“Daniel, please…”
“Lady Lily!”
Lily turned to see young Katrina Price running toward her.
Patricia walked briskly after her. “No, Kat,” she said. “She’s the duchess now. You must address her as Your Grace.”
“No, no, don’t worry about that,” Lily said. “It’s wonderful to see you both. May I present my husband, the Duke of Lybrook. Daniel, Misses Patricia and Katrina Price.”
“It’s an honor, Your Grace,” Patricia said, and curtsied.
“The honor is mine.” Daniel bowed politely.
“We’re looking for your brother,” Lily said. “Have you seen him?”
“He’s backstage,” Tricia replied. “He told us not to come back until after the show. He said he’d be too busy during intermission.”
“Oh. I hadn’t thought of that.” Lily looked at Daniel. “We may as well go back. We’ll find him after the show.”
“I’ll tell him you’re looking for him,” Tricia said.
“No,” Lily said abruptly. “We would rather…surprise him.”
“All right. Come on, Kat. We should get back to our seats.” Tricia took Kat’s hand and led her away.
“Lovely young ladies,” Daniel said. “Too bad their brother is a scoundrel.”
“I recall when many used that word to describe you, myself included.” Lily took his arm.
“I suppose even the worst can reform. All right. I won’t say anything about Rose’s condition. But he had better come back with us tonight. If he won’t come willingly, I
will
tell him and I will force him to marry her or he’ll feel the heat of my dueling pistol.”
“Dear God,” Lily said. “You don’t actually approve of that barbaric custom do you? I can’t believe dueling is still practiced.”
“It’s still practiced because of situations like this.”
“Well, you’re not dueling him. He beat you with the bow, remember? Who’s to say he won’t beat you with a pistol? And I’m way too young to be a widow. Besides…I’d miss you too much.”
“Fine, I won’t call him out.” Daniel kissed her cheek and then caressed it with his thumb. “Is Rose really with child?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“My, you Jamesons are a fertile lot, aren’t you?” Daniel lovingly touched Lily’s midriff and then walked her back to their box.
* * * *
After the curtain calls for the actors, Newland pushed Cameron on stage to take a bow as composer. His music had been very well received. As he stood on the stage, after bowing to thunderous applause, the harsh lights heating his brow, he scanned the audience. The stage lights made it almost impossible to see any single face among the spectators, yet he searched. He bowed again politely and left the stage when the applause died down. He hadn’t been looking for his mother or his sisters. It had been Rose’s face he sought. He had scanned the orchestra section, the balcony, the boxes, but he couldn’t find her. Sighing, he walked slowly toward his office in the back of the theatre. He would continue his work. He would be a success and make a good life for his family. He would do it, and he would do it well.
But it wouldn’t mean anything without Rose.
His mother and sisters were waiting for him in his office, where he had told them to meet him.
“Cameron, it was absolutely wonderful,” his mother said, taking both of his hands in hers.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it, Mum.” He kissed her cheek.
“And you”—he swept Kat up in his arms—“how did you like it, Kitty-Kat?”
Kat yawned. “I’m afraid I’m frightfully tired, Cam. But I loved it. I really loved it! I think I might be an actress some day.”
“Then you shall have the best training my money can buy,” Cameron said. “You look quite the young lady tonight. That coiffure is very grown up.”
“Tricia did it,” Kat said.
“Yes, and I’m not sure I approve,” Mrs. Price added.
“Don’t be silly. She looks like an elfin princess.” Cameron set his sister down. He groaned as the Duke and Duchess of Lybrook entered his small vestibule.
“Lady Lily!” Kat squealed.
“Kat, I told you, it’s Your Grace,” Tricia admonished.
Mrs. Price curtsied politely. “How nice to see you Your Grace and…Your Grace.”
“It’s very nice to see you as well, Mrs. Price,” Lily said. “The duke and I need to have a word with your son.”
“I’m afraid I’m busy,” Cameron said dryly.
