Page 6 of A Duke for Stealing (The Devil’s Masquerade #4)

“I hear your subtle hint, Mrs. Mulberry, and I accept it,” Everett replied with a charming grin and wink.

The housekeeper bowed again and stepped back in line.

“Come along, wife,” Everett announced, pulling Rose along with him. “Much to see!”

Rose found herself smiling and occasionally even giggling as Everett showed her room after room, including the library that was to be hers and the solarium, which she found would need very few improvements.

She’d caught glimpses of Everett’s charm before, but it was often overshadowed by arrogant remarks or drunken foolishness.

Now, though, as he charmingly led her through the house, she could see why so many women talked of him.

He was an effortless flirt, someone who could put anyone at ease if he felt like it, and could make a person feel as if they were the only person in the world he wanted to pay attention to. Which was exactly how Rose felt by the time he finished their tour in her new bedroom.

“It is so beautiful here,” Rose said with awe as she looked around the pretty, light-filled rooms.

“I am glad you like it,” Everett replied, looking pleased with her reaction. “I must agree that my late sister-in-law had excellent taste.”

Rose nodded, delicately touching a white and gold vase filled with pink roses.

Flashes of her mother’s home in London hit her then.

It had once been beautiful and bright, too.

But as her mother’s drinking worsened and her ability to remember to pay staff on time became sporadic, there had often been stretches of time when the dust had gathered and messes had been left untidied.

Drapes were often drawn not out of mourning, but to keep their world from seeing the unclean state of their lives.

Messy. It had all become so messy. And for the first time, Rose realized that it was not her mess to take care of anymore. She drew in a deep breath, overcome with the realization.

“Rose?” Everett’s deep voice beckoned her out of her thoughts.

She looked at him, and only then felt the sheen of tears that had gathered in her eyes. She blinked them away and smiled at his look of concern.

“I am alright,” she said.

Everett studied her as he took a step toward her, the playfulness he’d exuded only moments before gone.

“Come here,” he urged, holding out his hand.

Though she did not fully understand why, Rose found herself obeying.

Instead of just taking her hand, he pulled her to his chest, wrapping her in a tight embrace that made her feel warm, safe, and emotional.

She fought the urge to let herself sob in his embrace, and silently demanded her stinging tears to stay back.

“I know this has been a lot for you,” he said, his tone surprisingly sincere. “I know it is not what you wished for. But I will repay you for your loyalty, Rose. I promise you.”

He pulled her back enough to look at her face and smiled charmingly. Rose forced herself to smile back, told herself that his embrace was not a romantic gesture. After all, it was Everett, and as he said in the carriage, there was a difference between romance and pleasure.

“I do not say this about many women, you know, but after what you have done for me, I consider you a friend. And Rose? I take very good care of my friends.”

“I will hold you to that,” she replied. She pressed her hands to his chest, ready to push him away, but she stilled. He felt so…warm. Solid. She could do with solid. Something- someone steady to lean on.

Could that possibly be Everett? Playful, lustful, rakish Everett, who took so few things seriously?

Everett’s smile slowly faded, and he gave her a look that made her feel as if he was seeing right through the facade she was trying to put on.

He stroked his fingers along her cheek, sending licks of fire into her bloodstream.

Then he gently slid his palm to the back of her neck, and he pulled her close again.

With his other hand, he tilted her chin up, and to Rose’s astonishment, he kissed her.

His lips felt warm and gentle against hers as he gave her her first lesson ever on the subject, stoking a passion that started as embers and slowly formed into brilliant flames. Rose felt her body relax and her mind cease as his kiss deepened, and she simply gave into the pleasure of it.

Why not? After all, he was her husband now.

Rose was not sure if it was seconds, minutes, or hours that had passed since Everett reached for her, but when he did pull away, Rose swayed on her feet and found it difficult to pry open her eyes.

Everett was gazing down at her with a warm but self-satisfied smile.

It renewed her annoyance, and this time she did push him away.

“Do not be so pleased with yourself,” she muttered as he chuckled. “It was just a kiss.”

“Was it your first?” He asked, again with the self-satisfied grin.

She narrowed her eyes at him.

“Do you not have something to do?” She countered.

Everett chuckled and took a step back. With him came fresh air, and Rose called her senses back. She now saw how women gave in to him so easily. He was an effortless flirt.

“Indeed, I do,” Everett replied. “And I am sure you would like a moment to yourself after today’s festivities. Take a moment. Gather yourself. I shall go tell the girls you will be in to meet them shortly. They are in the east wing of this floor. You will know the nursery by the pink door.”

“Do not tell me what to do,” Rose retorted, and again Everett chuckled.

“You are wonderfully goading, Rose. I believe this marriage shall be rather interesting.”

Rose only glared at him in response, and in return, Everett waved his fingers as he gave her a flirtatious smile, then left.

She waited until the door was closed before she moved to the bed and sat on the edge, her fingertips moving to her swollen lips.

She darted her tongue to her bottom lip and closed her eyes as she caught the scant taste of Everett’s kiss.

Her married friends had told her about kisses. Read about them too. About how they could steal breath and thought, but she never really thought it was true. How wrong she was.

She needed to be careful. Very careful. For even if Everett had mentioned the possibility of being faithful to her, she doubted such a thing could actually be true. And the last thing she needed to do was fall in love with a rake.