Page 84 of Legacy of Roses

She stilled, the blood rushing from her face. Jace had been there? Watching them? She shivered.

“I hope I’m not one to make the same mistake twice,” he said, clearly pleased with himself. “After my first failure, it was obvious that a great deal more reconnaissance was needed. And since the Legacy evidently disapproved of a frontal assault, I’ve had to resort to more…Legacy-approved methods, shall we say. As I said, inspired, in my opinion.”

Rosalie’s mind scrambled as she tried to work out what Jace might have overheard and how he might plan to use the information. Her hurried thoughts led her to one conclusion, and she swayed, her knees nearly giving way.

Jace closed the short distance between them, steadying her with a hand on one arm. She desperately wanted to shake him off, but at the same time she was afraid she really might collapse if she did.

Jace was right. Horribly, tragically right. She had made it too easy for him.

“Ah, I can see you already understand,” he said. “Your quickness is one of your many virtues, my dear.”

She was afraid if she opened her mouth to insult him, she might lose the previous night’s meal on him instead. So she kept her mouth clamped shut.

“Since I’ve already been so very patient,” he said, “I did appreciate you setting the time to a single day. We won’t have to wait long.”

Rosalie swallowed. Why hadn’t she predicted Jace might do this and taken steps to prevent him? She had gone over theoriginal history so many times in her mind that the outcome had seemed a certainty already. But Jace had so easily pulled her off course.

All he had to do was keep her here past the morning. She didn’t know how quickly the Legacy would cause Dimitri to sicken and die, but based on its speed thus far, she didn’t think it would take long.

Her stomach heaved.

“You needn’t look so alarmed, Rose,” Jace said, still holding her arm. “This is by far the neatest way, you know. And if you choose to be cooperative, there’s no need for you to lose out.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” she snapped, finally finding her voice again.

“That you can still be mistress of the manor when this is over. Once the Legacy deals with the current owner, there will be no one to fight me for either the manor or its riches. Who’s to say I’m not a descendant of the old lord as much as Dimitri? No one in Thebarton has reason to know different. I certainly look the part.”

Rosalie’s hot repudiation of his claim didn’t make it past her lips. Both she and Daphne had noted Dimitri’s similarity to Jace the first time they had met him. It was possible Jace’s claim might actually be believed. He might even be able to convince the guards that Dimitri had attacked his men over a family squabble turned sour rather than the other way around.

His biggest problem was Rosalie herself—her and her family and her friend. They were the ones he had originally cheated, and they were the only witnesses to what had really happened in the manor. If he wanted to live openly as a free man, he had to secure their compliance. Jace’s oily smile took on a whole new meaning.

He let go of her arm, running his fingers lightly up its length. She shuddered in disgust, but he seemed to take it as a promising sign.

“I hope you haven’t forgotten how well we dealt together once,” he murmured in her ear. “I’ll acknowledge that I used your family ill, but that can all be undone now. I can pay back every coin with the wealth from that manor and still have enough to keep us both in luxury for the rest of our lives. You can share it with me. You’ll lose nothing.”

His hand glided into her hair, his fingers twisting around a lock of it. “You liked me well enough once, I’m sure you can like me again. For myself, well…” His smile grew. “I said before that you were just as beautiful as ever, but I think I was wrong. You seem to get more beautiful each time I see you. A wife fit for the lord of a manor. I’m sure we can deal extremely well together once more.”

Rosalie pulled back, not able to keep the disgust off her face. Strategically, it would have been better to play along, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. And she suspected that no matter how cooperative she seemed, Jace wouldn’t drop his guard until enough time had elapsed to doom Dimitri.

“I was sincere in what I said at our previous meeting,” she said. “I hope I never see you again. I certainly won’t be marrying you.”

Jace’s hand dropped, and his expression turned ugly. He laughed—a harsh mocking sound.

“I certainly hope you haven’t been foolish for a second time and fallen for your Beast,” he said. “I thought you knew better than to let the Legacy play you yet again.”

Rosalie’s stomach writhed to hear her own thoughts and fears echoed from his mouth. She raised her chin defiantly.

“Oh dear,” he said. “You have.” He patted her face condescendingly, and she flinched away from him. “PoorRosalie. It seems all your loves are doomed to end in tragedy. But think on my words. It’s too late for your lover, but it’s not too late for you. You can still accept my offer. I’d much prefer to marry you and have you willingly revoke the charges against me than to be forced to dispose of all my accusers. Given the past connection between us, it will be a tricky thing to get rid of your whole family without raising suspicion. But I have faith in my ingenuity, so the decision is in your hands. Iwillbe lord of that manor. With you,” he said, pausing meaningfully, “or without you.”

He turned to one of the men standing a respectful distance away.

“Tie her up.” He jerked his chin toward a nearby tree.

Rosalie stepped hurriedly backward, but she stepped straight into the restraining grasp of someone behind her. Within moments, she was bound and secured to the tree Jace had indicated.

She sat there with her head high, determined not to cry. But as the first rays of dawn pierced the leaves, silent tears ran down her cheeks.

Chapter 24

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