Page 88 of Once Upon a Devilish Duke

She too had some apologies to make.

Chapter Twenty

Rose sat opposite the duke as he calmly sipped his tea and read his paper. It was strange; other than the difference in venue, it all felt familiar. She looked down at her soft-boiled egg and toast, then back at the duke.

“Is there something you want to say? I can feel your glare through this paper.”

“I was just thinking how unnecessary this all is.”

“Explain?”

Rose put down her napkin. “Pretending like we are at Warrington House having breakfast.”

Edward folded the paper so he could see her. “If not for your stubbornness, we could be.”

“My stubbornness?”

“Rose, I know you do not want to face the accusing eyes in the house. The thing is, kissing you is my sin, not yours.”

“I kissed you as well. I am not innocent in this.”

“I initiated every kiss. I am more experienced. I am to blame, and other than you, everyone accepts this as fact.”

“I believe I kissed you in your study thanking you for the book you lent me.”

“A peck on the cheek does not count. That is the type of kiss one gives their elderly grandparent or a dear aunt or uncle.”

That was true enough. How like Edward to take all the blame onto himself.

“Come now. Everyone wants you to come home.”

“It’s not…”

“It is. At least I want it to be.” He stood and came towards her.

Her eyes flared; he would not dare. When he took up the chair next to her and took her hands in his, she searched his eyes like somehow she might find something real in them.

He kissed her knuckles. “I am going to propose…a compromise. I mentioned it a while ago, but I think now it is what is necessary.”

“A compromise? There is nothing that you can propose that will fix this situation.”

“This will. We will get engaged. Then you can cry off after the court case is sorted and you are ready to move on.”

“And I told you last time you suggested this that I would not do that to your family. They have gone through enough.” She put her palm against his cheek. “I appreciate the offer, but I know it is not what you want.”

He pushed a curl behind her ear. “It is what I want. I want you to be safe, protected, but at the same time I want you to have the freedom to make your own choices when the time is right.”

“But your family.”

“Will accept you,” said Marianne from the doorway. She had her hands clasped in front of her. “We all want you to come home. Please, Rose. I know I am the cause of this and I want to…apologize to you.”

Edward had stepped away and reached his hand out to his sister. By the time Marianne had made it across the room, both she and Rose had tears in their eyes.

“Will you forgive me?” she asked, kneeling in front of Rose.

“There is no need for you to apologize; I was the one at fault.”

“But I need you to forgive me anyway.” Marianne looked at her brother, saying, “She was defending you for running off all my suitors, and I was so shocked that I simply reacted. What I said was unforgivable, but if she can forgive me, then I suppose I can forgive you your part.”