Page 13 of A Duke for Stealing (The Devil’s Masquerade #4)

CHAPTER SEVEN

“ I believe that is enough for today,” Rose said, crossing the final item off of her list.

Mrs. Mulberry gave a proud nod.

“Yes, Your Grace. It is indeed a fine place to stop. I will have a messenger deliver these in the morning.”

“Very good,” Rose agreed, rising from her desk.

It was another tradition she’d decided to carry on from the late Duchess. A card was sent to the surrounding Lord or Lady who had a birthday. There were two this July, and along with the card, Rose would also send along a bouquet of flowers and a small assortment of miniature cakes.

Though she’d never received birthday congratulations from anyone aside from her friends, Rose found the tradition quite quaint and wholesome.

In fact, the more tasks she was taking over the late Duchess’s duties, the more she realized why the woman was rarely gossiped about.

All of her deeds were kind and well-meaning.

It was clear that the woman had a big heart, and she had tried very much to include everyone within her vicinity in it.

“How would you like your dinner served this evening, Your Grace?” Mrs. Mulberry asked.

“Tonight shall be different, Mrs. Mulberry,” Rose replied. “Have the cook send dinner to the sitting room, if you please, and have the maids decorate the table in a more whimsical fashion. Some bright colors and patterns. Perhaps some streamers. You know, anything a little girl might like.”

Mrs. Mulberry gave her a funny look, but bowed and replied, “As you wish, Your Grace.”

The last two days had been full for Rose, with very little time left to spend with the twins other than to pop in and wish them goodnight since their nightmares. It was time to change that, she’d decided earlier, and establish a deeper level of trust with the girls.

“Hello, girls,” she greeted cheerily when their nurse led them into the decorated sitting room.

Their eyes lit up as they looked over the paper crowns, streamers, and bright splashes of pink and purple that had taken over the room’s usual beiges and light reds.

“Is this a party?” Diana asked, her voice full of wonder.

“I thought it would be fun to have one,” Rose replied, walking toward them with outstretched hands. “Just for us ladies.”

Diana went to reach for Rose’s hand, but Leah quickly grabbed her twin and pulled her back. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously as she stopped looking at the decorations and focused on Rose.

“What for?” Leah asked warily.

Although Rose felt her smile start to slip, she quickly fixed it and gave a playful shrug.

“Can you give me a reason why not?” She asked.

“Because we do not wish to have a pity party,” Leah replied quickly, her little cheeks flushing red. “This is what that is, is it not? Because you saw us cry the other night?”

Rose let out a weary sigh as she sank to her knees before the girls so she could meet their eyes.

“It is all right to cry, you know,” she said, “When I was little, I cried quite a lot.”

Leah gave her a dubious look that made her look far older than she truly was.

“What would you need to cry for?” She asked.

Rose pressed her lips together. She wanted to share her story, she realized, but she didn’t want to be involved in a contest of emotions.

“Well, when I was just a little older than you, I lost my father, too. And my Mama, before we lost him, was like my best friend.”

She paused, swallowing. She’d never told her side of the story before, not even to her friends.

“She changed, though. Quite drastically after his death. They were not in love, as your parents were, yet when he died, I believe the rational part of her did too.”

Leah screwed her lips to the side, casting her eyes to the carpet.

“That is unfortunate, Lady Rose,” she answered stiffly.

“But you see, there was a saving grace,” Rose added quickly, not wanting to let the conversation go too deep, “I had my friends to help me. Theo, Ophelia, Amelia, and later my dear friend Seraphina. I was able to find some happiness because of them. And I would like to be the same to you.”

Leah raised a curious brow.

“You want to be our friend?” She asked.

Rose’s smile returned, and she nodded her head.

“Oh, yes. Very much,” she agreed. “You were right before, Leah. I cannot replace your Mama. But I can be a good friend. If you allow me.”

Leah slowly brought her gaze up from the carpet, met Rose’s eyes for a long, steady stare, then flicked it toward the decorations beyond.

“Well,” she said at last, “It would be fun to have a party, I suppose.”

Rose’s smile brightened as Diana let out a sigh of relief. When Rose stood, she offered her hands to the girls and was delighted when they each took hold.

“What shall we do first?” She asked, leading them toward the table of treats. “Shall we have dinner? The cook has made some special treats. Or play a few games? We have cards, marbles, charades…”

“Pick out our crowns,” Leah stated.

The little girl let go of Rose’s hand and reached toward the bright blue and gold paper crown with little sparkling ribbons hanging from the opposite side.

