Page 34 of A Duke for Stealing (The Devil’s Masquerade #4)

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

“ M arriage is not for the weak, you know,” Betty stated.

She motioned to the nearby servant, who brought forth the pitcher of mixed spirits and refilled her glass. Betty picked up her refilled glass and took a long swallow. Rose remained silent, her body stiff and tense in her chair.

“It takes a strong woman to put up with the whims of a man,” Betty went on, unbothered by Rose’s silence. “I tried to raise you to understand that, but you were always so soft. I am not surprised that you came back to me broken. You should take a lover. It will ease your sorrow.”

Rose had spent the entire day silent. Even as Betty teased her. Even as her mother talked of her affairs and her grand life as a widow, Rose had said nothing. Now, though, as her mother called her broken, she could no longer hold her tongue.

“I am not broken, I am not soft, and I am not taking a lover,” Rose burst out. “You have no idea what I saw, what I felt with Everett. He was a rake once. I know that well and true, and he never denied it. But he was changing, Mother.”

Betty let out a loud, drunken laugh as she shook her head.

“Men do not change! They have been beasts since the beginning of time and will stay that way until the end of it. This is not one of your stories, Rose; this is life. And in real life, men do not bend to the love of a woman. They feed off of it like parasites, sucking it from a woman until she is nothing but a husk of what she once was, and when there is no more for her to give, she is discarded and replaced.”

“Father did not suck you dry,” Rose shot back. “It was you who had the affairs, Mother, do not forget.”

Betty threw back her head and let out a maniacal laugh.

“You think I was the only one who had an affair?” She asked.

She took another long sip from her glass, then let her elbows drop on the table as she leaned toward Rose.

“Your father let his mistress move into our country home. A penny’s worth prostitute that he supposedly rescued from a life in ruin was given a mansion in the countryside.”

Rose was barely shocked by anything her mother said. Betty had alluded to her father being unfaithful before, but she’d always assumed it was an excuse for her poor behavior. Now, though, as Betty said the words so vehemently, Rose was not sure.

“Even if that were true,” Rose replied after a while, “You did not love him.”

Betty let another laugh, weaker this time, and then slid into the back of her chair.

“I tried,” Betty replied. “In the beginning. Not long, but I tried.”

Rose looked on at her mother, taking in the sorry state she had been in for over a decade.

“My heart aches for you, Mother,” she said, “But I cannot feel as you do. You did not love Father as I love Everett. And you did not love me as I love his nieces.”

Betty frowned.

“What in heaven’s name are you talking about? I have always loved you,” Betty replied.

“Maybe you did,” Rose relented, “But you didn’t love me enough to put me before your affairs or your drinking.

You just kept pressuring me to find a husband, a beast of my own, as you just called all men.

And tell me, mother, if all men are truly beasts, then why did you want to so readily push me onto one? ”

Betty’s mouth dropped open, but she did not speak.

“You have no idea what it was like for me,” Rose went on, letting out the feelings she’d kept pent up for so long, “To finally have someone take care of me. Everett did that. Not you. I always had to take care of you, and had to have the ton believe that it was the other way around, so your reputation would not worsen. No matter how I tried, though, you continued to damage yourself.”

“Rose,” Betty breathed, regret taking over her expression, “Rose, I had no idea you felt this way.”

It was Rose’s turn to let out a laugh, even if it was weak and dry.

“Oh, I told you,” Rose replied, “You were always just too drunk or too selfish to listen.”

Rose left the parlor without another word and spent the next two days in her old room. It was on her second day of solitude that Theo surprised her with a visit.

“I am so happy to find you,” Theo exclaimed, hugging Rose tight.

Rose hugged her friend right back, just as relieved as she was surprised by her sudden visit.

“I went to Stapleton to speak with you and was informed that, of all places, you had left for your mother’s house,” Theo said as they separated.

Rose nodded and waved her toward the small tea table for a seat.

“Yes, I had to think through some recent…changes,” Rose replied.

Wanting to change the subject quickly before Theo could inquire about what she meant, Rose continued.

“You look most unsettled, Theo. Whatever is wrong? Is it the baby? Are you-”

“No, no, all is well with this little one,” Theo assured, pressing a hand to her still flat stomach.

It was recent news that Theo and Allistair were expecting a child, and Rose remembered the day she’d received the letter about the joyous discovery.

“It is not myself I am here for, Rose, but you,” Theo went on. “There has been a scandal let loose.”

