Page 85 of Once Upon a Devilish Duke

“You cannot fix everything, Edward.”

“I can damn well try,” he said in reply, his frustration making his jaw clench.

“Just go. Threaten the staff not to give out my room number. I do not care. The only person I want to see is Barlow. I intend to fight my brother to the bitter end, and then I will decide where I want to live, and if there are sheep there, then so be it.”

“Then I will stay here too,” he said.

“You cannot.” Her eyes were wide as saucers.

“I will take the room next door.”

“But your work?”

“I will have it brought here.”

“Edward, no.”

“Rose, yes.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “You are the most stubborn man I know.”

“Glad you have finally realized. Now, either you come home with me or I come here.”

“I am not going back to the house.”

“Fine. I shall send the carriage back and arrange for my room to be made up.”

“This will only make things worse,” she said.

“We will see.” He stood then, gave her a little bow, and then left the room.

Downstairs he demanded the room to the right of hers and said that no one was to be told what room he or Lady Rose was in. The clerk raised a brow but nodded and handed him a key.

“And the key to the adjoining door,” he demanded.

“But, Your Grace.”

“The key.” He slipped a pound note across the counter. The clerk’s eyes flared wide, and his hand shot out and took the note. “And not a word. Do I make myself clear?”

“Absolutely, Your Grace.”

*

How was she going to survive knowing Edward was next door? Part of her had wanted to slap his conceited face earlier, and part of her just wanted to crawl into his embrace and let him just handle everything as he was wont to do.

She would feel safer at Warrington House, but the shame of everyone’s stares was something she could not handle. She would end up staying in her room, and if she was going to do that, she might as well be here. Beholden to no one.

Yes, her brother may try something, but only if he somehow found out she was here. Even then, she would fight him before she would leave with him. She knew not to underestimate the depths of cruelty her brother would stoop to. Perhaps having the duke next door was not such a bad thing.

When Rose finally emerged from the bedroom, having washed her face and given herself a good talking to, Elsie was humming as she unpacked, and Rose could not fathom how happy the girl could be in every situation. If she was sad to be leaving her friends below stairs at Warrington House, she did not show it.

Rose heard commotion outside, and she opened the door a crack to see four Warrington footmen carrying boxes and a trunk into the room next door. The next thing she knew, the door between the two rooms opened, and the duke strolled in like he had moved into her room as well.

“What are you doing?” she asked, her hands on her hips.

“I’m staying out of their way while they move things about.”

“By being in mine?”