Page 24 of Legacy of Roses

“But who are you?” Oscar asked, his gaze fixing on Dimitri who was lingering back, away from the gate. Oscar, as the youngest, rarely put himself forward. But he tended to notice things others didn’t.

Rosalie bit back a groan. Didn’t Dimitri have the courtesy to turn back as soon as they came in sight of her home?

“See!” she hissed at Daphne. “He’s still lingering here to make sure he gets praised for saving me. But I have no intention of telling my brothers about that particular adventure!”

“Or maybe he just wants to see us safely inside,” Daphne whispered back. “It’s not like he knows what your brothers look like. They could have been Jace’s men lurking in wait for you.”

“Don’t even say such a thing!” Rosalie whispered back furiously. “My brothers will never have anything to do with Jace again. And I know they all shot up last summer, but no one looking at them could think they were full-grown men!”

“I’m just saying, he might have had innocent motives,” Daphne said, unruffled as always by her friend’s fiery pronouncements.

Dimitri glanced uncertainly at Rosalie, reminding her that she had an audience. Her brothers already looked too curious at her whispered exchange with Daphne. She sighed.

“This is Dimitri,” she said, resigned to the inevitable. “He was just escorting us home as there’s been trouble on the roads recently.” She added the last bit on the spur of the moment, hoping to give them a hint to be careful.

None of the boys appeared to notice the warning, however, latching onto the beginning of her words instead.

“Dimitri!” Vernon exclaimed. “You mean the new prince who’s taken up residence at the manor? We heard about you in town! I’m Vernon.” He pointed at the boy on his right. “That’s Ralph.” He pointed at the one on his left. “And that’s Oscar.” He directed a wounded look at his sister. “Why didn’t you tell us you’d met him, Rosalie?”

“You weren’t coming from the direction of Thebarton, though,” Oscar said before she could answer. “Have you already been up to tour the manor? Will you take us through it, Dimitri? We’ve tried sneaking inside in the past—just to have a look—but we couldn’t get any of the doors or windows open.”

“You what?!” Rosalie cried, horrified. “Hasn’t this family had enough trouble already? I absolutely forbid you to go anywhere near the castle again.” She swung around to face Dimitri who now lingered right by the gate. “Dimitri! Don’t you dare let them onto the manor grounds, let alone into the castle!”

Dimitri gave the boys an apologetic look. “Sorry. You heard your sister. I can’t help on that one, I’m afraid.”

“Of course you’d take her side,” Vernon muttered resentfully while Oscar looked curiously back and forth between Dimitri and Rosalie.

“Personally, I think she’s right,” Ralph said suddenly. “If there’s a prince in that castle, none of our family should beanywhere near it.” He directed a stern look at Rosalie. “And that includes you.”

“I’ve been doing my best, believe me,” Rosalie muttered, making Dimitri laugh under his breath.

“Do we have to keep standing out here?” Daphne asked plaintively, and all three boys instantly forgot about Dimitri.

But when Vernon had ushered her inside, Ralph close behind, Oscar paused to give a final look at Dimitri.

“Is it true the manor has already been transformed?” he asked. “Just because you arrived?”

Dimitri gave Rosalie an uncomfortable look. “I’m not entirely sure of the reason. But it’s certainly improved since I got there. And the grounds have completely changed.”

“They’re…beautiful,” Rosalie said quietly to her brother. “Far, far too beautiful. Don’t let Vernon goad you into going anywhere near there. It’s dangerous.”

Oscar nodded seriously, seeming to understand the danger better than Vernon, if not as well as Ralph. Rosalie gave a sigh of relief. If Ralph and Oscar were united, they would manage to rein Vernon in.

Oscar still hesitated, however, his face slipping into a smirk as he looked between Rosalie and Dimitri. “It was interesting to meet you,” he said. “I’ll go inside now so you can bid each other farewell in private. Just the two of you, the garden, and three pairs of watchful brotherly eyes. Complete solitude in other words.”

Dimitri laughed until he saw the faces of the other two boys pressed against the cottage’s front window, watching them with grins on their faces and mischief in their eyes. His chuckle died, his expression changing to one of mild unease.

“Watch all you want,” Rosalie said haughtily to Oscar. “If you can keep your eyes off Daphne long enough, that is.”

“Touché, dear sister,” he said with a mocking salute. “I am struck dead.”

With a laughing glance at Dimitri, he finally strolled inside after the other boys, leaving Rosalie seething in his wake. She wanted to storm after him and hammer some sense into his brain. She had no interest in being alone with Dimitri, and if Oscar had any sense, he wouldn’t be encouraging the man.

But common courtesy stopped her from abandoning Dimitri to rush after her brothers. Regardless of his motivations, he had come to her rescue and provided shelter for Daphne. He had even walked them both home.

“Thank you,” she said reluctantly. “For rescuing me. I’m sure you didn’t realize the harm you were doing in coming after me.” She acquitted him of ill intent in that regard, at least.

“You’re welcome.” Dimitri gave such a low bow that Rosalie flushed. Was he mocking her? She supposed it had been a halfhearted apology at best.

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