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“I seem to have lost my appetite at the moment.”

“You should talk to them.” Rose touched his arm, as if she could somehow give him some reassurance.

“No.” Just one word. One syllable. Resolute.

Rose sighed. She did not want to push him, but she slid her arm through his. “Well, I have missed you at breakfast.”

There went that eyebrow. “Not for my scintillating conversation, I expect.”

She gave a little laugh. “I would be lying if it were.”

“Indeed.”

She touched his arm. “I do hope you are not angry at me.”

He looked down at her, his eyes narrowing. “Why would I be angry at you?”

“Oh, I do not know. Maybe because of how I left our…conversation in your study the other day?” He gave her a terse look meant to shut her up, she was sure, but she was finding his annoyance amusing these days. She changed the topic. “Has your solicitor heard from my brother yet?”

“Not that he has reported to me. I would think Cecil would be weighing up his options on the subject.”

“I do wish he would hurry up about it. I would like to get on with my life.”

“What are your plans, if I may be so bold as to ask, if we are successful?”

“Well, it depended on whether or not I found a suitable husband. If not, I would likely find a townhouse here in London or rent a cottage somewhere close to Ashtonvale for a while until I decided.”

“What would you do with your days? Just you on your own?”

They had reached the box and were handed glasses of champagne as they entered. “Grow flowers, I expect, sketch. Do some charity work for the local church. I have not really made up my mind.”

“Sounds positively dreary and not at all what I thought would have kept you occupied.” He let her get comfortable in her seat before sitting down beside her.

“What do you think I need to keep me occupied?”

“I am not sure, but you are too smart, too vibrant to just become an old maid living alone with her maid in a cottage.”

Smart, vibrant. Is that how he saw her? Something inside her shifted, and a warmth spread through her as if he had praised her for doing something, when all she had done was be herself. “Do you suggest I go into business? Investments, perhaps?”

“You are the type of person who needs to look after others. You need a husband.”

“Ah, now you sound like Cecil.”

He shook his head. “Of your own choice, of course.”

“I will consider your advice, Your Grace.” What if she could find no one who compared to her father? And was that what she was looking for? Or was it to be swept off her feet by someone as yet unknown?

“Now, ladies, be warned,” Lord Dunstan announced. “This is quite controversial, apparently. It had a disastrous opening in Rome, but has become most popular elsewhere, I believe.”

By the time the curtain went down at intermission, everyone felt a little shocked.

“It is the most bizarre thing,” Marianne said. “I am horrified but also enthralled.”

“Quite,” the dowager said. “Oh, there is Lady Brownlow. I must go and say hello.”

Dunstan stood. “I need to stretch my legs. Would you like to accompany me, Lady Marianne?”

“Oh, yes, that sounds just the thing. We will send refreshments up.” With that, they left the box, leaving the duke and Rose alone.