“I wonder if it would matter if I were a duke in Syria or the Americas.”
Henry nodded. “Of course it would, but outside of England, it’s up to you whether that’s what you want people to see you as.”
He smiled. “Who else would I be?”
“Explorer, importer, or whatever you like.”
“That would be entertaining,” Augustus mused.
His assistant’s face turned serious. “Your Grace, you could step away from your duties if you wanted to. I do not doubt that your family would take care of your ducal responsibilities, and I would ensure that your import company continues as is.”
“You don’t think I would be asking a great deal of you and my family?”
Henry smiled. “If I may speak plainly, Your Grace.”
“Of course.”
“I have been with you for almost ten years now. It would be my greatest honor to ensure your company is well cared for.”
Augustus needed to give Henry a raise. In truth, he needed to offer him a part of his business. “You are a good man. Perhaps something to discuss down the road.
Henry beamed. “I shall put it on my list.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Rose stood inthe large exhibit room of Seely House. The talk had been a crushing success. Several newspapers had printed stories about the epic, and now chatter was high on when the rest of the tale would be revealed.
Addie joined her. “Are you admiring your work?”
Shaking her head, she said, “No. I’m wishing that we had the rest of the tablets. I know we can’t obtain the last one or two without the map, but I’m surprised the stolen ones haven’t turned up yet. It makes me worried.”
The club founder nodded her head, her mouth tilting down in disappointment. “Do you or Sinclair have any more ideas on places to look?”
She’d not seen Augustus since her talk. One of his servants had delivered a message stating that he needed to travel to his estate for an emergency and would return by the end of the week. A vision of him and his former love in the Seely House gardens flashed in her mind. The way he smiled at her had nearly shattered her heart. Rose pushed it away, refusing to dwell on something she couldn’t control. “I have not, and Sinclair is out of town for a few days.”
Addie studied her quietly. Finally, Rose turned to her. “What is it?”
“It doesn’t mean anything that they met with each other.”
A red flush raced down her body, and she pursed her lips. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Addie shot her a knowing look. “If you are not already embroiled in a liaison with Sinclair, it is clear you are headed in that direction.”
“If I were involved with him, it wouldn’t be anything serious.”
A snort escaped the stunning lady. “I’ve known Sinclair for a long time. Ladies love him, and he has only had one response to any of them: boredom. The way he looks at you is certainly not like that. In truth, he looks like a man in love.”
“You should see him with Lady Gillings,” she muttered, wincing that she’d revealed such a jealous detail to Addie.
Addie nodded. “They certainly have a history. But he isn’t the young man who once loved her. People change.”
“How would you know?” Rose scoffed.
A sad smile filled Addie’s face. “Trust me, I know what it’s like to grow in the opposite direction of someone you thought would be your perfect match forever.”
Rose realized she was talking about her husband. Her eyes flew to the woman’s face, but she intently studied the text next to the clay tablet—text she’d read a dozen times.
“What would be the end goal? I could never be a duchess.”