“Cameron!” Mrs. Price turned to Lily. “Do excuse him, Your Grace. The girls and I will leave you alone. Come, Tricia, Kat.” She ushered them out of the office.
“My mother needn’t make apologies for me,” Cameron said. “I honestly am busy.”
“Congratulations on your post, Price,” Daniel said. “The music was inspiring.”
“I’m glad it pleased you, Your Grace. I wouldn’t have gotten this position if you hadn’t sent my waltz to Newland. I owe you my gratitude.”
Daniel arched his eyebrow. “Perhaps there’s a way for you to repay me.”
Cameron groaned softly. Of course. Now the payback. No such thing as a free ride and all that. He took a deep breath. “I doubt there’s anything I can do that is of value to you, Your Grace, but I’ll certainly do what I can.”
“You can come home with the duchess and me tonight,” Daniel said.
“Pardon me?”
“He didn’t stutter, Mr. Price,” Lily said. “You must come with us. Rose is suffering. She needs to see you.”
Cameron closed his eyes, his heart breaking yet again. Rose was suffering. He could hardly bear the thought. “I have nothing to offer her,” he said, opening his eyes. “She’s better off with Xavier. Hasn’t he proposed yet?”
“Yes, he did,” Lily said. “She turned him down.”
“She what?” Cameron shook his head in disbelief.
“You heard me.”
“But why?”
“Because she doesn’t love him, Mr. Price. She loves you.”
“Dear God.” That Rose might not marry Xavier had never occurred to him. Yet his heart leaped at the thought that she was still, in some small way, his.
“She loves you. And you love her, do you not?”
Cameron didn’t reply.
“Do you love my sister or do you not?” Lily demanded again.
“My feelings don’t matter,” Cameron said. “I have nothing to offer her.”
“Don’t be silly. Look at what you’ve done tonight. You have plenty to offer her.”
“No,” Cameron said. “She deserves better. Perhaps I’m not a pauper anymore, but I will never be able to give her the kind of wealth she was raised with. And I’m responsible for my mother and sisters as well. I can never give her what she deserves.”
“You can give her one thing that no one else can,” Lily said.
“And that would be?”
“Your love.”
“I…c-can’t,” Cameron stammered.
“Nonsense,” Lily said. “You are absolutely not going to stand there and tell me that you do not love my sister. You do. I can see it in your face.”
“But she’s better off with a husband of the nobility. So she didn’t marry Xavier. There will be dozens of other young lords waiting for a chance at her. With her gentleness and her beauty, she won’t lack for attention. She is the most wonderful woman alive.”
“You
do
love her.”
He said nothing for a moment. Then, “I can’t give her what she requires.”
“For God’s sake. Stop being an idiot!”
“Lily, the man does have his pride,” Daniel said gently.
“Yes, yes, the male pride. Of course. I understand completely.” She fidgeted with her skirts. “You’re both idiots.”
“Lily…”
“You dark brooding types are all the same,” she said to Cameron. Then, turning to her husband, “Thank goodness I fell for a blond rakish type. Much more fun.”
“Price,” Daniel said, “I understand that you don’t think you can offer anything of significance to my sister-in-law. But I’m going to insist that you accompany us to Laurel Ridge. Tonight.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Then I shall take you by force,” Daniel said. “Don’t underestimate me. I will see Rose happy.”
“Please, Mr. Price,” Lily urged. “Rose needs you.”
“And I need her, damn it.” Cameron pounded his fist on his desk. “All right. I’ll go. God, I hope it’s not too late.”
They hurried toward the side entrance to the theatre, but were waylaid by Zachary Newland who was pushing an elderly woman in a wheelchair. The countess of Myerson walked beside them.
“Price,” Newland called. “Just the man I was looking for. I want you to meet the Dowager Marchioness of Denbigh.”
“It’s an honor, my lady.” Cameron took the old woman’s hand. “I’m sorry I can’t stay and chat with you, but I’ve some pressing business—”
“I quite enjoyed your compositions, Mr. Price,” Lady Denbigh, said, staring into his eyes. “You’re a splendid talent.”
