Page 2 of A Duke for Stealing (The Devil’s Masquerade #4)

Rose stopped speaking as she heard the door open and froze.

A second later, she heard the twittering of girlish giggles and whispered voices.

She gasped, then quickly covered her mouth as Ophelia appeared suddenly by her side.

Her friend pressed a finger to her own lips, then hurriedly guided her to the back of the shelves.

When they reached the end, they took a right and hurriedly slipped through the curtained windowpane doors of the balcony.

Both of them let out quiet laughter as they made it safely.

“That was close,” Ophelia whispered.

“I should say,” Rose whispered back, peering into the room through the small part in the curtains. “Do you think they saw us?”

“I do not believe so,” Ophelia whispered, stepping beside Rose so she too could peek inside.

To Rose’s surprise, she saw the season’s diamond, Harriett Miller, come into view along with three of her friends. Harriett was known not only for her beauty but also for her prim, proper behavior.

“What is she doing sneaking away from a party?” Ophelia whispered.

Rose quickly shushed her, and both women strained their ears closer to the slightly ajar doors.

“Well, you have our attention now, Harriett,” Lotty Caldwell, another well-talked-of young lady, stated, “Come, come, spill your secrets!”

“Yes, we are all eager to know what it is that has you acting so brazenly,” Georgina Thompson added, tapping Harriett’s arm with her fan.

“Is it about your soon-to-be husband, Lord Duskwell?” Olivia Stanford asked.

“No, no, he is a duke now, Livy,” Lotty corrected, “The Duke of Stapleton!”

“Oh, quite right,” Olivia agreed, then rolled her eyes. “As if the man already did not have the entire attention of the ton with his charming looks and wit, he is now also a duke. Oh, you are so lucky, Harriett!”

“Quiet, you baboons,” Ophelia whispered, “Let her speak! I want to know the secret!”

Rose quietly shushed Ophelia once more, but even she had to admit her interest in Harriett’s secret was now quite piqued.

“Ladies,” Harriet said, quickly ceasing the chittering of her friends, “What I have to tell you is of great secrecy. You must swear that you will take this knowledge to your graves. No one can ever know what I am about to tell you. Do you swear?”

“Oooh, the intrigue!” Lotty squealed, rubbing her hands. “Of course, I swear!”

“Me too!” Olivia said excitedly.

I swear, I swear, now tell!” Georgina eagerly replied.

Harriett smiled mischievously at her friends, her silence building their anticipation until even Rose and Ophelia were practically trembling with excitement.

“Ladies, I have had a lover,” Harriett announced, wagging her blonde brows.

The silence that followed was deafening, but it quickly came crashing down as Harriett’s three friends began to steal excitedly.

“You lie!”

“Naughty girl!”

“What was it like?”

“Hush, hush, hush,” Harriett commanded her friends,

“I certainly do not lie, and I am not naughty! It is only naughty when such a thing is planned, and this was purely a moment of passion. And to answer your question, Georgina, it was…oh, it was the most exciting experience I have ever had!” she went on, replying to her friends in order.

“But what of your marriage? Is it not next week?” Lotty asked.

“What of it?” Harriett asked with a shrug. “Everett Duskwell is handsome, rich, and now a Duke, yes, but he is also a known rake. It is only fair that I have had a dalliance of my own, and better to do it before the wedding than after. At least I will not have broken any vows.”

She paused, nibbling at her lower lip.

“And truth be told, it is good that we are getting married so soon,” Harriett went on, touching her hands to her stomach, “For my mystery lover has left me with a bundle of joy.”

Rose had not realized she’d been holding her breath until it whooshed out of her like a great wind. She lost the sound of the voices inside, the words of Harriett’s secret playing loudly within her head. She straightened, slow and stunned, and backed away from the door.

“Rose? Rose! Are you alright?”

Rose snapped back to the present. Ophelia was standing before, giving her shoulders a shake.

“Did you hear that?” Rose rasped, looking wide-eyed at the balcony doors.

“Oh, worry not, they are gone now,” Ophelia replied.

“No! I did not ask if they heard us! I asked if you had heard what Harriett had said!”

To her surprise, Ophelia laughed.

