Page 12 of The Duke's Auctioned Spinster
“So what is your intention with Lady Rose? Or should I not ask?”
“You can ask me anything you like. But do not worry, there is nothing shameful about it. She is a woman for whom manners and rules are a high priority.”
“Then this shall be a challenge for you.”
Edmund grinned.
“Indeed it shall,” he said, and tried not to be too drawn by the challenge.
There was something about Rose that inspired his curiosity. A lot of women, most of them in truth, would respond to his flattery with bashful smiles and coy looks. Rose was far more strident, not shy of stating that she had no intention of romance or marriage.
While that suited him, he still found his thoughts lingering on her and couldn’t quite understand why.
When they returned to the house, they heard a lively conversation from one of the drawing rooms, as well as the high-pitched cry of Luke.
“Seems as though little Luke is off again,” Edmund said.
“I know the sound all too well,” Alfred said with a wry smile.
“Never fear, Uncle Edmund is here to settle the child,” Edmund announced as he strode into the room with open arms, only to pause with a shocked look on his face.
Rose was sitting next to Charlotte. Lydia was beside the window, holding Luke. Rose was wearing a slim dress that showed her slender figure. Blonde hair framed her face like a golden veil, and her eyes were so bright for a moment he thought they were outside, because it seemed as though the sun was being reflected in them. But there was no smile waiting for him, just narrowed eyes and pinched lips.
It was not enough to dull her beauty.
“Lady Rose, I was unaware you were calling on me today,” Edmund said in a tone that he knew would annoy her. Indeed, she drew her brows together, and there was a spark of irritation in her eyes.
“I was not calling on you, Your Grace. I was calling on Lydia,” she corrected.
“Edmund has the unfortunate malady of believing that the world revolves around him,” Charlotte said, then turned to Alfred. “Good day, Alfred. How is Mary?”
“She’s fine, thank you. She is working on something for Luke.”
“Again? She has already done so much for Luke. You must tell her to focus on her own family.”
Alfred held up his hands. “I know, but she feels a deep sense of gratitude toward you. There is no stopping her.”
Charlotte smiled. “Very well. Then I shall accept it in kind, and I will do my best to repay her. Alfred, have you met Lady Rose Bolton?”
“I have not had the pleasure,” Alfred said, turning and bowing toward Rose. “Though I must confess, Edmund has been telling me how excited he is about spending time with you.”
Edmund glared at Alfred as he moved toward Lydia and took his crying nephew from her arms. Lydia glared at him, although he wasn’t entirely sure what he had done wrong. He started swaying with Luke in his arms and began shushing the boy, who began to calm down.
“I am sure the feeling is mutual,” Rose replied dryly, staring at him.
“It will be more than mutual once you see what I have planned for our first promenade.”
“Oh, do tell,” Rose said.
“It will be better as a surprise. I do need to check first to make sure that it meets all of your conditions and rules.”
“Then I hope you do not spend too much time checking or worrying about how to fill the other four promenades either.”
“A lack of imagination is something that I have never suffered from,” Edmund said.
The words snapped back and forth in the air. Edmund cradled Luke’s head and noticed that Lydia and Charlotte were sharing a glance. He cleared his throat.
“Does the day after tomorrow suit you?”
