Lady Be Good by Annabelle Anders

Author:Annabelle Anders [Anders, Annabelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 15

NEVER ENOUGH

Rome stood behind a tree and watched Rose enter through the servants’ entrance. He’d initially expected her to accompany him to the front door, but she’d stopped him. She was required to enter through the back.

Watching her disappear inside, a heavy weight settled in his heart. She was to be a servant again. The distance between them seemed as vast as the sea.

A cold wind whipped through his greatcoat and yet he did not move. He did not want time to move forward. He wanted to go backward, even an hour.

Good God, he was besotted! Shaking his head, he finally made his way around the manor and ten minutes later entered through the grand double doors into the high-ceilinged foyer and up one flight of stairs.

“I wondered where you’d gone off to,” his sister said from the staircase where she descended from the upper floor. “You missed supper, and most of the guests are playing charades. Lady Asherton seemed to miss your presence as well.”

Lady Asherton! He’d not forgotten his promise to Danbury, although he wished he could.

“Where have you been today, anyhow?” she asked.

“About.” He owed no explanation for his whereabouts.

“Well, you look as though you’ve spent the afternoon in a pub.” She laughed. “Best clean up before rejoining the more civilized guests. Really, Rome. I think you forget yourself sometimes.”

“Natalie.” He glared in her direction. Occasionally, his sister forgot who he was.

She merely waved a hand in his direction as she turned toward one of Cortland’s larger drawing rooms. “Do hurry, though. You’re missing out on all the fun.”

He grunted in return but climbed the stairs to find his own chamber, nonetheless.

“Because he needs to know you. It will make him a better person.”

She believed he ought to bring Wesley home with him. “Be more insistent,” she’d told him, “more persuasive, even.” He trusted her opinion. Was it possible she was right?

“My Lord?” Pierce approached before Rome could even close the door behind him. “What on earth has happened to you?” Of course, his valet would recognize the different knot in his cravat, the wrinkles in his normally starched clothing. The man paid great attention to details.

“Help me change into something presentable.”

The valet shook his head but swiftly went about removing Rome’s jacket and shirt. Pierce held himself stiffly, almost as though he was angry with Rome. In the past, Rome would have shared his whereabouts with Pierce.

In the past, he would not have spent an afternoon making love to a maid.

A lovely woman.

“I do hope no one saw you looking like this. I’ve a reputation to uphold, after all.” Pierce swiped at the jacket in disgust.

When the man went to unfasten his breeches, Rome brushed his hands away. “There is no reason for you to do everything for me, for God’s sake, man. Order me a bath.” Perhaps his disinclination to be waited on hand and foot came from spending the afternoon with Rose. Perhaps he required more self-sufficiency. Had he become soft over the years?

Head down, the other gentleman rushed to the corner and tugged at the bell pull.

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