Page 104 of Cocky August Rake

No one moved until the duchess touched Rose lightly at the elbow.

“I believe the two of you have more to discuss than the rest of us need hear,” she said, glancing between them. “Particularly after this morning.”

The duke understood at once. He crossed the room and held out his arms for Ernest.

Still numb, Rose gave up the baby with reluctance. Grateful at least that it allowed her a moment to look somewhere other than Reginald.

“I believe, my love, that tea awaits us,” the duke said, settling the infant against his chest.

The duchess glanced between Rose and Reginald again. “Yes,” she agreed. “And I’m suddenly parched.”

Then, she gave Rose’s arm one last reassuring squeeze and followed her husband out of the study.

As the door shut, Rose’s resolve wavered.

For one dangerous moment, Rose nearly crossed the room and threw herself into his arms. Nearly reached for the mouth that had kissed and tasted every inch of her the night before.

Then she remembered The Domus as she had found it just after dawn.

The front doors propped open. Trunks of all colors and sizes crowding the hall. Mr. Huxley with his spectacles crooked and papers trembling in his hands as he argued with that wretched Mr. Sedgwick.

Anger rushed back so swiftly that her blood seemed to pound beneath her skin.

“How dare you?”

Reginald flinched.

“You promised me.”

“Rose—”

“You promised no one would be turned out until they had somewhere safe to go.”

“I know.”

“You made me think you would be compassionate. I believed you!”

“I will be. I am.” He reached for her hands, but when Rose stepped back, his own fell slowly to his sides. “It’s all just a terrible mistake.”

“A mistake?” Rose’s voice shook. “There were men inside our home telling everyone to pack their belongings. Do you know what that feels like?”

“No.” Reginald’s answer came quietly. “You know I don’t.”

He scrubbed a hand down his face and his shoulders sagged for a moment.

“I’m sorry, Rose. I should have made my instructions more clear. I should’ve made it impossible for Sedgewick—or anyone else—to believe they had permission to act before the sale was complete.”

Her fury faltered, though it didn’t disappear.

“He still overstepped,” Reginald continued. “He had no authority to enter The Domus, much less begin clearing it. He knows that now.”

Rose paused. She’d known him only a month, but in that time, he’d not given her reason to believe he’d lie about something like this… “But you accepted the offer.”

Reginald dipped his chin. “I did.”

And there it was. The fight was over.

Devastation landed, but not because Rose doubted she could make her own way. Not even because she was losing her home.