Page 27 of A Duke for Stealing (The Devil’s Masquerade #4)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“ R ose!” Everett exclaimed as he watched his wife fall into the water.

Without a second thought, he dove in after her, the coldness of the water shocking his system. He ignored it and swam toward Rose. Even as she flailed and sputtered up water, she demanded that he let go of her.

He refused, brought her back to the edge, and helped her onto the bank. As she got back up to her feet, Rose gave him a stare that was colder than the water had been, and set his mouth in a grim line as he shook his head.

He wasn’t a man who kept up with his conquests, but he was sure that the woman- he’d already forgotten her name- was not a woman he’d been with before.

He wanted to laugh about it, to tease Rose for her apparent jealousy, but for the first time, he could not make a jest. After the way he’d lived his past, he realized he deserved this doubt- and it made him feel awful.

“Lady Rose,” a worried voice came from behind them.

Everett and Rose broke their tense eye contact, and they both turned toward the girls. His heart broke as he saw the utter terror on their little faces.

“Are you hurt?” Diana asked, her little voice squeaking toward tears.

Rose sighed, wiped a hand through her soaked, ruined hair, and shook her head.

“No girls,” she replied, her voice full of assurance.

Everett turned to her with an apologetic look, but Rose ignored him completely and walked straight to the girls, kneeling before them. At once, they rushed into her arms, hugging her tightly.

“I am well, I promise,” Rose said softly, hugging them close.

Everett once more tried to reach for a jest. It’s what he did, who he was. He always lightened the intense moments. Yet as he saw his nieces huddled tightly into Rose’s arms, saw the look of utter sadness on Rose’s face, he kept silent.

“You scared us,” Leah scolded, frowning as she pulled away from Rose’s embrace. “Do not do so again!”

“It is my fault,” Everett said, quickly stepping toward them. “Lady Rose and I were playing a game, and I made her fall. Do not be angry with her.”

“Bad, uncle Everett, bad!” Leah chastised.

Yes. He had been bad, and for the first time, he felt awful about it.

“I will never put Lady Rose in harm’s way again,” he vowed, kneeling down.

He looked at Rose longingly, and he was overcome with relief when her resigned eyes finally looked at him. She sniffled, nodded, and put on a smile for the girls.

“Well, my darlings, I am sorry that I have ruined our picnic,” Rose apologized.

Leah gave her an intense look, but the little girl finally nodded her head.

“We forgive you. It was an accident.”

“I have an idea,” Everett offered, helping Rose to her feet, “What if we took our picnic home? You girls can have it in your room with your dolls if you like, and I will make sure Lady Rose gets warm and dry. We do not want her catching ill, do we?”

Both girls shook their heads, and without complaint, they helped him and Rose clean up the picnic Rose had so prettily laid out for them and rode home.

Everett made sure the girls were settled in their room before he made his way to Rose’s quarters, not caring at all that he, too, was still drenched.

He walked into Rose’s rooms without knocking, just as her maid was starting to undo the strings of her gown.

“Leave us,” Everett commanded.

Rose gave him a tired look as the maid scurried from the room, and she shook her head.

“Have you not embarrassed me enough?” She asked. “Please, Everett. Go away.”

“Not until I correct this mistake,” he stated. He folded his arms, making it clear that he wasn’t going anywhere.

Rose continued to give him that weary look, but after a moment, she gave him a resigned nod.

Flashes of their time together in the gardener’s cottage alit his mind as he carefully pulled the strings of Rose’s gown loose.

Just as before, his body filled with need as her bare skin became more exposed with every piece he removed.

Only this time it wasn’t about giving in to that primal need. It was about care.

Rose shivered under his touch as he traced his fingertips along her bare spine, gasping. Everett drew his longing gaze up to her face and saw the most angelic blush touch her pale cheeks. He gave a lowered to her bare shoulder, and he placed a soft kiss there.

Rose let out another breath at the touch of his lips, but instead of leaning into him, she pressed her eyes closed and stepped away.

Everett winced at her distance, but he wasn’t going to go. He wasn’t finished punishing himself, and that’s what this was - punishment for his past sins. Instead, he reached for the folded blanket the maid had laid out and wrapped it tightly around her.

“I didn’t know her, Rose,” Everett said, taking the pins from her soaking hair. “You have every right not to believe me, but I am telling the truth.”

He picked up the second blanket once Rose’s damp curls had fallen, and he began to dry them. It was only after several long moments that Rose spoke.

“It was foolish,” she said, glancing back at him. “ I was foolish.”

“No,” he quickly replied, and turned her around to face him. “You are many things, Rose, but you are not foolish.”

The smallest smile touched her lips. His body grew warm as her gaze slowly moved down his body, making him so hot he was sure that he’d dry his own clothing then and there.

He noticed her gaze lingering on his chest, and he glanced down to see what had her attention.

It was only then that he noticed his shirt had become transparent, and the soaked fabric had clung to the ridges of his abdomen.

Normally, at this time, he would smirk, make some sort of jest at being an Adonis or such.

This time, though, he only let her stare, feeding into her intense gaze.

Slowly, he brought his fingers up to his shirt and pulled it off for her to have a better view.

Her breath hitched at the sight of his naked chest, and he languished in her rapt attention.

With seeming effort, Rose brought her eyes back up to his after a time.

“I want you to hold me,” she whispered.

