The Duke Conspiracy (18 page)

“Oh my lord, there is my friend, Lady Anne.
She would no doubt be a good partner for you to dance with next.”
Rose felt her cheeks warming over her forward behavior, but she
held the viscount's eye unflinchingly with a slight smile touching
her lips.

Lord Edgecombe looked at Lady Anne and smiled
just as Lord Dunbar came to invite Rose to share the next dance
with him thus freeing Anthony from the need to keep her
company.

Rose watched as Lord Edgecombe swept Anne
onto the dance floor. She hoped she was doing neither of them a
disservice.

“Is everything all right with you, Miss Rose?
You look a little troubled,” Wesley inquired with a concerned
crease in his forehead.

“All right and tight,” Rose replied with as
genuine a smile as she could muster. “It has just been an eventful
day and I am feeling a trifle overtaxed.”

“Would you rather we sit out this number? I
would be happy to procure you a glass of punch or ratafia?”

“That is such a kind offer, my lord, but I am
perfectly happy to dance this number instead. I am not physically
overtired,” she explained without going into detail.

She wished she had just accepted his offer as
she could see his thought processes circling around her words, no
doubt reading more into them than she would wish.

With a huff of exasperation she launched into
an explanation. “If you really must know, I shall tell you.”

“No, no, my lady, I did not wish to pry,” he
protested, with a gleam of amusement in his eyes.

“You absolutely
did
wish to pry, you
were just too polite to do so,” she countered with her own
amusement rising. “The thing is, I made the mistake of asking a few
gentlemen about their families this evening.” At seeing the puzzled
look upon the viscount's face she smiled with genuine amusement.
“Seems unexceptional, does it not? But Lord Edgecombe told me his
mother passed away when he was a youngster, and that reminded me
about my brother and how no one ever talks about him and I really
miss him. It stirred up a murky mess of feelings that cannot be
easily sorted in a place such as this. I do believe Lord Edgecombe
will be avoiding me like the plague from now on.”

Wesley and Rose shared a small laugh over her
last words but then Wesley sobered and made her a generous offer.
“I know you probably cannot speak with Wrentham on this subject and
I am a poor substitute. But if you would like I would be happy to
talk to you about your brother. At some other time, of course.”

Rose grinned. “Did you know my brother
well?”

“Not as well as Wrentham and his brother, but
we did spend a couple years at school together. And I was
there.”

He did not elaborate but Rose knew exactly
what he was referring to. She looked at him with widened eyes.
“Then I will happily take you up on your offer, my lord, thank you
ever so much. When this situation with Alex is sorted perhaps we
could meet in some perfectly respectable location. My parents would
have apoplexy if they were to catch us in such a conversation, so
it would be impossible at my house.”

“Very well. I will call around to take you
for a drive some time.”

“That would be lovely. Thank you, my lord.”
Rose was grateful for the viscount's offer but at that moment she
wished to be alone or at least far away from him, and the sympathy
and curiosity she could see shining in his eyes. While she wanted
to hear what he might have to say about the day her brother died,
she had a strong feeling it was going to complicate her life, not
simplify it. But then she gave her head a shake, thinking it was
hardly possible for it to get any more complicated than it
currently was with her involvement with Wrentham and Broderick's
schemes.

Thinking about him must have conjured him, as
Rose once again felt the familiar prickle at the back of her neck
indicating that the duke was present and most likely looking her
way. Her eyes were drawn to his. She didn't want to acknowledge
him, but the magnetic pull was impossible to resist. All the sounds
and chaos in the busy ball room fell away, and for a moment she
felt as though they were the only two in the room. She felt her
eyes widen as Alex stepped in her direction. Feeling the breath
catch in the back of her throat helped to break the spell that had
befallen her and she tore her eyes away. The flutter in her stomach
was not as easy to control but she was proud of herself as she
turned back to Lord Dunbar with a neutral smile upon her face. The
buzzing in her ears was hard to ignore and she truly wished this
night was over.

