Page 12 of Trapped with a Wicked Duke
"Of course, Your Grace," Mr. James said confidently. "You are the Duke of Everness, after all. You have faced much tougher challenges and come out victorious. I am sure in time, she will see that you are an honorable man."
Thomas let out a small laugh, feeling better. "Thank you, Mr. James," he said. "You always know just what to say."
"It is my pleasure, Your Grace," Mr. James said with a small bow. "I am here to serve you in any way that I can."
Settling down on a chair, he poured himself a cup of tea and leaned back in his chair sipping it in brooding silence. He was still sitting there with the tea grown cold when Rose entered the dining room.
"Good morning, Your Grace," she said, her face neutral.
He eyed her suspiciously. "You have changed your behavior rather quickly."
Her laughter trilled high and bright and there was a brittleness to it that he did not like. "I have decided to go along with this farce of yours. I had a moment of regret this morning, but then I realized that I do not care. I shall journey with you to London and then be done with this. But I shall require something in return."
"And what, pray tell, is that?" Thomas lifted a brow.
"Money to fund my journey. After all, I had everything in place to make my escape and that has all fallen apart. I must make new plans and that will cost money," Rose said, her voice calm and matter-of-fact.
"Fine. I shall fund your escapeifyou help me." Thomas drew the words out. He looked at her skeptically, but she did not meet his eyes.
She sat down and speared a piece of toast with her fork. She buttered it with a force that tore it, but she did not stop. Thomas gulped.
"Very well. We will leave as soon as you finish your breakfast." He rose and pushed in his chair. "I have business to attend to in my study. I shall see you at the quarter hour."
It was an hour before the carriage was ready, and Thomas chafed to be underway to London as the journey would last several hours. His mother was expecting them for dinner that evening, and the Dowager Duchess hated lateness. She found it to be the height of rudeness.
As the carriage made its way down the road, Thomas tried to make small talk with Rose. He offered her a piece of fruit from the basket. "An apple?" He held it out to her.
But she declined with a shrug. "I prefer strawberries."
He pulled out a book he thought she might enjoy, but she merely glanced at it before turning her gaze out the window. "Reading in a moving carriage makes me feel ill."
Thomas sighed, feeling a twinge of guilt. He had been so focused on his own needs and desires that he had not considered how Rose might feel about being forced into a life she did not want. He made a mental note to try and be more considerate of her feelings in the future.
"So, Lady Rose," Thomas said, trying once more to start a conversation. "What do you hope to see and do in London?"
Rose turned to him with a blank expression. "I have no hope or desire for anything in London, Your Grace," she replied coolly.
Thomas was taken aback by her response. He had expected her to be more excited about the trip, or at least to show some interest in what he had to say like before. He cleared his throat, trying to think of something else to say. "Well, I have much to accomplish in London," he said, eager to convince her to understand his motives were altruistic and not selfish. "I am a member of the House of Lords, you know, and I have many reforms I wish to see passed. I believe that with your help, I can finally achieve my goals and make a difference in the lives of the people." Thomas continued. "I am deeply concerned about the plight of widows in the poor areas of London. They are often left with no access to money or property and are consigned to the poor house. It is a travesty, and I aim to change that."
Thomas noticed Rose's eyes staring out the window as he spoke, and he thought that she was not even listening.
But then, to Thomas's surprise, Rose spoke up. "I am sorry, Your Grace. I was lost in thought," she said, looking at him with curiosity in her eyes. "What did you mean by the plight of widows in the poor areas of London?"
Thomas felt a glimmer of hope. Perhaps she was more interested in his work than he had thought. He sat up straight, eager to share his ideas with her. "Well, you see, many widows are leftwith no means of support once their husbands pass away. They are often left with no access to money or property and are forced to rely on the charity of others. It is a dire situation, and I aim to change that."
Rose nodded, and her expression grew thoughtful. "And how do you plan to do that?" she asked.
Thomas smiled and felt encouraged by her response. "I plan to introduce new legislation that will give widows access to their late husband's property and money. I also want to set up programs that will provide education and work training to widows so that they can become self-sufficient."
Rose nodded. "That is a noble cause, Your Grace. Women's independence is something that I, too, hold strong opinions about. Of course, forcing women into circumstances beyond their control…"
The words remained unspoken, but her meaning was clear. He had forced her into a position where she, like the widows he was trying to help, had no say. He leaned back against the cushions of the carriage, feeling a sense of disappointment wash over him. He had been so confident and sure of himself when he had made his plans, but now he was starting to have second thoughts. What if she was never going to support him or help him achieve his goals? He pushed the thoughts aside, determined to stay focused on his goal. He had come too far to give up now.
He did not make the rules of society, but he had to work within them. Surely, she understood that. He would find a way to makeRose support his plan and her role in it He was the Duke of Everness, after all, and he was not used to failing.
Rose regretted not taking the apple that Thomas had offered her earlier. After a torn piece of toasted bread and a bit of tea for breakfast, she was now quite hungry. But she would not give him the satisfaction of taking the apple from the basket that sat at their feet. Nor would she read the book about plants no matter how sorely she was tempted to plunder the pages. She had noted that it was an extensive study of her favorite subject – plants of the lowlands of Britain, but she could not let Thomas know that she was interested in anything he had to offer. She sat stiffly in her seat, staring out the window at the passing countryside.
Thomas, on the other hand, seemed to be trying his best to make amends for his earlier behavior. He offered her food, drink, and even conversation, but Rose remained distant and unresponsive. He tried to engage her in discussion about their plans in London, but she simply nodded and looked out the window, saying nothing.
