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“Go. Enjoy your tête-à-tête with Mother.”

“Do not enjoy my discomfort too much.”

“Me? Please.”

Tony shook his head as he left the room, and as soon as the door was closed, Edward ripped open the dispatch and read.

*

The butler came to her in the garden and told her that the duke was waiting for her in the parlor. Usually, if the duke wanted to talk to her, it was always in his office, so this left her a little confused as to what it might be about. The parlor doors opened, and the duke stood in the middle of the room. He looked so tall, strong, and ridiculously handsome. He focused his dark-blue eyes solely on her.

He held out his hand to her, and she took the few steps into the room where the doors were closed behind her. “You asked for me, Your Grace?”

“Yes, please.” He indicated the sofa where she obediently sat. He sat next to her, and she could feel the heat of him as he turned towards her. “I need to tell you something, and it is not easy to say.”

“All right,” she said as her heart beat erratically within her chest. His face was so serious that she wanted desperately to put her palm to his cheek and take away what was bothering him.

“Your brother. He has declined our offer.”

She took a breath. “Oh, what did you offer him? I made him no offer.”

The duke said, “It does not matter. The fact is I do not think this is about your money.”

She sighed. “You offered him money? I could have warned you he would not take it.”

“If he needs your money for his debts…”

“It is quite obvious now that he does not. Although I am sure having my money will make him very happy.”

“Then why do you think he is threatening to take away your money if he does not need it?”

“Hatred mostly. At least, I am fairly certain that is the reason. He has always seen me as an enemy. I was not. I just wanted him to be fair instead of greedy. He did not like his flaws to be presented to him.”

What man does? “He wishes to humiliate you in the eyes of the ton.”

“Is that what he said?”

“No, but what other reason could there be?”

“I suppose that is correct. When I left to go to Ashtonvale, I told him to just imagine me dead. To leave me to my life and I would leave him to his. To say that he was unhappy with this arrangement is an understatement.”

“He is going to take you to court, Rose.”

“I wish he would see how futile it would be, but in a way, I knew he would.”

“I want you to be prepared. To know that the family is behind you, come what may.”

“Come what may? I’ve always thought that was an odd saying. I did not want you all to be involved. I think you should distance yourself from me. I would appreciate Barlow’s help as my solicitor, of course, but the family should stay far away from me. I will make arrangements to rent a room in a respectable hotel.” Rose could feel the weight of her decision descending like a blanket to smother her. No matter what happened, she might never live her life as she wished. She would be a social pariah.

“No!”

“Edward, I must. Surely you can see that. Marianne is on the cusp of matrimony with Dunstan. We do not want to jeopardize that with scandal. It is not like I will be giving you all up, just moving away while this carries out.”

“It is too dangerous. Barlow said that your brother would snatch you from the street, and what then? He may try and have you committed or hurt you. Here, you are protected. The Warrington title has had its fair share of scandal. We can bear this one.”

“Come what may?”

“Yes. Besides, I want you here. I may not be able to kiss you, but I need to see you.”