Rose in Bloom (15 page)

“I’m not sure I’ll feel up to it this century.”

“You will. The pain fades after a while. I promise you that it does. Come now.” She stood, helped Rose to her feet, led her into her bedchamber, and loosened her gown and corset. “Lie down for a while, dear. I’ll send my maid in two hours to attend you.”

* * * *

Later, after Rose had napped and changed clothes, she descended to the main parlor and found Evan waiting for her.

“Good afternoon, Rose.”

“Evan, I didn’t expect you so early. I’m sorry I wasn’t here to greet you. Is your father here as well?”

“No. He had some business to attend to. He will be here in time for dinner, though.”

“Are you feeling better about his marriage?”

“I’m dealing with it,” Evan said. “But that’s not what I came here to talk about. Could you come with me for a moment?”

“Of course.”

Evan led her to the conservatory where a dozen red roses greeted her.

“How lovely,” she gushed.

“That’s only the beginning. Come here.” He showed her to the grand piano. “I want you to play something for me.”

She sat down on the cushioned bench and regarded the music set before her. It looked slightly familiar. As she began to play, the pleasant tune came back to her. It was the song she had played on Cameron’s twangy pianoforte, from the notes she had seen. The final version was brilliant, and on the grand piano was nothing less than exquisite. Rose’s fingers danced over the ivory keys, and her eyes misted.

This song was for her. Images of her and Cameron making love floated up from the keys, so clearly that she felt sure Evan could see them as well. Her cheeks warmed.

“This is a beautiful tune, Evan.”

“It’s called
Wandering Rose
. I had it written for you.”

Rose closed her eyes and willed back the tears. Cameron had written the song for her.

Well, no, he hadn’t. He had accepted money to write it for Evan to give to her.

Yet the music spoke to her, as if Cameron had entered her mind and taken the tune from her very soul. She opened her eyes. She was only imagining it. Cameron had been able to write a compelling waltz for Lily, one that spoke to Lily and her beloved, Daniel, without being in love with his subject. This was no different. She swallowed, steeling herself.

“It’s lovely, Evan,” she said. “I do thank you for the gift.”

“Come with me.”

Evan took her hand and pulled her up from the piano bench and over to the satin couch, urging her to sit. He knelt before her. Rose sighed. She knew what was coming next.

“Rose,” he said, “we’ve known each other for over two months now, and I care very much for you. I would consider it an honor if you would become my wife.” He took a diamond ring out of his pocket and placed it on the fourth finger of her left hand.

“Evan, I’m honored, I truly am,” Rose said, eyeing the ring he placed on her finger. It was a beautiful flawless diamond, at least three carats, she guessed.

“Then your answer is yes?”

“I…well…I’m v-very fond of you,” she stammered, “but, I need to know. Are you…in love with me?”

Evan rose from his knees and sat down next to her on the couch, taking her right hand in his. He played gently with her fingers. “I care very deeply for you, Rose. As to love? I don’t want to lie to you. I honestly do not know if I’m in love with you. I may well be. I care for you more than I’ve ever cared for another.”

Rose sighed. “If you were in love with me, you would know.”

“Are you in love with me?”

“No, Evan. Although I wish I were. I truly do.”

“Then how can you say I would know if I loved you?”

Because I’m in love with someone else.
“My sister told me,” she lied. “It’s not something one can put into words, apparently, but you’ll know when it happens. You’ve no doubt never been in love.”

“No, I suppose I haven’t.” He toyed with her hand. “But I do hold you in high esteem. And I’m attracted to you, and I want you. Many marriages have been built on less than that.”

“Yes, I know.”

“So I offer you my proposal. I think we could have a good marriage, Rose. We could be content. You would want for naught, I promise you, and I will devote myself to you and to our children.”

She smiled. He was a good man, and she didn’t want to hurt him. “I think we could have a good marriage too. And I believe you to be an honorable man, and I find you attractive and intelligent, and I enjoy your company.”

“Then why don’t we give it a try?”

“I had thought to do that. But, Evan, I’ve decided that… I think we both deserve better.”

“Better meaning…?”

She squeezed his hand. “We deserve
love
, Evan.”

He massaged her palm with his thumb. “We may never find that.”

“True, we may not. But what if one of us did? What if, five years from now, you found your soul mate, but you were unable to be with her because you were committed to me? I know you are honorable, Evan, and you would never leave me.”

“No, of course I wouldn’t.”

“But you would want to.”

“No, I—”

“Look at your own parents’ marriage.”

Evan looked away. “My parents had a good marriage.”

“Yes, but…how much do you know about the history between your father and my aunt?”

“They met years ago and became…friends.”

“They met twenty years ago, Evan, and they didn’t become friends. They fell in love. Yet they couldn’t be together because they were both already committed to other people whom they didn’t love.”

“My mother was a wonderful woman, Rose. She was a good wife to my father.”

“From what I’ve heard, she sounds like an amazing person,” Rose agreed, “and I don’t doubt that she was, to produce a son as fine as you.” She smiled, patting his hand lightly. “But your father wasn’t in love with her. Surely you knew that.”

“Yes.” Evan sighed. “I suppose I did.”

“So when he met Aunt Iris all those years ago and fell in love, he wasn’t free to be with her, nor she with him. That’s sad, don’t you think?”

“Well, they’re together now.”

“Yes, after twenty years!” Rose chuckled softly. “Do you really want to wait twenty years for your true love?”

“You and I could grow to love each other in time,” Evan said. “That happens.”

“Yes, it does. I believe it did so with Maggie and the duke. And it could, with us. I hold you in high regard and I enjoy our time together and I enjoy our…kisses. But if that is the case, shouldn’t we wait until we fall in love to get married?”

