There was a moment of silent calm.
And then it ended.
“How fookingdare yepropose to my daughter without my permission!” Tea forgotten, her Da was suddenly stompingback and forth in front of the fire. “Ye think her parents dinnae have the right to ken yer plans ahead of time? Ye pair of jintersnappering cun?—”
“Demon,” Mother began in a soft tone. “Remember, you proposed to me withoutmyfather’s permission.”
Da turned to her with a scowl even as Rosie tried not to smile, even through her confusion. “That’s becauseyerfather was a complete turdbiscuit!” he roared.
Mother’s Look became quite a bit more Significant. “And you are not being one right now?”
Rosie hid her smirk again.
For his part, Bull was watching Demon with something like…sorrow? There was a disappointment in those gray depths, and Rosie wondered if anyone else could see it.
If heallowedanyone to see it.
“Demon,dotry to be happy for your daughter,” Mother began, but Da cut her off with a snarl.
“She cannae marry this shiteweasel?—”
“Look,” Bull began, finally allowing some emotion to show as his foot slammed into the ground and he sat forward. “Just because she’s a duke’s daughter?—”
“Fook the duke!” Demon roared, whirling on him, jabbing his chest with a finger.
“I rather think that’s my job, Demon,” Rosie’s mother said lightly as she sipped her tea.
Rosie’s Da continued shouting. “TheDukepart doesnae matter! She’smydaughter, and ye’re no’ good enough forher!” He threw his hands up as he resumed pacing. “Naeman is good enough for her!”
Bull’s face had paled. He’d frozen, the only thing moving were his eyes as he dropped them to his knees, where his fingers curled into fists. “I ken that,” he said quietly.
And Rosie decided enough was enough. She had to rescue the man she—from her father’s—this was all so tangled!
“Da, Mother…” She held up her hand to display the ring. “This was aruse, part of our investigation. Lord Tittle-Tattle is a social snob and would not deign to see us unless he knew my rank, and he had to think Bull connected with me.”
Her father’s eyes had narrowed. “So ye’re no’ really engaged?”
Rosie hid her sorrow by focusing on her movements as she pulled the ring from her finger. But when she looked up and saw her mother’s expression—pity, and a little sadness—she curled her hand around the piece of jewelry, unwilling to give it up entirely.
“I…we…no,” she rasped. She swallowed and tried again, forcing her voice into something brisker. “No, it was just a role for the investigation. When he was hurt and I needed to help him, it was easier to maintain the ruse, so we would not be questioned and could protect the portrait.”
Da planted his hands on his hips. “What muffleskunking portrait?”
Sending Bull a glance, wondering if he would mind if she were the one to explain, Rosie took a deep breath?—
And was cut off by her mother’s announcement.
“Let us discuss the details of the portrait—and this detective case, which Bull claims is related to our family—in the morning.” This time she raised her brows at Demon, as if daring him to challenge her. “Agreed? We can discusstomorrow, when everyone is calmer and well-rested.Everyone.”
“What?” Da shook his head with a scowl. “I’m calm. I’m the calmest fooking cockwobbler here. I’m calmer than he is.” He glared at Bull. “Why no’ discuss it now?”
“Because, dear,” Mother sighed with a glint in her eye, “you have worked yourself into a state. I know from experience that the only way to calm you is to take you to our bedroom and take all your clothes off and draw a bath and climb?—”
“Georgia, ye willnae finish that sentence,” he growled warningly.
Mother grinned. “You rather left me no choice.”
Rosie had grown upwellaware of her parents’ love for one another, and had learned if she needed to visit the library after dinner, she had best walk past their roomveryquickly, and perhaps with her fingers in her ears. Other young ladies might be scandalized by such knowledge, but it had always made her pleased to know they still cared so deeply for one another.