Wesley must have sensed her discomfort. “Are
you promised to someone else for the next dance, or would you like
me to escort you to your mother, or perhaps to procure a glass of
punch?”

Rose's smile was genuine as she appreciated
his kindness. “A glass of punch would be most delightful at this
moment, thank you, my lord.”

Walking away from the moment, Rose felt
profound relief. Blessedly, the rest of the night slid by and
before long her mother came to collect her. It was time to go
home.

It had been a restless, uncomfortable night
and Rose was not feeling at all refreshed when Mary gently shook
her awake.

“Good morning, Miss Rose, you mentioned you
wanted to go sketching again this morning. Have you changed your
mind or would you like me to help you dress?”

“Thank you, Mary. While I would dearly love
to pull the covers back over my head I really must get up and go. I
would appreciate my chocolate as soon as possible.”

“I will ring for it, miss, and then help you
dress. You can drink your chocolate while I arrange your hair.”

“You are the very best! Thank you, that is a
perfect plan.”

Before long Rose was hurrying toward
Burlington House with her sketch materials under her arm and her
maid in tow. The butterflies fluttering in her stomach made her
glad she had not eaten anything more than her morning's
chocolate.

She was pretty certain she was the first one
to arrive, so she settled herself to do some actual sketching to
lend credence to this errand. She didn't think she would be able to
concentrate on the art, but before long she was fully engrossed.
She could not help the little shriek she let out when she felt a
tap on her shoulder. Blessedly, she had a steady hand and did not
mar her picture. That would have been difficult to explain.

“Oh, Your Grace, you fairly scared the life
out of me,” she declared with unfeigned drama.

“Sorry, Rosie, I thought you were expecting
me,” he grinned, unrepentant.

“Well, of course, I was,” she huffed. “I just
was unsure how prompt you would be and I will admit I got caught up
in this sketch.”

“You were always like that, you would get so
wrapped up in whatever you were doing, even as a child. Your powers
of concentration are admirable. And you really have become
remarkably skilled with your art. I am impressed.”

Rose bit her lip to prevent the grin of
delight that was threatening to break over her face at his awkward
compliment. It was truly lamentable that he caused such
unprecedented reactions in her. They had always been so comfortable
with one another. She really did not think these fluttery feelings
had anything to do with their families' feud. It was most
disconcerting. She cleared her throat in an effort to dispel the
discomfort.

****

Alex could see that Rose was uncomfortable
with his presence. He was unsure if it was the reminders about
their former friendship and intertwined childhood or if it was just
him. Knowing she was uncomfortable he thought he ought not to
prolong the moment, but contrarily, he found that he would happily
spend more time. He felt such a longing for their former closeness.
Stifling a sigh, he got to the point.

“Have you been able to glean any information
from Lady Anne?”

“I have, actually. You will be happy to learn
that I think the lady is actually a rather sweet young woman who is
not maliciously pursuing you. She has been persuaded by her father
that her best chance at attaining an advantageous match is to
entrap the gentleman of her choice. Lord Austen has convinced her
that you are the best choice for her. He and Sir Broderick
discussed together the qualifications of various gentlemen,
according to Lady Anne. They agreed that you were the best choice
because of your connections, she said. Anne is under the impression
that her father means your family connections.”

“But you are not so sure about that are
you?”

“I really don't think Sir Broderick cares who
your relatives are. You are a prize because of your political
connections.”

The slight emphasis she placed on the word
political
caused Alex to frown. “But I am new to my position
in the House and have not been able to make many connections as you
call it. I am hardly a prize. Why would you say that?”

“But you are a duke,” she answered simply,
which only made his frown deepen.

“But I am not royal,” he protested, still
confused.