“It’s time I got married, Rose.”

“Heavens, you’re only twenty-six. My brother is twenty-eight and unmarried, and the duke is thirty-two and only now just got married. You don’t need to be in any hurry.”

“My father thinks I should marry.”

“Really? I should think your father would understand your need to wait until you fall in love.”

“All right.” He let out a breathy laugh. “My father hasn’t said anything. I made that up.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. I care for you more than any other woman I’ve known. Maybe it’s not true love, but it’s something.”

“It is. It’s a very nice something. But we are both young. Neither of us needs to be in any hurry.”

“Perhaps you’re right.”

Rose withdrew the ring from her finger, placed it in his palm, closed his fingers over it, and clasped his hand in hers. “Let’s wait. We can still see each other if you would like, or we could take a break and see if that perfect someone comes along for either of us.”

“You’re a wise woman, Rose.” He kissed her cheek. “I wish we
were
in love.”

“Oh, Evan, so do I.” She brushed her lips lightly against his, in what she knew in her heart was their last kiss. “You will make some lucky woman very happy someday.”

“And I envy the man who wins your love, my dear.” He stood, helping her to her feet. “I have enjoyed our time together.”

“As have I,” Rose said earnestly. “I will always value your friendship, my lord.”

“May I escort you into the parlor for an aperitif?”

“Of course. I’d be delighted.”

“I’ll speak to my father later,” Evan said as they walked. “I’ll tell him you and I have decided to…wait a bit before rushing into marriage.”

“Thank you. I hope I haven’t put you in an awkward position.”

“No. I feel…
good
about things actually.”

“I’m glad. Truly glad.” Rose smiled into his handsome face. “I couldn’t bear it if I had caused you pain.”

He smiled. “You haven’t. I will miss you though.”

“I’ll miss you too,” Rose said, and she meant it with all her heart.

They found Sophie and Alexandra in the parlor.

“May I inquire as to Lady Longarry’s whereabouts?” Evan asked.

“Why?” Alexandra said. “So you can be rude to her?”

“Ally!” Sophie touched her sister’s arm. “My lord, she’s on the back terrace.”

“Thank you, my lady.” Evan excused himself.

“Rose, dear,” Alexandra said, “you looked a little pale. Are you feeling well?”

“It’s just been a trying day,” Rose said, “and I had a bout of nausea earlier. It’s just nerves.”

“Nerves? About what?” Sophie asked.

Rose took a deep breath. The girls didn’t know about Cameron, and she didn’t want to tell them. At least not yet. But she did need to tell them about Evan. “Lord Evan and I have decided to stop seeing each other.”

“That cad!” Alexandra said hotly. “The way he reacted to mother’s engagement, and now this. What on earth did he do to you?”

“He did nothing, Ally,” Rose said. “It was a mutual decision.”

“Dearest Rose, don’t try to be strong. And please don’t defend him.”

“I’m not. Really,” Rose said. “It honestly was a mutual decision. We’re simply not in love with each other.”

“He’s a fool,” Ally said.

“No more so than I,” Rose replied. “We decided that we’re both young yet, and we don’t want to tie ourselves down when we might find love with another. Look at his father and your mother. They fell in love twenty years ago but couldn’t be together because they both were committed to others.”

“And he understood that?” Sophie asked.

“Yes. And he agreed.”

“Then maybe he’ll treat Mother with a tad more respect now,” Alexandra said. “Although I won’t hold my breath.”

“Ally, he’s going to be our brother. You shouldn’t speak of him with such contempt.”

“
Step
brother, Sophie. There’s no blood between us, and I personally think he’s a rude and obnoxious beast. A mountainous beast. Quite easy on the eyes though…”

“No, he’s not a beast,” Rose said. “He’s a very honorable man. He was kind and generous with me. I’m going to miss him, actually.”

“If you like him so much, I don’t understand your decision,” Alexandra said. “I know he’s only a second son, but money doesn’t seem to matter much to you. He’s outrageously handsome, even if he is a beast, and you like him. What more do you want in a marriage prospect?”

“I want love, Ally.” Rose sighed.

“Rose, just because Lily found a love match doesn’t mean it’s in the cards for the rest of us. It rarely happens, you know.”

“But what about your mother and Lord Brighton?”

“A geriatric love match.” Ally rolled her eyes. “How charming.”

“Ally!” Sophie shook her head. “Mother and Lord Brighton are in the prime of life.”

“Prime of life? Holy hell, Sophie.” Alexandra erupted in giggles. “I can’t even picture the two of them—”

“Goodness, Ally,” Rose said, and then she too began giggling. “That’s not something we should picture about anyone.”

“It’s fairly easy to picture Lily and the duke.”

“Really, Alexandra,” Sophie said.

“I’m sorry, but the duke is purely scrumptious. And even I shall admit, so is our dear stepbrother-to-be, even if he is a haughty beast.” Alexandra smiled. “One only has to imagine—”

“Ally,” Sophie said again.

“Don’t you think Lord Brighton is attractive?” Rose asked Alexandra. “He reminds me a lot of Evan, actually. He’s a very dashing older gentleman.”

“I’m sure he was a gem in his day, Rose,” Alexandra said. “But he’s sixty!”

“We’ll all be there someday, dear,” Rose said. “He’s still attractive, and Aunt Iris is still a very pretty woman.”

“She certainly is,” Sophie agreed. “It took me a few days to get used to the idea, but now I can truthfully said I am thrilled for both of them.”

“Of course I am as well,” Alexandra said. “Especially since it means we will be living on our own estate. Even if Evan will be there. He may be impossible, but at least it won’t be painful to look at him. He is
splendid
.”