Page 39 of Trapped with the Beastly Duke

Endearing? Funny? Creative?

“Silly.”

“He is a complete and utter fool, but he rarely lets others see that side of himself.” Olivia sighed. “But perhaps we shall see more of it.”

“I would like that,” Rose said, and found that she meant it.

Yet, her sense of foreboding only grew as she entered the dining room and didn’t spot her husband at the table. Everyone else was present as she took her seat.

“Some urgent business has come up, so he will not be joining us this evening,” the Dowager Duchess explained, smiling sadly.

Rose’s heart sank. “Oh.”

“But he will be present at breakfast tomorrow, won’t he?” Peter asked, his eyes round and hopeful.

The Dowager Duchess shook her head. “He said that he must return to London.”

“But Alexander said that he and Rose would be here for a fortnight at least!” Olivia looked furious.

“He said that only he will be returning to London.” The Dowager Duchess smiled kindly at Rose. “Unless, of course, you would like to return to London as well?”

Rose shook her head as her blood turned into ice. “I should like to stay.”

He is leaving. Tomorrow.

She saw her disappointment and sadness reflected on the faces of everyone around her. Something inside her snapped. The despair and loneliness that had threatened to overcome her were replaced by white-hot anger.

Standing up suddenly, she turned to the Dowager Duchess. “Pray, could you tell me where Alexander is currently? I must speak with him.”

“He was in the Eastern drawing room when I left him, though I suspect he will now be on his way to the stables to have the grooms prepare for his departure on the morrow.” The Dowager Duchess canted her head, curiosity in her eyes.

“Then I shall find him. Please accept my most sincere apologies for leaving supper in such haste.” Rose held the older woman’s gaze, fury still burning within her. “I do not think this can wait.”

The Dowager Duchess looked into Rose’s eyes, her lips pursed in thought as she nodded. “No, I daresay it cannot.”

Rose nodded back, and then left the room as quickly as she could manage without breaking into a run. She strode through the halls of the castle, out into the gardens, and towards the stables. It did not take her long to spot the silhouette of the Duke in the distance.

She quickened her pace, anger coursing through her veins.

How dare he do this? How dare he give me a glimpse of something warm and kind, only to snatch it away? I will not stand for it.

“Duke!” Rose called out as she drew closer to him. “Your Grace, I would like to speak with you.”

Alexander turned towards her, his face implacable. “Duchess.”

“You were not at supper.” Her heart hammered in her chest. “And the Dowager Duchess tells me you are to return to London on the morrow.”

“Yes. I feel it would be best that I take my leave.” Alexander looked as though he would turn away from her once more, but she would not let him.

“No.” Her voice was firm and flat, and it surprised her.

What am I doing?

“No?” Alexander raised an eyebrow, his voice devoid of any emotion.

“No.” Rose took a steadying breath. “I will not let you do this.”

The words were a challenge, and as she said them, she knew that she had reached the point of no return. Even as some part ofher remembered the anger she had seen in his expression before, she would not take her words back.