“All the better as your pockets are decidedly
not to let. As a duke you are high enough on the power scale that
people will listen to you, even if you are inexperienced. The fact
that you are not royal will not matter. The royal dukes can rarely
be bothered to pay any attention to the running of the country
anyway. You are the next best thing. Your lack of real connections
will probably make you even more attractive for one such as
Broderick, as he would like to guide the choices you will make in
where you will place your allegiance. Your deep pockets mean you
will be able to accomplish whatever you set your mind to. The more
I think on it, the more I see that you really would be a prize
catch for someone like him.” Alex could hear the sneer that she was
obviously struggling to control and gazed at her with wonder as she
continued. “It is a wretchedly perfect plan actually. He will think
you are easily influenced because you are young and inexperienced.
Now is the perfect time to get their clutches into you. And how
better than to do so through your wife.”

“But I do not have a wife,” Alex pointed out,
still not understanding what she was getting at. He saw her eyes
soften as she took in his confusion.

“Not yet, but that is what they are hoping to
soon rectify.” Rose reached out a tentative hand to touch his. “I
am so sorry Alex, I should say, Your Grace. I wish I could have
told you there was nothing to what I had overheard. Sadly, I fear
that you are actually in grave danger.”

“They would not actually harm me, I am
certain. Even if they should try, I am well able to look after
myself.”

“If it were a fair fight, I fully believe
that you could look after yourself. But Broderick would never fight
fair. He will use what he considers your weaknesses against you.
One of those is the fact that you are a gentleman. That is why it
is a perfect plot. All Lady Anne has to do is ensure you are caught
in a compromising situation and no matter the truth of the matter,
you will feel honor bound to offer for her.”

“But what makes them think that even if I
fell for the ruse I would be willing to be their pawn?”

“He can be very manipulative,” Rose answered
with a simple shrug.

Alex felt his eyes narrow into suspicion.
“How do you know all this? I am beginning to get the feeling you
know a whole lot more than you are letting on. Out with it, Rosie.
Tell me what you know about Lord Austen and Sir Broderick.”

The color ebbed and flowed over Rose's face
and Alex was further convinced that she was keeping things from
him. His frustration grew when she shook her head and refused to
answer him. She merely had a question of her own.

“What about you, Your Grace, were you able to
find out anything from your men of affairs or your solicitors?
Perhaps I am completely off the mark. Maybe they really are after
you for revenge for some perceived wrong you might have done one of
them.”

Alex did not take offense as he saw the
amused gleam in her eyes over her own words. “Unfortunately, none
of my advisors could enlighten me in the least. Your words are the
only ones that have made even a little bit of sense. Unfortunately,
they do not bring me to a complete understanding. You really do
need to enlighten me.”

“Actually, I do not owe you anything, Your
Grace. I have done more than my duty by warning you and then trying
to gain more information. The rest will be up to you. I can have no
more involvement with you.”

“Why ever not, Rosie? You have gone this far,
surely you would want to see it to the end.”

“It matters not,” Rose insisted, verging on
belligerence, much to Alex's consternation.

“What has gotten into you? You were perfectly
pleasant just a few minutes ago. This would seem to be right in
your wheelhouse. With your managing ways, I would think you would
love to be involved. Now you look as though you would happily walk
away and never set eyes on me for the rest of your days. Have I
done something to offend you?”

****

Now Rose felt about as high as a toad. She
could not reveal all that she knew. She would rather him think it
was because of the feud than for him to have a disgust of her. And
surely he would do so if he ever came to find out how she knows all
that she does about Sir Broderick.

“I am sorry, Your Grace, you shall have to
fend for yourself from now on. I have told you all I know about
Lady Anne and her schemes. If you are careful to avoid her and make
sure you are never in a situation where she could arrange for the
two of you to be alone together, you should be able to avoid this
trap altogether.”

“But Rosamund, think on it for a moment. For
one thing, how can I possibly live with this hanging over me like a
guillotine about to strike and leave me headless? And for another,
if I manage to escape her clutches and you are correct in your
reasoning as to their motivations, will they not simply set their
sights on someone else for whatever their ultimate schemes are? Do
you not want to foil their efforts completely? If he is as
nefarious as you make him sound, should we not endeavor to
eliminate him as a threat to our nation?”