Hunting the Hero (32 page)

“For God’s sake, Oliver. She was supposed to have the education of a lady, not an assassin,” Leopold growled.

Oliver leaned close to Constantine. “He’s just annoyed that I won while he ended up flat on his belly with the wind knocked out of him. Elder brothers always like to be ahead of the rest of us.”

Constantine found that offensive. “Do bear in mind that I’m an elder brother.”

“Exactly. I gather you are completely in sympathy with his feelings.”

Leopold scowled and resumed eating like a man preparing for battle. Rosemary was likely to give him one. Constantine had never seen a woman move as she had. He’d never known a woman to hold her own in a physical fight, either.
 

Leopold stood. “That’s enough time.”

Oliver pulled his brother back down to his seat. “I know what you intend and it won’t work. She will not come peacefully and deep down, you know it. You cannot fault her for her fears. She needs time to trust us again.”

Leopold looked set to argue but then shook his head. “She’s always been pigheaded. I knew the moment I saw her that she hadn’t changed.”

If only they knew the ways Rosemary had changed, then perhaps they might have more compassion. As it was, only Constantine understood some of what had happened to her. He’d thought he’d have more time to learn the rest and gain her trust. But time and opportunity were fast running out. “Let me talk to her before you do anything rash.”

Oliver shrugged. “It cannot hurt.”

“Thank you.” He nodded to Oliver, avoided eye contact with Leopold in case he had objections, and stood. “There are some things I should say to her in private before I rejoin my daughters at Romsey. I at least need to prepare an explanation for them.”

Leopold’s dark eyes bored into his. “If you hurt her, I’ll never forgive you.”

Now was hardly the appropriate time to become protective of Rosemary’s feelings. “I never intended to.”

Constantine climbed the stairs to Rosemary’s room at the inn with a heavy heart. What could he possibly say to convince her she should trust him? She’d had good reason to run in the beginning, but her past, whatever that might entail, was sufficient to make her wary. He would have to make it plain that whatever she chose would be supported.
 

Tobias stood poised in the hall, hands in his pockets and a troubled expression on his face. Constantine approached. “Is she in there?”

“Yes, Rosemary is still with us, but I fear not for long.”

He grasped the man by the shoulder. “If Rosemary will not remain, let me assure you her other personas are just as charming and challenging. Did she have a talent for the stage when she was young?”

“No. She is the same as she ever was.” Tobias frowned. “You don’t seem too concerned that she lied about her identity.”

“I’ve known from the first time we spoke that she was not who she claimed to be. Your sister is a remarkably honest liar. Aside from the truth of her name and connections, I’ve always known her character. She’s rather remarkable.”

“You’re in love with her?”

“Since the moment we met.” He grinned. It felt very good to say that out loud and to a member of her family. Now he had to convince her that it was true still. “Are you the brother who smashed her toes during dancing lessons when she was young?”

Tobias scratched his head. “I’d hoped she would have forgotten that.”

“I don’t imagine she’s forgotten very much of anything, and that may be the whole problem.” He grinned at the other man’s discomfort. “Excuse me. I should check that her stomach has settled now.”

Tobias caught his arm. “Will you stand by her no matter what?”

“I’m still here, aren’t I?”
 

Constantine moved toward the door. Although he knocked several times, Rosemary didn’t answer him. When he tested the handle, he found the door was unlocked. He let himself inside, prepared for Rosemary to have disappeared through the window. A small lump was curled up on the floor beside the chamber pot. He rushed across the room and eased Rosemary into a sitting position.
 

“That’s no place for a lady to be.”

Discontented eyes glared at him. “I’m not a lady.”

“Are you sure? Because you have all the necessary parts in your possession. In fact, I’m very fond of seeing them in my bed.”

After a moment, Rosemary spared him a reluctant grin. “I do enjoy your sense of humor, Constantine. All right, help me up so I might find my dignity.”

Since she weighed next to nothing, she was on her feet in a moment. Constantine encircled her waist carefully. “The floor is no place for a woman in your condition.”

She frowned. “I never expected to fall so soon, but as we discussed, it’s not your concern.”

“It is if that’s my child in your belly.”

She set her hands to her hips. “Of course it’s yours.”

“Then I get to talk about the fact.” He brushed the back of his fingers across the front of her gown. “How long have you been feeling ill?”

She grabbed the hand skimming her belly and held it out of the way. “Today.”
 

“Then I haven’t missed much.” He smiled. “I promised to take care of you and I fully intend to be at your side every moment of every day.”

Rosemary moved away from him and sat on the edge of the bed. “There is nothing for you to worry about.”
 

“I will always worry. It’s in my nature.” He shifted to sit on the edge of the bed and took her hand lightly in his. Her knuckles were red and likely tender. “So you are Rosemary Randall?”

“I haven’t been Rosemary Randall for some time. That young girl is long gone.”

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed each tender knuckle. “I feel sorry for your brothers then.”

“Oh?”
 

He cupped her cold fingers between his hands and blew a warm breath across her skin. “They will miss getting to know how wonderful you are.”

Rosemary snatched her hand back. “It’s best that they don’t. They know enough already and I cannot bear to see their opinion of me brought lower. In time, they will understand and accept my absence. They can stop placing those plaintive advertisements in the paper and get on with their lives.”

“That first day you brought my daughters to my study, you saw the notice begging you to come home. How long have you known your brothers were searching for you?”

Rose shrugged. “Months. Long before we ever met.”

