Rose shook her head. “No. I think I will step out for a moment. I need some fresh air.”
Lisbeth frowned. “Don’t go too far.”
“I will be fine. I can take care of myself,” Rose said.
The duchess rolled her eyes. “I have no doubt. Still, please don’t wander too far. The rules here in London are different.”
“I promise I will behave,” Rose said sarcastically.
“I’m warning you for your own good. London has the worst gossipers who love to discover scandals around every corner.”
“Thank you.”
Lisbeth squeezed her hand, surprising her. “Our hosts tonight, the Duke of Sinclair and his mother, are collectors of antiquities. I believe the duke has recently acquired a new statue, which is located in the main hallway. Stay within sight of others. I won’t have your reputation damaged before we’ve even started.”
“I will,” Rose mumbled as she departed.
She shivered with excitement as she entered the wide hallway. What was wrong with her? Who became excited by cold stone? Rose spotted the gleaming statue at the end of the corridor. It beckoned her. It depicted a man preparing to strike a blow with his sword. She moved closer to the lovely piece, but a light from an open door distracted her. She gasped.
Rose stepped through the doorway, admiring the carved stone that represented Alcyone and Ceyx locked in a passionate embrace. She sighed, remembering when she, Thomas, and her father found it on a little island in the Mediterranean.
“Hello, my old friends. It has been so long.” She traced along the cool surface.
“Do you often talk to statues?” someone asked from across the room, startling Rose.
She spun around and discovered a man with piercing blue eyes lounging by a window. Rose scowled. “Do you often hide in rooms that don’t belong to you? I doubt the owner of this home would care for it.”
A wide, wolfish smile appeared on his face, making him look like Ceyx himself. The man pushed off the wall and walked towards her. Rose should leave, but for some reason, she didn’t want him to think she was intimidated easily.
“I happen to be acquainted with the duke. I don’t think he will mind, but the same could also be said about you. I’m not sure he would like a lady touching his antiquities.”
Rose snorted. “I doubt the duke knows who is represented in this statue?”
She often found wealthy merchants and lords who purchased artifacts liked to brag about their value but lacked any fundamental knowledge about the items they owned.
“Enlighten me, since you appear to be an expert. Who is it?” the man asked, folding his arms across his expansive chest.
Why was she staring at his chest? Goodness, he was sinfully handsome. Rose needed to return to the ballroom. “I must go.”
As she reached the door, the man chuckled. “It’s fine if you don’t know.”
Rose froze, anger welling up in her. How dare he insinuate she lacked the proper knowledge to explain who the statue represented. She, her father, and Thomas had discovered the stone carving they were debating. She spun back around and stomped back to the man. He smiled at her, amused his taunt brought her back.
“The statue represents Alcyone and Ceyx before they angered the gods. They were considered the most beautiful couple, butthey grew conceited and began to pretend they were gods themselves.
The man’s eyes widened in surprise. Rose smirked back at him, delighted she’d shocked him.
“There is also an inscription explaining who they are.” She pointed at the base.
The man squatted to look, and Rose joined him. He gently ran a large hand along the inscription. For a moment, she was mesmerized and absurdly wondered what his hands would feel like.
He cleared his throat, and she snapped her attention back to his face. He intently studied her. What was she doing? Rose attempted to stand up and leave but stumbled backward onto her bottom. “Bloody hell.”
The man chuckled. Rose frowned. “Can you help me?”
He reached down and hauled her up, holding her by her forearms. For a moment, their bodies almost touched. They stared at each other, and warmth shot through her. Embarrassed, she pulled away. “I must go.”
She reached the door, and he asked, “What does the inscription say?”
