Page 27 of Trapped with the Beastly Duke

“Yes, Your Grace. Very much so.” Colonel Briggs beamed, before glancing over her shoulder. “I must beg your forgiveness, but I must deliver this report to His Grace.”

“Of course, I would not keep you from your duties. Please send my good wishes to your wife.” Rose moved aside, allowing him to pass.

“Of course, thank you, Your Grace.” The Colonel saluted her before he continued down the hall.

Rose smiled, glad that her advice had helped the Colonel’s wife. She walked into the drawing room, slightly buoyed by the interaction, but soon felt the familiar loneliness settle over her.

She glanced around the empty room, trying to ignore the sound of the grandfather clock ticking in the corner. She hated the thing.

I swear it is taunting me. Moving slower and slower until I lose what little is left of my mind.

A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts, and she leaped up. Her heart hammered in her chest, and she hastily checked her reflection in the window.

Not that the Duke notices what you look like—he scarcely looks at you.

“Enter.” Rose smoothed her dress.

To her surprise, Lady Olivia Rokesby walked into the room, her face breaking out into a wide smile when she saw her.

Rose nodded once. “Lady Olivia, I did not expect to see you.”

“Oh, please, you do not need to be so formal with me. ‘Lady Olivia’ always makes me feel terribly old.”

“Then what would you prefer I call you?” Rose asked.

“Well, that would be a rather complicated answer, I fear.” Lady Olivia beamed at her. “For we are sisters by law. Yet, we scarcely know each other.”

“Indeed, we do not.” Rose tilted her head, feeling more at ease thanks to the young woman’s candor.

“Exactly. Therefore, Society would dictate that I call you ‘Your Grace’ or ‘Madam,’ and you would call me ‘Lady Olivia.’” Lady Olivia made a face, her displeasure evident.

Rose smiled, enjoying the candor of her new companion. “I am not sure how I would feel about being called ‘Your Grace’ by someone who was my superior a few months ago.”

She still found it difficult to accept her new title. It felt less like an honor and more like a curse. A reminder of her new life. She had not signed her recent letters to her family with her new title. And the thought of this young woman calling her “Madam” or “Your Grace” seemed ludicrous at best.

“I am glad we are in agreement.” Lady Olivia beamed at her. “Perhaps you could simply call me Olivia?”

Rose bit her lip. She did not want to offend the girl, but “Olivia” seemed far too intimate. Regretfully, she shook her head. “I fear I cannot do that. It does not seem right.”

“No matter, I would not wish you to address me in a manner that causes you discomfort.” An impish grin spread across Lady Olivia’s face. “However, this does not help us address our current problem of propriety.”

“Indeed, it does not.” Rose smiled back, the other woman’s openness soothing her heart. “Pray, what would you have us do? What is the answer to this most pressing dilemma?”

“Well, for now, we might call each other Lady Rose and Lady Olivia. And then…” Olivia trailed off, a mischievous look in her eyes.

“And then?” Rose prompted.

How is this warm girl related to the Duke?

“We must become the closest of friends, of course. Then we might take off the shackles of Society and call each other by our Christian names.” Olivia laughed.

Rose laughed with her, feeling some of the grief she had felt these last months fade.

When did I last laugh?

“I think I should like to be your friend.”

“And I should like to be yours.” Olivia looped her arm through Rose’s. “Come, let us take a walk around the garden. It is small, but I find that on a day like today, it feels almost criminal to be inside.”