Page 52 of Legacy of Roses

“Why don’t we check there first?” Rosalie suggested. “If the Legacy has transformed it with me in mind, we might find valuables there that Daphne can use.”

She turned expectantly to Dimitri, and he made no protest, leading the way toward the stairs. He still seemed dazed from their cavalier acceptance of his new appearance, although she couldn’t imagine why. They had all known he was going to change.

Rosalie frowned as she trailed behind him. Had Dimitri not really believed their warnings about becoming a Beast? Or had he misunderstood what it would mean? She felt sorry if so, but it was too late for regrets now.

Dimitri turned left at the top of the stairs, passing several doors before stopping outside a closed one. He opened it with a flourish, stepping back to reveal the room beyond.

Rosalie gasped. She didn’t know where to look first.

“It’s gorgeous,” she breathed, stepping inside.

“A room for a princess,” Daphne agreed, giving the bed a longing look.

“No napping!” Rosalie told her sternly. “We need to find something you can sell. I’m relying on you to help the boys end their dealings with Jace as quickly as possible.”

Daphne sighed but nodded. She looked around the room, her eyes fastening on the dressing table. Her eyebrows rose.

“That might do.” She moved toward it, her fingers trailing across the top of the items laid out.

Rosalie glanced over and saw a row of gold-backed brushes, mirrors, and combs beside several exquisite crystal bottles with golden lids.

“Those weren’t there yesterday,” Dimitri said unnecessarily.

Rosalie’s eyes strayed over to the wardrobe. Crossing to it, she pulled the doors wide. She had been half-expecting to find it full, but she still gasped at the array of dresses. Each was made in a more exquisite material than the last, decorated with gems or pearls, and all appeared to be her size.

She looked over her shoulder at Daphne. “One of these would do it, don’t you think?”

The two girls held eye contact for a moment and then both broke into helpless giggles.

“Is there something funny?” Dimitri asked in confused tones.

“Sorry.” Rosalie wiped the moisture from her eyes, trying to catch her breath. “It’s just a bit overwhelming. The theory doesn’t quite prepare you for the reality.”

“Tell me about it,” Dimitri muttered, making Rosalie feel instantly guilty.

She eyed him, still lurking in the doorway, and wondered why he didn’t join them. But a glance from his position to the rest of the room gave her the answer. He was hanging back away from the dressing table and its mirror. Her guilt deepened. She was delighting in beautiful dresses while he was wearing the form of a Beast. She should focus on what needed to be done and not get lost in the Legacy’s creations.

She looked back at the wardrobe. “What do you think would be best to sell, Daphne? These dresses must be worth a fortune given the jewels sewn into them, but the mirror and brush set would be easier to sell quickly. Even if they were just melted down for the gold, it might be enough.”

“Uh…I don’t think that will be necessary,” Daphne said in a strangled voice.

Rosalie looked up but couldn’t find her for a moment. She finally spotted her in a small, empty dressing room in the far corner of the room.

Her tone was enough to bring Dimitri into the room, the mirror apparently forgotten, and the two of them rushed to Daphne’s side. They found her kneeling in front of a small, open leather trunk which was the only item in the room.

She looked up at them, eyes wide. No one spoke for a moment as they both stared at the contents of the chest.

It was full of coins. An entire chest full of coins.

“Well then,” Rosalie said at last. “I guess you won’t need to sell anything.”

“How much do you think is in here?” Daphne whispered, but neither of them answered. Rosalie couldn’t even make a guess.

“This is exactly why Jace wanted to push us into this farce,” she said instead. “If we want any hope of keeping this a secret, that chest needs to stay right where it is. Sorry, Daph, but I think you should only take enough to pay off the debt. We’ll have to pretend that we found a way to scrape the amount together. Jace can’t be sure what those fireworks meant, and we need to keep him guessing.”

Daphne nodded and produced a leather pouch. Rosalie helped her count out the exact amount of the debt, watching as she tucked it away in her dress.

“You’ll coach Vernon on what to say?” she asked anxiously.

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