Page 68 of The Duke's Auctioned Spinster
She was free, again, although it did not seem as much of a blessing as it once did.
Suddenly, Rose was startled by her mother’s voice.
“Rose, you have a letter and a parcel! It’s from His Grace,” Margaret said.
Rose furrowed her brow in consternation. There must have been some kind of error. Surely Edmund would not have sent her a letter now? Unless he wished to make a formal goodbye and bring the agreement to an end. That must have been it, she thought, and he had even gone so far as to include a parting gift.
Well, it would at least add to her story of being heartbroken.
“All right, I am coming,” Rose called downstairs. She gathered herself and then descended the stairs. Thomas and Margaret were waiting beside the parcel with expectant looks on their faces.
“I knew it would not be long before he contacted you again,” Thomas said.
“He must have been busy this week,” Margaret replied, making excuses for Edmund.
“Or he’s building up to a grand finale. The man is fond of theatrics after all, and I mean that as a compliment,” Thomas said. He then looked at Rose eagerly and gestured for her to open the parcel.
She stared at the small box with trepidation, wondering what kind of game Edmund was playing. He had already won. He had gotten what he wanted. The public had seen him being charmingand courteous, and they had witnessed him and Rose being close with each other. There was every reason for them to believe that he was interested in settling down.
So why keep the game going?
Just when she thought she knew what was going through his mind, he went and did something that completely upended her expectations.
Rose picked up the parcel. It was a small box that had a red ribbon tied around it. She undid this, and it fell away. Thomas caught it before it reached the floor. Inside, she found a pair of fine new ivory gloves.
“What is it?” Margaret asked curiously.
“Gloves, I presume to replace my damaged pair,” Rose said, handing them to her mother. Margaret handled them delicately.
“These are so well-made. And how thoughtful of him,” Margaret said.
“He has clearly spared no expense,” Thomas said with a nod, as though this proved something.
At first, Rose assumed that the gloves were the only gift, but as she removed them from the box and handed them to her mother, she realized there was something else resting in the box. It glinted gold. She pulled it out and saw that it was a delicatependant. A small gold charm that was shaped like a winding pattern. It was simple and beautiful.
The charm nestled in the middle of her hand. Margaret and Thomas were filled with effusive praise, as they saw this as further proof that Edmund’s intentions toward their daughter were long-lasting and concerned with marriage.
It only served to confuse Rose even more.
Her father handed her the letter. She opened it, and her gaze danced over the words.
Dearest Rose,
This Friday will be our fifth and final promenade. We must remain true to the terms of our agreement, after all. Please wear my gifts. I am sure they will look wonderful on you. This will be grander than all of our other promenades combined. There shall be nothing left unsaid.
Please find details attached.
Edmund.
Rose felt a lump form in her throat.
“I am to see him on Friday,” Rose said, her voice shifting with uncertainty. Thomas and Margaret rejoiced, while Rose remained stoic.
“This is going to be the moment. He must have wanted to wait until the two of you were alone together. I knew he would bring this to an end with a grand climax. Prepare yourself, Rose, because your life is about to change forever,” Thomas said.
“We should start thinking about the party we are going to host. It would be good to repay their favor and celebrate the engagement. Come, Thomas, we have a lot of work to do,” Margaret announced.
They marched off. Rose could not remember a time when they had been so in tune with one another. Well, if this chain of events brought her parents closer together, then at least some good had come of it. She was left standing in the hallway. The gloves had been thrust into her hands again.
