Rosalie returned to her room, humming with nerves after her talk with the duke. She knew what she wanted, she just didn’t know how to get it. And it wasn’t entirely up to her. Three other people had to be willing to go along with her plans.
The gong had just rung, and it was time to change for dinner. She wasn’t going to bother with ringing for a maid. They were just eating at home, so she could change her own clothes.
As soon as she sat down at her vanity, there came a knock at her door.
Her other door.
“Enter,” she called.
Burke swung the door open, stepping through with a smile. “See how I improve?”
“Leaps and bounds,” she murmured, tugging loose a few of the pins holding her hair in a simple braided bun. At the very least she would update her style to something more fitting for the evening.
“We’ve been looking for you,” he said, coming around the end of the bed. “You need to get dressed or we’ll be late.”
“ThaswhatImdoin,” she replied, her teeth full of pins.
“Not for dinner. We’re taking you out on the town, love. It’s all been arranged.”
She turned, her hands dropping from her hair. She spit the pins into her hand. “We?”
“Well…everyone is going out. The Marchioness of Marlborough has invited us all to the opera tonight. With so many in attendance, we’ll need to use the duke’s box as well.” There was a glint in his eye that told her she ought to be wearing her pearls already…so she could clutch them.
“Burke…what are you hiding in that mind of yours?”
He inched closer, dropping to one knee next to her stool. His hand wrapped around her waist as he leaned in, resting his forehead at the curve of her neck. She took a deep breath, filling her senses with his scent, his warmth, his presence that stirred her to life, even as it calmed her.
He lifted his head with a hazy smile, pecking her lips with a quick kiss. “I have something for you.” He lifted his other hand and set a black velvet pouch on her knees.
She knew without any investigation it was a jewelry case. “Burke,” she whispered, her fingers ghosting over the clasp.
“To be fair, it’s not from me,” he admitted. “James asked me to see that you get it for tonight.”
She glanced up, meeting his stormy grey eyes. “Why—”
“Because unfortunately he cannot join us. He’s already beholden to a night of dinner and political talk at Lord Talbot’s. I weaseled my way out of it, thank god.” He tucked a curl behind her ear, getting to his feet. “He’ll join after, I’m sure. We’re all invited to take a late supper at Marlborough House.”
She looked back at the pouch on her lap. “And this is…”
“Consider it armor,” he replied with a grin. “The Theatre Royal is little more than a social gladiatorial ring that masquerades as a place where operas are performed. Your fan shall be your sword. Let that be your shield.” He gestured at the pouch. With a wink, he left, ringing her bell for her before he closed her door with a soft snap.
Taking a breath, she undid the clasp and flipped open the velvet pouch. She gasped, covering her hand with her mouth. Resting on the black velvet was a diamond choker that dripped with brilliance. The stones cascaded like water droplets, some as large as her thumbnail. A small paper sat folded beneath it. She slipped it out and read the note in James’s slanted scrawl.
I know you will never accept a tiara from me, or anything that comes with it. So this will have to do. And before you give me a thorough tongue lashing, know this is fake. The stones are polished glass. You can wear it tonight without any awkwardness or feelings of obligation.
Yours,
J.C.
She couldn’t breathe. First the duchess’s casual remark in the morning room. Now this. James Corbin wanted to marry her. He wanted to see her in a tiara, marked before all as his viscountess.
But he still believed she would never marry him. She’d said as much…more than once…to his face. In her heart, even a day ago, she believed it. But being with Burke and Tom changed everything. Seeing their love for each other, sensing their longing for James…it shifted her priorities. They were both doing everything to bend to meet her needs, giving her exactly what she wanted. If she loved them all, was she willing to do the same?