“Of course I did,” she replied. “Scintillating, is it not? Who would have thought that such a well-brought-up prim like Harriett would be bold enough to behave so scandalously! Oh, how I would love to spread that gossip! After all the talking she and her friends have done about us?”

Rose’s mouth gaped open.

“You cannot be serious!” She vehemently whispered.

Ophelia rolled her eyes.

“Worry not. It is not as if I am truly going to do it. I would not dare stoop to their level of pettiness. Still, it would be fun to give them a taste of their medicine, do you not agree?”

“I am not concerned about them!” Rose exclaimed. “I am speaking of Everett!”

Ophelia frowned and appeared confused.

“What does that matter? Harriett was right, he is a known rake. I think it is quite fitting that he has found himself engaged to a trollop.”

Rose gave her an exasperated look. True, Everett was not the most honest or reputable of men, but they had both come to know him over the years through Theo and Tristan. He was not a friend by any means of the word, but he wasn’t a stranger either.

“This is truly bothering you,” Ophelia said with awe, looking Rose up and down.

“Well…yes,” Rose managed to say. “He is like that strange cousin every family has. He’s not openly accepted and at times acts poorly, but you still cannot help but hold affection for him. He’s a part of our circle, Ophelia. A dear friend to all of the husbands married to our dearest friends.”

“So, what then?” Ophelia asked, putting her fists to her hips. “Are you saying we should tell him?”

Rose was trying to think of something to say when she and Ophelia heard a loud commotion come from outside the library.

The loudest sound of all is Betty’s voice.

Both women rushed from the balcony, through the library, and back to the ballroom, just in time to see two servants lifting Betty away from an overturned table and a mess of spilled silver trays.

“Oh, Mama,” Rose breathed, going quickly to her side. “What happened?”

Around them, the gathered crowd was abuzz with whispers and snickering, and in that moment, Rose forgot all about Everett’s troubles. Presently, she had a large one of her own to deal with. She knew she had to act, and fast, if she wanted an attempt at saving either of their reputations.

“Oh, Mama,” Rose repeated, louder this time as she hugged Betty to her side, “Did that tonic the chemist gave you make you dizzy again?”

She looked to the crowd, giving them an imploring smile.

“Do forgive her, dear friends. My Mama has suffered from great headaches as of late, and the tonic she takes for them often has ill effects.”

Most of the people surrounding them quickly stopped their snickering and began giving them pitying looks, but it was clear that some of the guests simply did not believe the excuse.

“Oh dear,” Betty slurred, leaning heavily into Rose, “I am not feeling so well. The floor is moving.”

“Here,” an older gentleman stated as he approached them, “Please allow me to assist.”

“I as well,” another stated, coming toward Rose, “We shall make sure she is safely placed in her carriage.”

“Thank you,” Rose said graciously, letting the two gentlemen take her mother’s weight off her.

She was even more thankful when no one but Ophelia followed them outside.

“You two gentlemen are far too kind,” Betty flirted as they helped her into the carriage. “Pray tell, are you friends?”

The two men looked at each other and smirked.

“We are, good lady,” one replied.

“Then allow me to thank you both for your generosity,” she boldly offered.

Rose’s stomach churned as she watched the two men begin to flirt with her mother, and as one closed the carriage door, encapsulating the three of them inside, she did not even bother trying to stop them. Instead, she just watched, disgusted and embarrassed, as the carriage pulled away.

“Do not worry,” Ophelia said, taking Rose’s hand. “No one else came outside, and everyone seems quite knackered. I do not believe this will even be remembered by anyone.”

“Maybe not,” Rose sighed, watching the carriage disappear, “But I will.”

Rose felt Ophelia put her arm around her waist and give her an affectionate squeeze.

“Come on, Rose darling, come with me. I shall take you home.”

Rose turned to Ophelia, her eyes pleading.

“I know it would be a great imposition on your part, but would you stay with me tonight? I…I do not think I can bear what is awaiting me alone.”

Pity filled Ophelia’s eyes as she nodded, giving her another squeeze.

“Of course I shall. It is no trouble at all.”

Ophelia hailed her carriage then, and the two of them left another party where yet again, Rose had to lie for her mother.