“I can have my investigators look into him,” Devons offered.
The duke nodded. “I had hoped that would be possible.”
“Of course, I want to see the Historical Society for Female Curators succeed.”
Diana smiled at him, and he grinned back at her.
“Oh…I can’t get over how smitten you both are,” Addie said, beaming. She turned to Rose. “You missed it all, but these two caused quite a swirl of gossip.”
“Really?” Rose said.
Diana laughed. “We had very different reputations. London was quite shocked when we became betrothed.”
“He was keen to get back to you when he was in Latakia,” Rose said.
A flush appeared on Devons’s cheeks. Diana smiled. “I was happy when he returned.”
“I will have to see if I can find some of the old papers,” Addie said, smiling mischievously. “I’m getting off track with my musing about their courtship. Regarding the stolen tablets, wewill have Devons investigate Michael Abbas, and Sinclair and Rose will attend the auctions. Does anyone else want to go?”
“We shouldn’t go in a large group. We will stand out too much,” Sinclair stated.
They all agreed. Lisbeth glanced at Rose. “Do you want me to join you?”
“No. Sinclair and I should be fine.”
Her eyes met his. She assured herself they would be fine, ignoring the hum of something that bounced between them.
*
The next evening,Augustus sat across from Rose Calvert in the carriage as they headed to an auction in the London Docks. She stared out the window, bouncing one of her knees up and down. He wondered if she was always this fidgety.
“Are you nervous, Miss Calvert?”
“Rose,” she reminded him. “Why do you ask?”
He nodded towards her leg, which frantically tapped away. She sighed. “No. I’m not nervous, just impatient. Those tablets, you might say, are the culmination of my life’s work. I know to most, they are just stones with markings, but to me, they are so much more. It probably seems silly to someone like you.”
A flash of annoyance shot through him, knowing she was referring to his title. He hated all the misconceptions people had about him, and it bothered him that she held them too.
“I don’t think it is silly at all, Rose. I find you quite remarkable.”
Her eyes widened, and he silently cursed his words. “I meant to say I find your work rather remarkable. I do. I have great respect for your skills. One of the primary reasons I purchased the Alcyone and Ceyx statue was the inscription. Without yourabilities, that would be lost. The text is what makes the sculpture beautiful.”
She said nothing for a moment and then smiled slightly. “Thank you, Your Grace. Those are kind words that I didn’t expect from you.”
“Sinclair or Augustus, please.”
She gasped mockingly. “So informal.”
“I think your perception of me is inaccurate.”
They stared at one another. Shockingly, a strong desire thrummed through him for Rose to see the real him, not the one he presented to society. She leaned forward, surprising Augustus. “Then tell me, duke, who are you?”
His gaze flicked down to her mouth and back to her inquisitive eyes. He was tempted to pull her into his lap and tell her everything he had done that wasn’t related to his title. Why did he want to impress her so much? But he didn’t. Rose Calvert was not what he was looking for in a bride; whether she liked it or not, she was here to have a Season. He wouldn’t ruin her, no matter how different she was from all the new, blushing debutantes. In that regard, he was very much the gentleman. He shrugged, “Why don’t you tell me about your Season?”
Her mouth twisted in distaste. She was quiet for a moment. Finally, Rose said, “I have no desire to find a husband in London. Still, my father was hopeful I could be swayed by meeting the right gentleman, so here I am with a ridiculous dowry. I know he meant to be helpful, but I would never consider someone who found that money important.”
“What are you looking for then?”
