Page 5 of A Duke for Stealing (The Devil’s Masquerade #4)
CHAPTER THREE
“ W ell, I have to say that was much less dramatic than the first attempt,” Everett stated, his tone dry.
Rose flicked her eyes from the carriage window to her new husband. They were leaving for Stapleton now that their wedding was over, and she was still dazed. Had been all day.
The wedding had seemed like a dream. Something that was not really happening to her.
She’d chosen a pale pink satin dress. Her mother had stayed surprisingly sober through the ceremony and had even helped tuck the small pink tea roses in Rose’s light brown tendrils.
The vows were stated. The rings were exchanged. Then it was over.
Yes, it had been vastly less dramatic than Everett’s first attempt at marriage. It was quieter. The attendance is much smaller. No interruptions or flagrant proclamations of love. No love at all.
“How can you be so casual about all of this?” She asked him.
Everett raised a brow.
“What is the alternative? Mourn for the loss of a bride I had no interest in?” He asked.
Rose’s brows drew up in surprise.
“Harriett was the diamond of her season. Her beauty outshines everyone, including my own. How could you not have any interest in her?”
To her surprise, Everett let out a chuckle as he leaned forward and, in a rather intimate gesture, swept an escaped tendril away from her brow. The touch was gentle, yet it sent a wave of heat seeping into her skin where his fingers had grazed.
“Oh, Rose, you are not that naive, are you?” He asked.
She drew away from his touch, picking up on his condescending tone.
“How am I naive?” She asked.
“To believe that this was more than a marriage of convenience for either of us,” Everett explained.
“It was a match of popularity. Nothing more. She wanted a Duke, and with my new title, I was expected to take a wife. She saw nothing but my money and status, and I saw nothing but her pretty face that would represent us at parties.”
Rose scowled, wondering once again why she had stuck her neck out for such a man as Everett.
“Well, I am sorry that it is my face that will be representing your new title now, Your Grace,” she said icily, “I do hope that in time you can forgive me.”
“I would rather have a woman like you by my side than her, Rose,” he said with sudden seriousness. “Was she lovely? Yes? But obviously, she had some very ugly parts lying beneath that pretty facade. At least I know I will have your loyalty.”
“How lovely for you,” she said bitterly, crossing her arms. “I am aware of your …preoccupations, and I am sure such loyalty will not extend both ways.
“Perhaps not,” Everett mused as he lounged back in his seat. “But I am not an entirely selfish man, you know.”
His smile was slow as his eyes raked hungrily over.
“In fact, I can be quite generous.”
Rose ignored the tremor of excitement that moved down her spine. It was not her he was attracted to. It was the simple fact that she was a woman.
“I am not interested in the generosity you speak of, Everett,” she retorted, “So put that lustful look away. It will not work on me.”
To her surprise, Everett let out a loud laugh.
“You are a darling, Rose,” he chuckled.
“And you are addled,” she flung back.
Everett shrugged as he grinned.
“I have been told I ‘addle’ quite well. Would you like some references?”
Rose threw him a dirty look as she bit her lips together and positively sizzled with rage.
“Now, now,” Everett chuckled, holding up his hands in surrender. “You are not one to fall for my tricks. I understand that. But I was serious when I spoke of generosity, Rose. You paid me a service by intervening with Harriett. I am willing to reward that. So I ask you now, what do you want?”
Rose spared him another quick glance, feeling some of her annoyance wane as his expression transformed from flirtatious to sincere.
“You are quite serious?” She asked, her tone flat.
“What do you want?” Everett repeated calmly. “My new inheritance does not come with just a title. It also came with an extensive increase in funds. I have more than enough to purchase anything you desire. All you have to do is ask.”
Rose had to admit her interest piqued. She knew she could not ask for her own house yet. To protect their reputations, it would be best to live with one another for at least a year. However…
“I want my own library,” she stated matter-of-factly, “Filled with any book I want.”
“Done,” Everett said with a shrug.
Rose felt a thrill move up her spine at how easily he agreed. Perhaps being married to him would not be so bad after all.
“And if your estate does not already have one, I want a solarium. A room filled with sun and plants and books and plush furniture.”
“Stapleton Estate already has a solarium,” Everett stated, sounding bored, “But you may take it as your own and redecorate however you like.”
Boldness rushed through Rose’s veins, and she even managed a smile.
