Page 82 of When He Was a Duke
“Then we both might have ended up dead,” Rose said firmly. “You made the best choice you could with what you knew then. And now, finally, the truth has come out anyway.”
Mary searched Rose’s face as if looking for any trace of deception. “You truly don’t blame me?”
“Not for a single moment.” Rose smiled through her tears. “Thank you for taking care of eight-year-old me. And thank you for finding the courage to speak to Constable Stephens when the time was right. Also, thank you for moving the rug. It was you, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. It was all I could think to do.” Mary dissolved into quiet sobs, and Rose simply held her hands until the tears subsided.
“It’s over now,” Rose said softly. “For both of us. We can finally let it go.”
Mary nodded, dabbing at her eyes with her apron. “Thank you, my lady. I needed to hear that.”
After Mary left, Rose went to her dressing table and examined herself in the mirror. She saw a woman who had not only survived, but one who had been surrounded by love all along. Even in the darkest moments, people had tried to protect her the only way they knew how.
Her father was gone. He could no longer hurt any of the people she loved. For that she felt grateful.
*
That evening, Mr.Hale arrived just after supper. Rose found him waiting for her in the drawing room in one of the wing-backed chairs, looking weary but calm. The journey to London had clearly taken its toll. His boots were dusty, his coat wrinkled, and his cravat loosened. She’d never seen him so disheveled.
“My lady.” He stood, greeting her with a nod. “Please excuse my appearance. I’ve not been to my cottage. I wanted to speak to you right away.”
Rose hurried to the chair opposite him, her hands trembling slightly. “I appreciate it. Please, what did you learn?”
Hale’s expression softened as he settled back into his seat. “Your father’s will was clear, Lady Rose. Wentworth Manor and all associated properties are yours.”
The words didn’t seem to register at first. Rose blinked, her mouth opening slightly. “Mine?”
“Entirely. Without condition.”
She stared at him, sure she heard him incorrectly. “But that cannot be. Why would Father do that?” Her voice caught. “He despised me.”
“Perhaps. But he also wanted to keep the estate intact.” Hale leaned forward, his voice gentle. “My instinct is that he intended to protect it from his illegal activities. For you.”
Rose’s hands gripped the arms of her chair. “What does that mean exactly?”
“The Crown will seize whatever money came from his smuggling. But the estate itself wasn’t used as collateral for his crimes.” Hale’s weathered face brightened. “You own it free and clear, my lady. The manor, the land, the farms—all of it.”
The room seemed to tilt around her. Rose pressed a hand to her chest, struggling to breathe. Everything she’d feared losing was all hers. Truly hers.
“I can scarcely believe it.” She stood abruptly, pacing to the window. Her reflection stared back, pale and wide-eyed. “No unknownheir will come to claim it?”
“None. No court can strip it from you.”
Rose turned back to him, tears streaming down her cheeks. Relief and sorrow warred in her chest. Father had done this for her. How strange, considering everything else. But perhaps there was a part of him that felt guilty and had wanted to protect her. Or, perhaps he’d just not gotten around to changing his will? She would never know. However, she had a future now. She could protect the staff. She could stay in the only home she’d ever known.
Hale watched her carefully. “You can do whatever you like with it. Sell it, lease it or remain here and rebuild.”
She sank back into her chair, her mind racing. “Is it possible to make the estate profitable? Without the smuggling, I mean?”
“If you’d like me to stay, we can turn it around together.” His confidence was reassuring. “Your father’s methods brought in vast sums, yes, but with proper management, we can sustain ourselves quite comfortably.”
“Do you want to stay?”
“If you’ll have me. I know this place better than anyone. The tenant farms, the ledgers, which servants can be trusted.” He paused. “Though I should ask—did you have any idea what your father was doing all these years?”
Rose shook her head. “I never thought about it at all. Isn’t that awful? It was Lady Arabella who first told me what everyone else seemed to suspect. I feel like a fool.”
“How were you to know, Lady Rose? He kept it all from you. And me, for that matter. I saw enough to know things weren’t right, but he was careful to keep his illegal dealings separate from the legitimate estate work.” Hale’s expression grew thoughtful. “That separation is what will save us now.”
