Rosalie shifted on the cold bench, not entirely eager to hear what Mr. Reeves had said. “Oh?”
“He didn’t know what I was talking about,” Robin said in a rush. “He recalled stumbling upon the two of you in the garden but insisted that he never made a bet with Lucian. In fact, his story matched the original story Lucian concocted—where Lucian suggested he go out and place a large wager on Lucian marrying!”
Rosalie’s head was swimming. “But Lucian told me that the bet was whether he could fool me into thinking that he wanted to marry me. Why would he lie about such a thing?”
Robin laughed darkly. “I have an inkling. Reeves told me another interesting tidbit. Did you never wonder why he held his tongue for the past two years?”
Rosalie bit her lip. Now that Robin mentioned it, it did seem surprising. Mr. Reeves was not known for his discretion. “Why?”
Robin leaned forward. “Reeves told me that a few days after he stumbled upon the two of you, Lucian paid him a call. According to Reeves, Lucian told him that hedidcall upon Father to ask for your hand.But Father refused him!”
A roaring filled Rosalie’s ears. “That can’t be true. It just… can’t!” Papa would not have done such a thing, not without asking Rosalie how she felt about the man in question. It was impossible!
Wasn’t it?
“Reeves swore up and down that was what happened,” Robin said. “Lucian asked him to keep what he saw to himself, in light of the fact that you would be ruined if word got out. Reeves said Lucian looked an absolute wreck. Fortunately, Reeves had not yet managed to place a bet on the odds of Lucian marrying, so he didn’t stand to lose any money over it. He said he felt so bad for Lucian, he gave him his word at once.”
Rosalie staggered to her feet. “I must speak to Papa.”
It couldn’t be true. None of it made any sense! Papa would not have refused Lucian’s suit without speaking to her first. And, even if, in some bizarre twist of fate, Papa had done precisely that, why hadn’t Lucian simply told her as much? Why pretend hehadn’tspoken to Papa and concoct an elaborate lie about a bet with Mr. Reeves?
Why would he go out of his way to break her heart?
“Come.” Robin started to take her arm, but he hesitated, frowning. Rosalie must not have looked too steady on her feet, because he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I have the carriage waiting around the corner. It’s time we settled this, once and for all.”
Rosalie was terrified of what she was about to learn. But she knew she would have no peace until she got some answers.
It was time to speak with her father.
If the servants were surprised to see Rosalie at Swanscombe House so soon after her wedding, they gave no sign of it. Stephens welcomed her with a bow and indicated that her father was in his study.
Robin accompanied her as far as the door. He squeezed her hand. “I’ll be waiting just outside. Good luck.”
Rosalie nodded tightly. “Thank you, Robin. For everything.”
Swallowing thickly, she turned and rapped upon the door.
Her father’s deep bellow was easily audible through the closed door. “Come in.”
Robin gave her hand one final squeeze, and she stepped inside.
The duke looked up from his paper-strewn desk. A smile lit his face as soon as he saw that it was her. “Rosie-Roo!” heexclaimed, coming around the desk and holding out his hands. “Tell me how that husband of yours is treating…”
His voice trailed off, and his face fell as he took in her expression. “What’s wrong?”
“I need to know something, Papa. Something important.” Rosalie’s hands were knotted in front of her stomach, but she had no hope of relaxing. Not until she had received some answers.
She looked up at her father. “When Lucian returned from the Continent two weeks ago, was that the first time he asked you for my hand?”
He looked startled. “No. No, it was not. He first approached me to ask for your hand… maybe around two years ago.”
Rosalie absorbed this news like a punch to the gut. When she spoke, her voice trembled. “Did you refuse him, then?”
“What?” The duke looked startled. “No!” But then, he paused, staring at the wall behind Rosalie’s head.
When he looked at her, his expression was sheepish. “At least, not intentionally.”
“Papa!” Rosalie exclaimed. “What did you say?”
