Page 70 of The Duke's Auctioned Spinster
A hazy feeling swept through his mind, and he felt quite untethered, although he still summoned his customary smirk.
“Rose, it is a pleasure to see you,” he said, then looked past her and nodded at Jenny, who kept her distance. Rose’s gaze was cool, and she gave nothing away. “I see that you are wearing my gifts. I am glad you like them.”
“Thank you. They are indeed beautiful, although I must admit that I was surprised to receive your invitation. I believed we had concluded our promenades.”
“I am a man of my word, Rose, and I agreed to take you out for five promenades. The house party only accounted for one, and I wanted this to be special. I hope that you like your surroundings. I called in a favor,” he said, gesturing toward the maze with a wave of his hand.
Her hand rose to finger her pendant.
“The pattern,” she whispered.
“Yes, I thought I would include a little hint. Did you pick up on it?”
“No, I… I did not realize,” she said.
“Well, I know that it might be difficult to find our way, but my faithful butler, George, has placed lanterns at frequent intervals, so even if we get a little turned around, we shan’t be lost in the dark. I hope,” he said with a mischievous grin. They fell into step with each other.
He then called out to Jenny.
“Make sure you do not keep too much distance. I would not want you to get lost,” he said.
“Edmund, wait. What is this truly about?” she asked.
“I told you. I paid for five promenades, and I intend to see this through. It would not be becoming of me to refuse the final meeting.”
“And here I thought you were a man who grew frustrated with obligations and expectations.”
Edmund shrugged. “Then I must be a man of contradictions,” he said.
Rose shook her head.
“You are an impossible man,” she replied.
“I will accept that. There are worse things to be.”
“Are there?”
“Yes,” she said bluntly, glaring at him.
As they walked through the maze, they passed through shadow and light. He always turned toward her when she entered the lantern’s glow, struck by how feminine and beautiful she looked when the light caught her. He was glad he had taken this opportunity to see her one final time, though it did not fail to bring him pain.
“Is it so difficult for you to be honest with me?” she asked.
“I have never been anything but honest.”
“Then tell me why we are here. Why did we not leave things as they were?” She stopped suddenly, standing on the edge between light and shadow. Edmund turned to face her. There was an intensity to her gaze, and he felt frozen because of it.
“Did you really want to leave things like that?”
“It is the only way we can leave things. We both said what we had to say. We know the truth of things. This seems like an exercise in futility.”
Edmund laughed, although not with as much humor as he usually enjoyed. “How flattering.”
“I do not seek to flatter you, Edmund. Such a time for that has passed. There is only one way to endure you now.”
“Endure me?”
“Yes, endure you and whatever game you think we are playing. Are you hurt because I was so frank with you? Because I have not fallen for your charms? Are you irritated that I was the one who walked away from you?”
