before she moved on to yet another.
He hesitated before saying, “You have no siblings. None that I’m aware of, I can assure you.” Then after a moment, he said, “I have a brother. Titus.” His expression became serious. “I would strongly advise that if he seeks you out, you would do well to avoid him.”
“Why?”
“Because he is my heir and his son will inherit when Titus and I are gone. They both expected that my wealth would be left with my title and, while my nephew is likely harmless, my brother will be furious when he discovers that is not so.”
Rose thought about the anger of his true family. “You don’t have to give me anything. You can take it all back if you wish.”
He stared at her for a long time. “I am impressed with you once again. We Montgomerys are not known for our selflessness.”
She smiled that he would call her by his surname, but decidedly said, “We Smiths are.” Rose thought no one more giving than her brothers and Alex.
He smiled in understanding. “Well, all the same, I’ll not take back the money or the libraries. In fact, once I return to London, I plan to open an account for you. Whatever I give you will be yours, so you’ll do well to make sure you marry someone who loves you first.” He grinned. “Lord Obenshire seems like a good candidate.”
Rose ducked her head and blushed, moved by his generosity and his comment. “Lord Obenshire and I are only friends.”
He sighed and looked away. “Very well. Believe what you will. After all, who am I to know about love?”
Rose didn’t think about her next move. She simply acted. Her head fell to rest on her father’s shoulder and her hands went around his arm as she moved in close. “I’ll teach you,” she whispered.
His hand covered hers and held it tight.
Their emotions were too high for further speech.
She wondered about her mother in the silence. Would she come looking for Rose as well? Did the famed actress even care? What other surprises were waiting for her?
And in the end, would she remain herself or would everything change?
* * *
28
CHAPTER
TWENTY-EIGHT
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Gerard was avoiding her again. Even worse was the fact that he was definitely not avoiding Miss Louisa. Rose had not been surprised when he’d escorted her to the ball. She was the daughter of a lord, after all, and though their friendship was now in the open—or so it had been hours ago—she’d never have expected him to escort her to a party this extravagant, for that would have surely started rumors about them.
What did hurt was that he’d not only avoided her eyes but had all but clung to Louisa’s side the entire evening.
And everywhere Rose went, there were whispers of it.
The ball was being held away from Avon Park at the Countess of Drunel’s home, which was only on the other side of the river.
Drunel Hall was not nearly as large as Gerard’s house, but it managed to hold not only the house party’s guests but a few of the local lords as well. She’d been looking forward to the event. Even after being confronted with the truth of her past, she’d been looking forward to sharing her first dance with Gerard.
She’d refused all other offers.
But he’d not asked her, and so Rose had been left entirely without a partner.
It would have been the height of embarrassment if her father hadn’t been there to charm and reassure her.
When they’d discussed whether to tell the guests the truth, Rose had decided to leave it in his hands, believing he’d keep it as quiet as he had all these years.
He’d done the opposite and had reintroduced her to a few guests as his daughter.
The news had spread like wildfire. Rose stood against the wall and watched it work its way to the other side of the room where Gerard stood.
She’d witnessed when he’d been told by none other than the Anns, and she'd held her breath as she’d waited for him to look at her, walk across the ballroom, and see if she was all right, to reassure her that everything would be fine.
He’d done nothing more than smile at the Anns and speak a few words before returning his attention to Miss Louisa.
Rose had to fight her every instinct not to flee the ballroom and forced herself to hold back the tears that threatened.
What was happening? Did he hate her now that she’d been claimed by her father? Was the daughter of a marquess not appealing to him? Was he in some way keeping his distance because he thought it was what she wanted?
It was possible, she’d thought at last, sure that if she got him alone he would straighten this entire mess out.
“You should dance,” Reuben said to her. He’d been by her side the entire evening. Rose recalled Alex once referring to him as a centurion and agreed. Had she not known better, she’d have thought he was protecting her from murder, not gossip.
Once her father had returned her to the house from the garden, she’d spoken with both Alex and Reuben and had dismissed their offer to take her to Chantenny Hall for the rest of the Season. She wanted to finish the final days of the party with Gerard before she made another decision.
When fear that Gerard would want her gone began to crawl through her blood, she blocked it from taking over her mind and focused on what she would do next.
She had to speak to Gerard.
“Lord Wint has been staring at you the entire evening,” Reuben told her. “You look beautiful. Dancing will display your dress to the room.”
“I agree,” Lord Stonewhire said on her other side, already on his fourth glass of champagne. “I’ll tell Lord Wint that you’ll readily accept his offer to dance if he asks again.”
Rose put a hand on her father’s arm. “Don’t you dare. I’ve already refused him once. If he does ask again, I’ll have no choice but to allow it.” She would never embarrass Harley that way.
The words seemed to have been the very wrong thing to say because, in a blink, her father was gone.
Rose looked around the ballroom for any way of escape. She didn’t want to dance. She would cry if she did. It would only remind her that her first dance had belonged to Gerard and he’d not come for it.
What if his dinner with Lord Grant and Miss Louisa had worked out just as his father had wished? What if Gerard was beginning to fall for the woman?
Reuben placed a hand on her back. “Breathe.”
Rose inhaled and turned to look at him. She couldn’t dance. She’d be ill.
He spoke before she could utter a word. “You should dance.”
“Why?”
He lifted a brow and turned away. “It’s the fastest way to the other side of the ballroom without being obvious.”
She stilled and stared at him. Did he know? How could he?
“Miss Rose.”
She turned to look at Harley.
“If you would allow me—”
“Yes.” She took his hand and allowed him to take her onto the floor. She was thankful that the number was a simple country dance and was surprised when she was placed directly next to Miss Louisa. Gerard stood across from his partner and, finally, their eyes met.
And the dance began.
They moved toward Harley. “Tease,” he whispered. The word stole her every thought and she found herself wondering what he’d meant by it, unable to ask until they were close again.
The moment they were
, she said, “I’m a tease?”
“Most definitely,” he said with an equally serious and stunning gaze. “You remind me of pearls.”
It was an agonizing five seconds before they were close again.
He went on, “My mother’s, in fact. They were a gift from my father that I’d been forbidden to touch. So beautiful yet completely out of reach.”
Rose was left speechless by his words and had to wait until her next partner returned her to him so he would finish.
“You arrived in that dress,” he accused. “And then forbid anyone from dancing with you.”
Rose looked down at her gown and realized that she had brought it as a way to draw attention. The color was pink, but dark, making her skin seem paler. The bodice was tight, and the skirt ruffled in such a way that when Alex had seen her in it, she’d said she looked like her namesake, a flower with a delicate head and a hard spine.
She’d liked it. She also liked the way Harley was looking at her.
She’d almost forgotten about Gerard… almost.
She would have successfully pushed all thoughts of him to the side if the dance had not led them into one another’s arms at that very moment.
Gerard’s dark gaze seemed muddled, and she was surprised at the scent of liquor on him. He wasn’t one to drink very often. Justin didn’t drink at all, which had influenced Gerard’s habits.
He said nothing as he held her and then looked away the moment she was out of his reach.
They were paired again seconds later, and Rose found her voice. “Meet me.”
He averted his gaze. “No, I don’t think I will.”
She missed her next step. Only self-preservation and Harley had been able to force her through the last moves before the number ended.
The Games the Earl Plays_Heirs of High Society_A Regency Romance Book Page 16