“Thank you.” Then, remembering his companions. “I’m sorry. May I present the Duke and Duchess of Lybrook. Lady Denbigh, Lady Myerson, Mr. Newland.”
“We’re so pleased to see all of you,” Lily said, “but I’m afraid Mr. Price is correct. We do have some pressing business to attend to.”
“What must you attend to at this hour?” Newland asked.
“It’s—” Cameron heaved a sigh. “I’m going after the woman I love, Newland, and no one on this earth will stop me!”
Lady Myerson smiled. “The woman you told me about?”
“Yes, yes. She’s the duchess’s sister.”
“Then go get her, Mr. Price. Go get her.”
“Yes, do,” Lady Denbigh agreed. “Don’t ever let love get away.”
“Thank you both for your understanding.” Cameron kissed each of their hands and turned to Newland. “Could you see that my mother and sisters get home safely?”
“Yes, Price, of course.”
“Thank you,” he said, stumbling toward the door. “Thank you very much!”
He stopped abruptly as one of the actresses crossed his path carrying a bouquet of pink roses. “Lorna, those are lovely,” he said, pulling one bloom away from the others. “May I?”
He didn’t wait around for a response.
* * * *
Rose stood on the back terrace, inhaling the sweet fragrance of the rose petals as they drifted over the soft grass where she and Cameron had lain together. Following the aroma, she drifted down the stairs and out onto the cool, dry lawn, spinning around slowly, her pink nightdress catching the soft breeze. She lowered to the ground, stretching out on the spot where she and Cam had nearly made love. She inhaled, exhaled, caressing her abdomen and whispering sweet words to her slumbering babe. She closed her eyes, the breeze slapping her tresses across her cheeks gently.
If only…
* * * *
When Lily and Daniel’s carriage finally reached the house, it was near two in the morning and the house was quiet. Lily led Cameron into the main parlor and bade him wait.
“I’ll fetch Rose for you,” she said. “Get him a brandy or something.” She motioned to Daniel.
“What will it be, Price?” Daniel asked.
“Anything with alcohol in it. God, what will I say to her?”
“I’ll not tell you that I’m an expert on matters of the heart,” Daniel said. “I’m not, that’s for certain. And I’m not at all comfortable talking about this.”
“Nor am I.”
“But I will give you this one piece of advice. Tell her the truth. Don’t ever lie to her. Don’t ever keep something from her. You never know when she may not be around to hear it.”
“Your Grace?”
“I nearly lost Lily before I confessed my love to her,” Daniel said. “If I had… Well, it turned out fine, thank God.”
“Yes, I see.” He took the brandy Daniel offered and downed it in one gulp.
“Another?”
“No, I need my wits about me.” He paced back and forth. “Maybe one more. I’ll drink it slowly this time.”
Daniel refilled Cameron’s snifter as Lily strode in briskly.
“Rose isn’t in her chamber, Daniel.”
“She’s not?”
“No, and no one upstairs has seen her. I checked with Sophie and Ally, even Evan. I didn’t want to wake my parents or your mother. It would just worry them.”
“She’s likely not with any of them anyway,” Daniel said.
Cameron’s heart thumped, his nerves on edge. Was his beloved in danger? “We’ve got to find her.”
“My God, where could she be, Daniel?” Lily queried. “She’s been so upset about…everything.”
“This is all my fault.” Cameron tugged at his hair. “Where the devil is she?”
“Price,” Daniel said, “why did you leave her in the first place?”
“It’s a long story,” Cameron said. “I’d rather explain it to Rose before I explain it to anyone else.”
“All right,” Daniel said. “Well, we can’t just stand here, let’s look for her.”
“You stay here, Mr. Price,” Lily said. “You don’t know your way around the estate.”
“I can’t just wait here when she’s out there somewhere.”
“All right, all right, come with me then,” Lily said.