Rose sighed wearily. Would there ever be a day when the scandals would stop?

“What has my mother done now?” Rose asked.

Theo’s brows tensed as she bit the edge of her lip and shook her head.

“It is not about Betty. Or Everett. I am afraid, darling, that this once concerns you.”

Rose’s brows flew up in surprise.

“About me? What have I allegedly done?” Rose asked.

Theo took her hand.

“I just want you to know that I understand it is not true. All of us, the people that truly matter, know that it is not true.”

“Theo, please,” Rose insisted, not able to take the suspense much longer, “Just tell me what is being said.”

Theo drew in a deep breath, only serving to further rattle Rose’s fraught nerves.

“There are rumors that you have stepped outside of your marriage,” Theo finally explained.

Rose deadpanned, shocked by the news.

“I beg your pardon?” She finally got out.

“It is being said that your marriage to Everett is a sham, and that you have been promiscuous this entire time,” Theo reiterated.

Rose’s mouth dropped open as she was knocked speechless.

“Rose? Rose, darling, do say something? I do not like this expression you wear,” Theo insisted.

Then Rose let out a crazed bout of laughter. After all she’d done to save Everett from that very thing, she was now the promiscuous woman who had led Everett to his social destruction. It was just too ridiculous.

“Oh dear, I fear you are experiencing a touch of hysteria,” Theo said worriedly, rushing to her feet. “I shall go, fetch the physician for you straight away!”

Rose stopped laughing and grabbed Theo’s hand again, stopping her before she could reach the door.

“Do not,” she insisted. “I need no physician, I promise you, I am just…so, so surprised to hear this.”

Theo’s eyes filled with sympathy, and she turned fully to Rose and put her hands on her shoulders.

“I am so very, very sorry this is happening, Rose,” Theo replied. “After all you have done for Everett, for his nieces, this is not at all what you deserve.”

“No,” Rose sighed, “However, it does align with the recent upset of my life.”

“Whatever do you mean?” Theo asked worriedly. “What else has happened?”

She glanced around Rose’s old room.

“Is that why you are here? Why did you not come to me or the others?”

Rose thought about what her answer should be, and decided that her story of heartbreak did not deserve a retelling. There was no time for that now. Not when such a problem needed to be fixed. She needed to get back to Stapleton, and fast.

“I shall be fine,” Rose promised, leaning in to kiss Theo’s cheek. “Thank you for coming. For telling me this news. It is best to stay on top of such things. I should pack my things, say goodbye to my mother, and get back to Everett and the girls.”

Theo nodded, though there was a reticent look in her green eyes.

“Give them my regards,” Theo said.

The two of them hugged once more, placed a quick kiss on each other’s cheeks, and then Theo departed.

Not bothering to wait for a maid, Rose packed her things with haste and went down the stairs.

“Ready the carriage for me, please,” Rose asked, handing her bags to Gerald. “I shall need to leave momentarily. Where is my mother?”

“In the parlor, Your Grace,” Gerald replied, taking her luggage.

Rose hurried to the room, but stopped short at what she saw.

Betty was not sitting at the table with her wine or gentleman guests, as was her routine as of late, but was instead sitting on the couch, a book in her hands.

She looked different. Her hair was styled neatly, her cheeks were not overly flushed, and when she raised her eyes to Rose, they were sharp and clear.

“Rose,” Betty said, putting down her book. She stood and looked steadily at her daughter. Did not lean or wobble a single bit.

Then Rose realized the change. For the first time in as long as Rose could remember, Betty was…sober.

“Mama?”

Betty smiled, stretched her arms out, and before Rose could help herself, she went to her mother. Tears pricked her eyes as her mother held her tight. As she used to do all those years ago.

“I think I was asleep for a long time,” Betty rasped, her voice full of tears. “But your words the other day woke me up.”

Betty pulled Rose away but kept her hands on Rose’s arms.

“You were right. Everything you said. About me. About my choices. It was harsh but true.”

“I did not mean to hurt you, Mama,” Rose promised.

“I know,” Betty hastily replied, moving her hand to cup Rose’s cheeks.

“I know you did not, sweet girl, but you were right. You have had to take care of me, of even this house at times, while I gave in to my most selfish whims. But no more. I am done with the drink. And I am done with the men. At least…until I can find someone who can love me. Truly love me, as you love Everett.”

Everett.