He was leaving England, and Willa and his mother had agreed to take over the management of all the ducal properties for at least the next month. His assistant and solicitor had already been by to formalize everything.
His mother dabbed at her eyes. “I’m so happy you found a love match.”
“I have to see if she will have me first,” Augustus said.
“I’m sure she will,” Willa said.
He nodded, nervous but also euphoric—now that his plan to find Rose was on the cusp of beginning. “Are you sure you will be fine?”
“Augustus, we are family. We can take care of things for you. Do not fret.”
He grinned, realizing he probably should have asked for their help years ago. “Thank you.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Livorno, Tuscany– January 1851
Rose smiled atThomas as he entertained her with some outrageous story while they sat at a café in Livorno. It was good to be around someone she considered family. The journey over provided far too much time for her to think about her decision to walk away from Augustus.
The more time passed, the more she wondered if she should have done things differently. Should Rose have told him that she loved him and would never love anyone as much? She’d made the assumption that he would live happily ever after with his childhood sweetheart, but what if she was wrong?
The café she and Thomas sat in was lively, and not even the happy hum could replace the dread permanently lodged in her stomach.
“Rose, is something wrong?” Thomas asked over the loud chatter in the room.
She made eye contact with him and did something she’d never done in her entire adult existence. Rose Calvert burst into tears.
“Fuck,” Thomas muttered and pulled her from her chair, navigating them out of the happy place.
The café was located along the water, and he guided her to a crate. “Sit.”
She cried even harder because she missed the blasted duke. Miss seemed to be not an adequate word to describe the feeling. It was as if she’d given away part of herself.
“What is going on?” her friend demanded.
Shaking her head, she did her best to catch her breath. “I think I’ve made a terrible mistake.”
“Tell me.”
Rose grimaced through her tears. “I fell in love with someone in London. He wanted to discuss our future, but I told him we didn’t suit. I fled.”
Thomas looked startled. She’d been in Tuscany for a few days now but hadn’t mentioned anyone other than the ladies who ran the Historical Society of Female Curators. He sat next to her on the crate and wrapped his arms around her. “Why would you do that?”
She sniffled. “Because he is a duke.”
A bark of laughter escaped Thomas, and she glanced up at him, scowling. His arms dropped from around her shoulders, and he held up his hands. “Sorry, your father will be thrilled. His scheme to send you to London to find a gentleman to marry actually worked.”
Rose smiled at his point, but sadness filled her again. She’d walked away from Augustus. “I did something that I deeply regret now.”
“What is that?”
“Augustus’s first love just came out of mourning, and I convinced myself she would be a more suitable duchess than myself.”
Thomas sighed. “You tried to play matchmaker for the man you love? Does that make sense?”
She wiped at her tears, still falling. “No, it doesn’t, now that I’m so far away.”
“Go back and tell him you love him.”
