It was Rose’s turn to wince. William Grandby, heir to the Torrington earldom, was one of the young men she had hoped might one day propose to her. Instead, he had fallen for the daughter of the Earl of Trenton.
To see them now, Rose wondered how she had ever imagined herself married to William Grandby. He was so beholden to his Anne, Rose doubted she would have been held in such high regard.
As for William’s twin sister, Angelica, she was enjoying her life with Sir Benjamin Fulton, an astronomer and the eventual Earl of Wadsworth. They spent their nights stargazing in his observatory, which meant they must have been doing their lovemaking during the days, because Angelica was expecting her third babe any day.
“I cannot imagine waiting to have babies until I’m well past thirty,” Rose murmured.
James dipped his head. “I suppose not.” He was quiet for a moment before he said. “Tomorrow night, at the Weatherstones’...” He paused, as if he was struggling to sort how to say what he wanted to say.
“Yes?”
“I know you like standing with the wallflowers—”
“Since I have become one,” she interrupted.
“Yes, well, could you maybe mingle a bit more? Avoid spending so much time with the potted palms? I have this fear that one will take you off into the gardens, wrap his fronds around you, and have his way with you.”
Rose stared at her father. “A potted palm?” she repeated in alarm.
“I wasn’t being serious. At least, not that last part, but what I said before. About spending time with the wallflowers? You’re far too beautiful to cast your lot with them.”
“Father,” she scolded. “Your words imply my friends are not. Their only fault is they are shy or their fathers are mere viscounts or barons.”
The duke emitted a sound of disbelief. “Are you including Miss Adeline in your assessment?”
Rose opened her mouth to respond but instead sighed.
“Whydoyou two consort with those who prefer the company of potted palms?” he asked, his manner suspicious.
As if she knew she would be caught in a lie if she told him anything other than the truth, Rose said, “Since the accident, I have come to understand their lot in life. That men will only ask us to dance if they are shamed into it or if they can find no other partners. We are their last resort.”
James grimaced. “Is that true for Miss Adeline as well?”
Rose shook her head. “She has been learning much about the unfortunate while she works at Lady Bostwick’s charity. Besides the wounded in search of employment, there are those who are in search of wives.”
“And why does that have her communing with the wallflowers?”
Blinking, Rose straightened on the bed. “You don’t understand?”
He shook his head.
“Adeline understands she is fortunate. That she will never be in such dire straights as to require the help of a charity to make her living or to find her a willing husband.”
“I hope you understand that, too,” he said, his frown more apparent.
“I do, which is why I feel sympathy for them. As does Addy,” Rose explained. “I suppose I was vain enough once to believe my presence among them would help draw more men to our side of the ballroom. To ensure they were asked to dance as often as I was.”
“You’re saying you’re no longer vain?” he asked gently.
She huffed. “Certainly not since the accident. I no longer attract the young men as I once did,” she murmured. “Adeline still does, but I don’t think she cares if she marries or not.”
This last had James giving a start. “Bostwick hasn’t said she intends to be a spinster,” he remarked.
“Would he tell you such a thing if he knew?”
Her father dipped his head. “Touché,” he whispered, briefly reminded of how many fencing matches he had lost to Bostwick over the years. After a moment, he said, “I suppose she intends to run her mother’s charities at some point.” When Rose nodded, he said, “Well, Lady Bostwick has proven she can be a viscountessandrun two charities. She’s been doing so since before her oldest son was born.”
At the mention of David Bennett-Jones, Rose hiccuped. When her father’s gaze settled on her, he arched a brow. “The sudden color in your cheeks would suggest you’re blushing,” he said in a low voice.
