Torn between frustration over Mary’s complete lack of understanding of his situation and their shared irritation with their most difficult relative, he focused on the latter. “Since when do you care what Aunt Blanche thinks?”
“Never! But, Henry, the roses are your responsibility now.”
Roses again.Henry gritted his teeth. “Roses? I have sheep to shelter in the fiercest winter in a decade, a summons from Wolfston’s solicitors, a drunken groom causing a ruckus in the village, spring planting to plan, two tenants in a dispute over fields, and four more tenants worried about fuel. The fourth housekeeper in five years just quit. There is more to learn than I studied in university. I have no time for the damned roses. I probably won’t until spring, and by then I’ll be dragged down to London to prance around in ermine while they confirm me to be what you all already think I am—the Duke of everlasting Roseleigh!”
“But that’s exactly it, Henry.Roseleigh. The Roseleigh rose matters. I want to bring little Henry to the flower show some day and show him the family heritage,” Mary said, patting her belly.
“Little Algernon will see them in his time. Jones can manage it. He grows the blasted roses,” Henry said, disordering his hair in disgust.
At “Algernon,” Mary rolled her eyes. “But you know Margaret Ansel came to spy. You must know.”
“Our guest isLadyMargaret. Has she said she came to spy?”
“Of course not!”
“Has she mentioned roses, red, white, pink, or otherwise?”
“No, but—”
“Has she rifled through my files when my back was turned?”
“N… How would I know? You should protect Grandfather’s secrets.”
“I wouldn’t know where to look or what’s hidden away about this rose business. It doesn’t matter. She can’t. I have the keys.”
“If you’d let Jones…,” Mary started.
Henry waved her words away. “Don’t judge Lady Margaret until she gives you reason. Please, Mary. Aunt Blanche will say and do what she pleases no matter what I say. I’m asking you to be a buffer for our guest. Do you hear me? Guest.”
Mary tried to rise and sank back, casting a Henry a pathetic glance. He rolled his eyes and came around the desk to hold out a hand and help her rise. He peered down with a smile. “It won’t be much longer, will it? Little Algernon with be running around the ancestral pile in no time.”
“Try to show some dignity. You’re Roseleigh now, Henry. Aunt Blanche may be a formidable old tartar, but she isn’t wrong.” Mary heaved a deep sigh, one Henry thought belonged on the stage. “Very well. I’ll be so sweet that Lady Margaret’s teeth will ache, but I’ll stick as close as a Scottish thistle. If she goes anywhere near the glasshouse or Jones’s workroom, I’ll have her out of here on her aristocratic bum and her white rose badge with her.”
“You have a glasshouse?” A muscle in Lady Margaret’s cheek twitched, as if she was holding back anger. Or laughter. She stepped further into the room. “A Scottish thistle?”
Henry wondered how long she had been in the doorway.
Mary blushed deeply. “Our aunt expressed some concern. She—”
“Let me guess. She thinks I’m here to steal the family secrets, the Blood Red rose? Or is it to be Cardinal this year, or Ruby Queen, or—but wait, you wouldn’t tell me, would you?”
Her eyes danced. Definitely amused, Henry thought. He really ought to go to Mary’s rescue, but he was inclined to let her flounder in some well-deserved discomfort.
“I. We. That is, you must admit…”
“That people at Edgecroft would behave as rudely as you all have if you turned up unannounced? I fear that is likely. All for this foolish feud. Can we call truce, Lady Eckelston, and allow your brother to continue grappling with the strands of his newly acquired duchy?”
Lady Margaret understood his predicament better than anyone at Roseleigh Hall. Henry smiled at that. She smiled back, and something around his heart gave a squeeze.Foolish feud indeed.
“I actually came to ask if I might make use of your library while I’m waiting for the weather to turn.” Lady Margaret leaned confidentially toward Mary. “If I confine myself there, you won’t have to worry that I’m prowling about seeking to uncover your secrets.”
“Of course. I’ll show you.” Mary walked to the door.
“We’ll leave you to your work, Your Grace,” Lady Margaret said with a graceful curtsey. “You have much weighing you down.”
How could she know that?he wondered. He longed to follow her to the library. He turned back to his desk instead. Perhaps he would have five minutes after dinner for something other than sheep, pigs, turnips, and corn. And roses.
Chapter Four
