Page 1 of Trapped with the Beastly Duke
Chapter One
The Rose Of The Ball
“Do not forget to smile, my darling,” Lady Cotswalts whispered, her lips barely moving. “You must seem excited to be here.”
Rose Pembleton found balls incredibly overwhelming, and the Yardstale ball was no exception. She did as her mother asked, smiling in a way that she hoped conveyed excitement without being overbearing.
It’s only a ball. Besides, you want to be inviting so as not to scare people away!
It didn’t help that it was the fourth ball she attended in a fortnight.
Of course, she could appreciate the effort and extravagance that went into making such an occasion an enjoyable night. She had a deep love for music and dancing, yet a ball never felt like a place where she could appreciate them either.
Instead, she spent most of the time being mindful of the expressions on her face, reminding herself of the myriad of tipsher mother would share every evening and walking the thin line between being intriguing and proper.
How does this seem to come so naturally to everyone else?
She envied the women who seemed content to enjoy their Season. The women who were assured that having a second or third Season would bring no harm to them or their families.
Now you sound bitter.You cannot resent someone just because they have the luxury of time and you do not.
Her mother, the Viscountess Cotswalts, stood beside her. She was the picture of serene grace and sophistication and somehow also completely charming.
How does she do it?
Rose forced herself not to shift uncomfortably as they walked around the edge of the ballroom, hoping to attract attention without being obvious. She tried to emulate her mother’s easy grace, a half-remembered tip about her gait struggling to surface amid the chaos in her mind. She glanced towards the window, hoping to settle her nerves by glimpsing the gardens, and immediately regretted the decision. The reflection in the glass only increased her discomfort.
Although Rose knew the reflection was hers, she could not help but feel that she was looking at a stranger. A pretty stranger, but a stranger nonetheless. She had started to think of this stranger as Ball Rose.
Ball Rose does not fidget or wish to be elsewhere. She is everything a lady should be.
Rose forced herself to take in the woman she saw in the window.
Her chestnut hair was pulled back, with a few delicate curls framing her face. The rouge on her cheeks was eye-catching but not gaudy, simply accentuating natural lines and beauty. Yet, it still felt like too much for her. Her eyebrows, thankfully, had been thick enough that they would not need to be altered withfur. Her lips were painted so seamlessly that there would be no way to tell without being improperly close.
The only part of the reflection that felt like the real Rose was her brown eyes and her slightly upturned nose. They were the only two things her mother could not change. She shook her head and turned away from the window. As she did so, the well-crafted garnet necklace caught in her gown.
Not again. This necklace is the most detestable thing I have ever had to wear. I wish I’d never agreed to it.
Almost as soon as the thought crossed her mind, Rose felt guilty. The memory of a few hours prior came to the forefront of her mind.
“Now, to see if my little suggestion has had the intended effect,” Lady Cotswalts had murmured as she fastened the garnet necklace around Rose’s neck. “Oh, it has turned out even better than I have imagined. You see how Olivier has cut them so that the way they sit in the new prongs makes them capture the light more and look brighter?”
Rose nodded, though she could not remember what the stones had looked like before her mother had sent them to the jewelers to be reset and cut.
“To the untrained eye, their color and cut will make them appear as rubies.” Lady Cotswalts looked like a cat who got the cream. “And a trained eye would have to be improperly close to discover the truth. The ‘rubies’ will draw the eye and be much more befitting of your station.”
“Thank you, Mother.” Rose shifted slightly, trying to ignore the tightness of her necklace. “Do you not think it might catch in my gown with these new prongs? They are quite prominent.”
Her mother pursed her lips. “Perhaps. But I have shown you how to deal with such inconveniences, and it may yet be an asset.”
“An asset?” Rose asked before she could stop herself.
“Fixing the necklace provides an opportunity for you to draw a man’s attention to all that you have to offer without being improper.” Her mother smiled. “It is subtlety and mystery that captures the imagination, my dearest Rose, and you must use everything at your disposal to secure your future.”
Rose blushed at her mother’s words and forced herself not to squirm in discomfort. “Of course, Mother. I understand. Presentation is everything.”
“Exactly!” Lady Cotswalts adjusted the rouge on Rose’s cheeks. “Yes, I think this is perfect. Abigail, mark what I have done so that you are able to replicate it for the next ball.”