Page 47 of A Translation of Desire (The Brazen Curators #2)

R ose arrived at Seely House, excited to surprise all the ladies that she was back. Augustus suspected they wouldn’t be shocked. He’d explained that he’d confessed to them that he loved her before his departure. She smiled, amused at the sight that must have been.

She and Augustus made it back to London late last night. Still, Rose had risen this morning, excited to learn the status of the map. As she entered the grand foyer, joy shot through her as she witnessed many people viewing the exhibits on the first floor. The club’s success was still going strong.

She moved towards the stairway leading up to the mezzanine level and saw it was roped off with a guard standing sentry at the base. Rose smiled at him. “I work here. May I be allowed up?”

The guard was someone Rose had never encountered. He frowned at her, skeptical. She smiled. “I promise I’m allowed up. Is Lady Hawley in?”

Just then, Sarah walked by on the upper level and glanced down, spotting her. “Rose! You have returned.”

The guard looked up. “You know this woman, Miss Martin?”

She beamed. “Yes, please allow her up.”

Rose thanked the guard and hurried up the steps. Happiness hummed in her. She was back, and it felt right. Sarah propelled her towards the office and announced to all the ladies. “Look who I found. Rose is back, or I suppose I should say Her Grace.”

She rolled her eyes. “Please don’t.”

All the ladies beamed at her. Rose frowned, well, except for one. “Where is Lisbeth?”

Addie frowned. “Well, that may be a problem. She left with a guard and Mr. Abbas to see you in Syria. The London Society of Antiquaries finally gave us the map.”

Shock coursed through her. Lisbeth was on her way to Syria. Thomas was the only one there. Rose’s father had returned to England with them. Blast it! She hoped they were civil with one another.

Esme frowned, “Is there anyone she can provide the map to?”

Rose nodded. “Yes, Thomas Easton is still at the excavation site.”

Addie beamed. “Splendid!”

She wasn’t sure those were the words she would use. Truthfully, Rose wasn’t sure how their reunion would go. Perhaps she was making too big of a deal about them speaking for the first time in over a decade. Thomas had seemed content that she was happy. Yes, it would be fine.

Diana handed her a paper, distracting her from her concerned thoughts. “You and Sinclair are the talk of London.”

Rose’s brows shot up in confusion. “How?”

“Well, Sinclair sent a telegraph announcing your marriage, but it was before that, to be honest. My betrothed mentioned that your new husband, before leaving, may have told one of London’s most notorious gossips, Lord Jude, that he was departing England to propose to the woman he loved.”

Rose, curious, asked, “Why would Augustus do that?”

A dreamy expression flitted across Esme’s face. “It seems he wanted all of the city to know he loved you.”

Warmth bloomed in her chest. She loved her duke with all her heart.