“I suspect I can not anticipate any romance from you?” She asked.
Everett chuckled.
“Your suspicions are correct,” he agreed.
Her smile became more mischievous.
“Then, when I am ready, I wish to acquire a tutor in such a subject.”
Everett’s grin quickly dropped, and he leaned forward.
“You cannot be serious.”
“Why not?” Rose countered. “You will have your lovers? Some paid and professional, I assume. Why can mine not be the same? After all, you do not want to teach me such skills, so why would you care?”
“Romance and pleasure are not the same thing, Rose,” Everett countered, raising a brow as he drew his eyes down to her bosom. They seemed to get stuck there, and Rose could not help but smirk. She liked the idea that they could perhaps share a mutual attraction.
“Either way, I want a tutor for such a time. Again, at my choosing,” she told him.
Everett’s eyes slowly made their way back up to hers, golden flecks igniting through the green.
“And you would not consider me as such a tutor?” He asked.
Rose scoffed. “Only if you would be willing to stay loyal to only me, Your Grace. Which I highly doubt.”
Everett’s smile was slow and wicked, and Rose could not ignore the flare of curiosity that moved up through her body.
“I think you underestimate me, Your Grace,” he answered with a tone that matched her own. “I can be very loyal when it comes to the right people. Very talented, too.”
Rose rolled her eyes at his arrogance, yet still, she found a smile tugging at her lips.
“I am assuming being the face of your title is not the only responsibility I have,” she said, choosing to move on from the subject. “What else do you require of me?”
Everett’s intense gaze lingered on her for several moments before he finally sat back and turned to the window.
“I am sure you have heard the regrettable path that led me to my new title?” He asked.
Despite her annoyance, Rose felt a tinge of sympathy. Yes. She’d heard of how the late Duke and Duchess of Stapleton had lost their lives in their vacation home in Bath.
“It truly is regrettable,” she said softly. “To be lost in a fire. It is positively horrible.”
“Indeed,” Everett grit out, refusing to look at her.
“They left behind two daughters. Twins. Five-year-olds Leah and Diana. They are under my care now.”
The news shocked her. She’d heard the reports of the fire, but not that the couple had left behind two orphaned children. Her heart immediately went out to them.
“I will need your help acquiring a governess,” Everett explained, “I know nothing of a woman’s education and need someone who does.
In the meantime, I will need you to look after them.
My brother left behind much responsibility, and I am over-stretched trying to keep up with it.
The children are the main reason I chose to take on a wife.
I simply do not have the time for them.”
Rose found his words callous and cold, but this time she did not remark on it. Instead, she simply nodded her head and told him that she would gladly take over the responsibility.
“Ah, here we are,” Everett said as the carriage came to a stop.
They waited together for the footman to open the carriage door, but to her surprise, it was Everett who extended his hand and helped her down after he’d gotten out.
She studied his hand for a moment, then tentatively slipped her hand into his grasp. Again, she felt that shot of warmth in her hand as she had before, and blushed.
“Come along, wife,” he said, his tone once more cheerful as he tucked her hand into his elbow. “Let me introduce you to the staff. Show you around, and introduce you to the girls. I am sure they are excited to meet you.”
Rose could not help but smile as she looked up at the vast Stapleton estate.
It was no dreary castle, nor did it hold the appearance of a haunted monastery.
Instead, the large stone blocks that made up its outer walls were clean and white.
The front garden was lush and well-kept, with bushes full of pretty, multi-colored flowers surrounding it on either side.
Vivid green and well-trimmed topiaries spotted the front lawn, as well as several tall, pretty Greek statues.
The large home was as well-preserved on the inside as it was on the outside. There wasn’t a speck of dust that she could see, and every room was flooded with warm sunlight thanks to the open windows. Even the staff seemed to glimmer with light, with their bright smiles and clean uniforms.
“This is Mrs. Mulberry, my head housekeeper,” Everett explained, waving toward a particularly cheerful woman.
“A pleasure to meet you, Your Grace,” Mrs. Mulberry said politely as she bowed.
“I am taking care of the tour today, Mrs. Mulberry,” Everett said before Rose could respond, “But you may need to show her around again tomorrow, give her more details on the house and how it works.”
“Of course, Your Grace,” Mrs. Mulberry replied obediently. “Your nieces are in the nursery when you see fit to visit them.”