Page 43 of The Duke's Auctioned Spinster
The thing about her father was that he had never been all too good at being stern. Rose knew that his ire would cool quickly,and she just needed to wait him out like a passing storm, although his anger was never that intense.
“Certainly not, Father. I would never dream of such a thing,” Rose said.
“But I am sure there will be opportunities for you and His Grace to spend some time together over the coming days, whether it’s a walk under the moonlight in the gardens, or you may find yourself in one of the many rooms of his estate. It might be an opportune time to speak about the future beyond the remaining promenades,” Margaret said airily.
“I would not seek to pressure him, Mother.”
“Nor should you seek to be alone with him. That is how rumors begin, and I shan’t have my daughter become subject to theton’ssharp gossip,” Thomas said.
“Oh, Thomas, you do fret unnecessarily. This is a party, and we shall enjoy ourselves. All I am suggesting is that at some point during the event, there might be an announcement made, a happy announcement, for why else arrange such an extravagant party if there is no occasion to celebrate?” Margaret said, clearly implying that a proposal would be forthcoming.
“I do hope you are right, Mother,” Rose said, although she shuddered as she lied. She thought back to those moments when she last saw Edmund, how he caught her in his arms, how she had kissed him on the cheek, but had almost been tempted to target his lips instead. What dangers awaited her?
If he sensed any warmth, he might well end their arrangement, and she would not be able to enact her plan at all. She still had a front to put on for everyone in attendance, but there was a fine line between convincing others and still keeping Edmund at a distance.
The sooner this is over, the better.
She tried not to think about dancing with him or standing beside him, but for a moment, she imagined the terrifying possibility that he might actually propose. The music would stop, he would draw everyone’s attention, and then he would kneel, leaving her no choice but to accept.
This might happen at any point during the next few days, and she wasn’t sure if her patience could take being on edge for so long. But the thought of Edmund proposing to her elicited a most surprising reaction.
Her heart fluttered, and her breathing became intense. She had to remind herself that Edmund would not do such a thing.
Then again, he was unpredictable, and she expected to be on edge all night.
“My, there are so many people here,” Thomas remarked as the carriage came to a stop in the courtyard of Stonewood Manor. The carriages were arranged in straight lines, with footmen chatting congenially as they hauled luggage inside. Guests flowed into the Manor, each of them stopping to gasp in awe at the ice sculpture standing outside the entrance.
It depicted two swans. Their heads were pressed together, their necks bent to form a heart. This was a great source of joy for people, and when some noticed that Rose was nearby, they pointed and whispered, assuming the swans represented her and Edmund.
“I think you might be right, Margaret. This event could be momentous indeed. His Grace has spared no expense,” Thomas said.
Rose tore her gaze away from the ice sculpture, trying her best to pretend they had melted already.
When the butler announced them to the room, everyone turned to look at Rose. She had never been under such scrutiny before. She smiled, blushed, and waited for Edmund to approach.
“Ah, the guest of honor. It has felt like an eternity since we last met,” he said, taking her hand and kissing it quickly. He then turned to Margaret, kissed her hand, and then offered Thomas a firm handshake.
“I am so honored you could attend. The party can begin in earnest now. Please feel free to wander about the house. We have amusements in every room, music, food, cake, and all kinds of things! This is an event that will be long remembered,” Edmund said.
Margaret nudged Rose in the ribs, quite sharply, making her gasp in pain.
“Is everything well, my dearest?” Edmund said, offering a beseeching smile.
“Of course, I was simply marveling at the house. It looks wonderful,” Rose said, and indeed Edmund had made a great effort to make this memorable. Huge tapestries were draped along the ceiling, and servants made their way through the crowd, offering food and drink. There was a low hum of conversation that was interspersed with a lively burst of laughter.
The throng of people undulated, making it look as though Rose was standing before a great sea where the tide was churning. Everything seemed to glitter, as though somehow Edmund had made the stars fall and captured them in his home.
“Please, you must meet my family. Allow me to present my sister, Lady Lydia Stonewood, my sister, the Duchess of Winthrop, and her husband, the Duke of Winthrop. It is my honor to introduce you to the Lord and Lady Bolton,” Edmund said. Greetings were exchanged. Rose shared a quick smile with Lydia.
“It is a pleasure to see you again,” she directed to Charlotte. “Is Luke not with you?”
“No, we left him with the nanny tonight. The party would be far too overwhelming for him, although he will be joining us tomorrow, and I am eager for it. Every moment spent apart from him feels like an eternity,” Charlotte said.
“It is indeed too much,” Nathaniel muttered, casting his gaze around the room, an irritated expression coming upon his face. He was holding himself rigidly. Edmund placed a hand on Nathaniel’s shoulder, which only made him more irritated.
“Oh, don’t be like that, Nathaniel, you know I have even thought of you tonight. That is why the ice sculpture is outside. I wanted to make sure that there is something even colder than you here,” Edmund grinned.
Thomas and Margaret shared an uneasy glance with each other, unsure if they were supposed to laugh. Nathaniel’s eyes widened, and he was about to make a retort toward Edmund, but before he could say anything, Edmund was already turning away and pulling some more people into his orbit, introducing his grandmother, Agatha, Nathaniel’s mother, Beatrice, and a third person who was unknown to Rose.