“I want this one,” Leah said confidently, placing it upon her head.

“A marvelous decision,” Rose praised. “It matches your gown perfectly!”

Leah gave a nod of agreement and flipped the glittering ribbons as if they were hair. Rose couldn’t help but laugh.

“Am I beautiful?” Leah asked, then twirled.

“Oh, very much so,” Rose agreed, then smiled down at Diana.

“Your turn, darling,” she gently urged. “Which crown would you like?”

Diana put a finger to her lips as she studied the many colors left available upon the table. After a moment, she reached for a lavender purple one, with sprigs of baby’s breath and small stems of the actual lavender flower fastened to the paper.

“Oh, yes,” Rose praised as Diana sat it atop her head. “Very much your taste, I believe.”

“Do I look beautiful, too, Lady Rose?” Diana asked as she set the flower crown atop her head.

“I do believe you are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen,” Rose answered fondly.

Diana’s face brightened, and she positively beamed at Rose.

“Your turn, Lady Rose,” Diana said excitedly. “Which one shall you pick?”

“Oh, I do know,” Rose said, looking over the leftover assortment. “Would you girls mind terribly choosing one for me?”

Leah and Diana huddled together. They whispered to each other and pointed to each crown, as if the decision was one of great importance.

Rose stood back and watched with fondness.

So far, she’d only seen Leah chastise her sister, not work with her, and it was lovely to see them getting along so very well.

“We choose this one,” Leah said after a while, picking up a bright pink crown laced with silver ribbons.

“Why, it even matches my gown!” Rose exclaimed, clapping her hands together. “What an excellent choice.”

“Come now, Lady Rose,” Leah insisted, “Kneel down so we may crown you.”

Rose giggled as she followed Leah’s orders, and the twins placed it upon her head.

“How do I look?” She asked as she stood back up.

“Quite well, actually,” Leah replied.

“Very pretty,” Diana added, smiling up at Rose.

“Thank you, thank you,” Rose sang, swishing her skirts. “Now, what shall we do next? This party is all about you two.”

The girls decided to start the night off with some cards, and with their paper crowns perched upon their heads, they nibbled at their dinner.

“So girls,” Rose spoke gently, “I should like to know more about you.”

Leah gave her a wary look as she nibbled on her cake.

“What do you wish to know, Lady Rose?” She asked.

“Whatever you wish to share with me,” Rose replied. “Your favorite colors. Favorite animals. What did you like to do with your parents?”

Rose saw both girls’ shoulders tense at the last question, and she knew she had gone too far. They were guarded, hurt by their loss. She needed to move more slowly.

“Let us start with your favorite colors,” Rose gently offered.

Diana looked toward Leah, as if needing her sister’s permission to speak. Leah waited a moment, as if unsure she trusted Rose enough for her to know such things.

Be patient, Rose told herself. They need time.

“My favorite color is blue,” Leah answered after a while. “Not bright blue, like my crown. But dark blue. Like the night sky just before the sun goes away.”

“That is a very beautiful color,” Rose agreed.

Leah gave her a half smile, then looked down at her plate before picking up another cake.

“And you, Diana?” Rose asked, turning to the other little girl. “What is your favorite color?”

With her mouth full, Diana pointed to her crown. She finished her bite, swallowed, and then smiled.

“This color precisely,” she replied. “I love how light it is, and how it is sometimes almost pink.”

“That is very special, is it not?” Rose asked, and Diana readily nodded.

Rose stuck to more basic questions from then on, learning their favorite flowers —lilies for Diana, Dogwood tree blooms for Leah; their favorite foods —petit fours for Leah, eggs on toast for Diana; and their favorite time of day —dusk for Leah, and the sunrise for Diana.

The questions faded as they finished their dinner and moved on to games.

Leah and Diana offered to show Rose a game they made up, which she happily accepted but never quite got the hang of.

Then, after Leah won the first three rounds, Diana announced that it was time for a new game and that it was her turn to pick.

“You are just being sour because you lost,” Leah began to pick.

“Now, girls,” Rose said, intervening before a squabble could start, “We could always return to the cards. For now, though, let us play something with a little more movement, shall we? Help our wonderful dinner settle a little?”

“Oh, I know!” Diana exclaimed. “Blind man’s bluff! Remember, Leah? Remember how fun it was?”

“It is fun to play,” Leah agreed, then smiled; the expression so bright and sincere that Rose felt her heart swell with joy.