“So you did not care to answer them?”

“I never said I didn’t care. I tried to write once.”

He shook his head at her stubbornness. “That’s not what Leopold believes. I’ve never seen a more shattered man. You’re breaking his heart.”

“The duchess will console him,” Rosemary said bitterly.

“Not in this. There are limits to even my sister’s ability to divert one’s attention. He will regret this day all his life. Can you live with that? Can you walk away, knowing it was you who hurt them so badly?”

Rosemary flung herself off the bed and stalked to the window. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. You barely know my brothers.”

“That’s true. But I know a little about you and I would be the poorer should we never have met. Are you afraid?”

Rosemary stilled. Her hands clenched into fists. She spun about. “I am not afraid.”

“I see that despite the discovery of your name and connections, some things never change. You really do have a dreadfully short temper. I do enjoy the fire in your eyes.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I’m no different and that is the problem.”

He sighed and stood, stopping close enough to set his hands on her arms. “If it’s any consolation, I will be at your side every moment should you return to Romsey. If they have a problem with you, then we can leave together.”

“Why would you do such a thing? She’s your sister.”

“And you are just as important to me and my daughters. You are my governess. The one my daughters cried hours over in the carriage yesterday. You cannot discard our feelings so easily. You made us love you.”

Rosemary’s eyebrows shot up. “Love?”

“The girls certainly do. Who else would tell them stories and help them remember their mother? None of the other governesses I hired could be bothered to keep her memory alive. Only you did that for us. I can never show you enough gratitude.”

Rosemary stilled. “I’m sure that you can figure something out.”

His lips curved into a smile at her challenge. “There are many ways to prove you are adored. All of them required you to not run away. There will never be enough hours in the day to learn everything about you, but I promise to start now.”

Rose frowned. “Forgive me, my lord, but I’m not feeling very energetic right now.”

“I know. You’re carrying my child.” He caressed her face gently. “Back to bed for you.”

He swung her up into his arms, crossed to the bed, and settled her comfortably on it. Rosemary didn’t protest or say he wasn’t needed, and that gave him hope. He added a blanket over her legs to ensure she stayed warm and tucked it closely around her.
 

Rosemary caught his hand in hers. “Thank you for understanding.”

“I don’t understand anything, Rosemary, except that I hope you will not dismiss my feelings as easily as you do your own family.”

“Surely you can see I have my reasons.”

“Some, but they’re not enough in my opinion to make me accept them. Mrs. Lamb mentioned you planned to leave this morning, before I returned.”

Her gaze dropped from his. Her hands twisted in her lap. “I planned to be very far away before you discovered I’d gone.”

He stood back. “What do I tell my daughters?”

“What do you usually tell them when you misplace a governess?”

He took a deep breath to keep his frustration in check. “No matter what I say, you will never believe you’re more than that to me.”

“I cannot be more. Society expects—”

“Society’s expectations can go to hell. I want you.”

“Really?” Her brow rose. “And what if my services came at a price?”

“I’d pay any sum you named and more.”

“I’m certain that is not true. For instance, I doubt you’d do what my brothers would expect should they learn our affair was to continue.”

“Are you afraid they’d suggest we marry?”

“I’m not afraid of that.”

“Neither am I.” He leaned closer. “In fact, I had intended offering for you before I even learned your real name.”

“And you’ve come to your senses now? I’m not surprised.”

“No, I decided that since I was your present to yourself when we first met, and you clearly enjoy making decisions for me, that you should ask for my hand in marriage. You do like to be in charge. Why stop now, hmm?”

“That’s ridiculous. Gentlemen of the
ton
do not ask a whore to marry them.”

“I would never use such a vulgar term for so tempting a wench as you.” He grinned at her stubborn expression. “Since that isn’t the case here, I feel it only fitting that you should do the honors.”

“You’ll be waiting a long time.”

“Then I will wait.” There. He’d thrown out the challenge. It was up to Rosemary now to be brave and accept there was far more between them than mere lust.
 

She rounded on him. “Have you taken leave of your senses? Why would you want me to be your wife?”

“The question is why I shouldn’t. I know enough about you not to have made the decision lightly. I would have spoken of the subject before, but I thought I had ample time to convince you when we returned from Romsey. At the moment, I’m sure you’re planning to disappear the moment my back is turned.”

Rose didn’t deny it.

He leaned over the bed, getting close enough that she pressed back against the headboard. “Why don’t you explain to me why you are an imperfect candidate to be my wife and perhaps I will reconsider.”

Marriage or not, he really wanted to be the one she confided in about her past. “Convince me I’m wrong about you.”

Rosemary licked her lips. “You were not my first.”

“I’m not a fool.”

“Not even my fifteenth, truth be told.”

No surprises there. “How many? Do you know the number?”

“I ceased counting at seventy-four.”

“Hmm, a goodly sum.” He glanced at Rosemary. “Tell me about the first.”

Her eyes closed and Constantine ached to pull her into his arms and tell her not to. Yet he would know her secrets. All of them.
 

A shudder shook her slender body. “I was sixteen, alone and afraid and so desperately hungry that I’d begun stealing from farmhouses. One day I wasn’t quick enough in leaving. I’d lingered to straighten my hair when I spotted the lady of the house’s hair comb. How foolish that decision was. Her husband caught me and made me earn what I’d taken.”

The cold, emotionless retelling caused gooseflesh to rise on his nape.
 

“And what did you think of me when we met?”