The urge to shoot his arms out and snap her to his chest was immediate- but he fought it. Instead, he roamed his fingertips over her blanketed arms, massaged her shoulders, and gently pulled her to him.

Lust pounded deep and heavy within him, but now there was something else, too.

“I want to believe you,” she whispered, snuggling into his chest. “But you are going to have to prove yourself.”

“Tell me how,” he implored.

“I do not know,” Rose replied. “All I know is that you must.”

When Tristan left Rose’s rooms, he roamed the hall until he found Mrs. Mulberry.

“Your Grace, I heard of the mistress’s fall. Is she alright?” Mrs. Mulberry asked.

“She will recover,” Everett answered quickly, “But that is not why I came to search for you. I need answers about a woman. Blonde, full-figured. Said she used to work here for my brother.”

His mind raced to remember her name, but again he drew a blank.

“Name starts with a P, I believe,” he finally recalled.

Mrs. Mulberry’s concerned look fell into one of disgust.

“You mean Penny?” She asked.

“Yes.”

“Horrible trollop,” Mrs. Mulberry said gruffly, shaking her head.

“Tried many advances with His Grace, but the Duchess, bless her soul, kept giving her chances. Everyone knew she was lying when she announced she was with the Duke’s child.

He never looked at another woman the way he looked at our Duchess. ”

“So the child is not my brother’s?” Everett asked.

“Heaven’s no! The child’s father is one of the miller’s boys.

Take one look at him and you’ll see the resemblance,” Mrs. Mulberry replied.

“Sad story too. Tried to take the boy under his wing, but Penny wouldn’t allow it.

Always thought she’d scale the ladder by scandal, and I suppose if she came after you today, she is still trying. ”

Everett relaxed, but only slightly. So it was a desperate woman trying a play.

“She was on the grounds this morning, came up to us while we were at the lake,” Everett explained. “If anyone sees her set foot on the estate’s property again, I want her promptly removed. Am I understood?”

“Yes, Your Grace,” Mrs. Mulberry said promptly with a determined look. “I shall let the others know straight away.”

“The Elusive Duke,” Tristan sang, greeting Tristan as he walked into the gentleman’s club.

Everett smirked and joined his table with his friends.

“You’ve been gone,” Dominic noted.

“I’ve been busy,” Everett retorted.

Hugo picked up the bottle in the center of the table and tilted it toward an empty glass.

“If that is for me, I believe I shall pass,” Everett said.

Tristan, Hugo, Dominic, and Allistair all looked at him in shock.

“This is twice now,” Hugo noted.

“You are counting?” Everett quipped back. “Hugo, I had no idea you cared so much. I am flattered.”

Hugo grinned as he rolled his eyes and shook his head.

“You must admit it is strange of you,” Tristan said.

Everett turned to him with a wolfish grin.

“Glad you brought up strange,” Everett replied, “As I was going to ask you about strange habits.”

Tristan raised a curious brow.

“Me?” He asked.

“Yes,” Everett said, feeling a flare of jealousy as he recalled the garden party. “Tell me, old friend, do you have a habit of flirting with other people’s wives? Or is this a new trait you picked up?”

“Oh, dear,” Alistair muttered as full attention fell to Tristan and Everett.

“Everett, what in God’s teeth are you talking about?” Tristan asked him.

“My wife,” Everett stated, his tone and gaze suddenly sharp. “And how you flirted with her at the garden party.”

Tristan choked on his drink and gave Everett a furious look.

“I did what?” He asked.

“I did not stutter,” Everett replied.

The rage on Tristan’s face slowly transformed into a smirk, and he chortled.

“Well, God above. You are jealous. Who knew the day would ever come that you would be such a devoted husband?”

Everett’s temper sizzled at the remark, but he only smirked back.

He hadn’t been sure if he wanted to come out to see his friends, but it had been over a week since the garden party, and he wanted to check in. He’d expected some laughs, some goading as usual, but tonight, he was not finding himself very amused.

“Men change, you know,” Hugo spoke up, “Especially when it comes to a good woman. I think we can all agree that Rose is a fine lady.”

Everett glanced at him and could tell his friend was trying to lighten the mood.

“Agreed,” Everett grunted.

“Well, I am proud of you, old chum,” Tristan said with a dramatic sigh. “You are growing up. Very soon, you will not only be a devoted husband but also a devoted father. Come, you must agree that it is a good reason to have a drink with us. Have a glass.”

“I am not going to be a father,” Everett stated, feeling his frustration growing.

“Everett,” Dominic said, his tone low, wary.

Everett glanced around at his friends and saw the stress on their faces.

“We are just trying to lighten your mood,” Dominic went on. “You seem tense this evening. What is this about you not being a father?”

“I meant it,” Tristan said, his tone sincere, “You would make a devoted father. A great one.”

“I have my nieces. That is enough.” Everett answered stiffly.

Everett caught Tristan’s intense gaze, and it only made his frustration grow. It was as if his friend was trying to see within him.

“Why do you make this decision?” Tristan asked. “Out of guilt?”

“Enough,” Everett said, shooting from his chair.

“I only wanted to see that you all are well. Clearly, you are.”

“Everett, wait,” Dominic insisted. “Do not go. Speak with us. We are here for fun, but we are also here for the serious aspects. If you have something on your mind-”

“Good night,” Everett said stiffly, cutting Dominic off. And though his friends called for him to return to the table, Everett left without looking back.