The Deceptive Lady Darby (Lost Ladies of London 2)

The children took the news as expected. After many tears, Alice decided she didn’t want to be a lady. Jacob blamed himself and raced off into the garden. Christian found him sitting in the orangery, clutching Rose’s letter to his chest. He’d not asked the children to divulge the contents. And he would not read anyone’s private correspondence without their permission.

“The children asked me to remind you that you’re a Knight. You’re supposed to rescue ladies in distress.”

“What do you want me to do, Mrs Hibbet? Shall I write to the earl and ask if his sister will work for eighteen pounds per annum?”

“There is something you could do.” A blush touched the woman’s cheeks. “You could … you could ask Rose to marry you.”

Christian gripped the back of the desk chair. “Have I missed something? What makes you think

I’m of a mind to marry?”

Mrs Hibbet shuffled uncomfortably on the spot. “We all saw how you were with Rose.”

No doubt they’d seen a man with a permanent smile and a mischievous glint in his eye. “And you would see me lumbered with another wife I cannot trust. After what happened with Cassandra, I swore never to marry again.” And yet he had considered asking Rose to be his wife. Damn, he would not have taken her virginity without hoping for something more.

“I know Rose isn’t who she pretended to be, my lord, but that’s my fault.”

Rose must have impressed Mrs Hibbet for her to accept responsibility.

“You did not lie, Mrs Hibbet. You accepted Rose’s word in good faith. Imagine the devastation if we’d disliked her. Once again, I would have been obliged to marry a woman I don’t love. The children would have another mother who cares nothing for their welfare.”

The thought sent a chill down his spine.

“But I should have spoken to her.”

“I’m the only one to blame for this situation.” He’d behaved inappropriately and pressed his advances. “For an intelligent man, I acted like a fool.”

“A fool in love,” Mrs Hibbet blurted. She covered her mouth with her hand as her eyes grew wide. “Forgive me, my lord. I spoke out of turn. It’s just I’ve been the housekeeper here for all these years and …”

“Emotions are running high since Rose’s departure. But we must focus our efforts on solving the problems here.” Indeed, he would sit down and read Cassandra’s letters, see if Rose was right. “And I have decided not to hire a governess. I shall see to the children’s education for the time being.”

Mrs Hibbet nodded. “May I say one more thing, my lord, and then I shall not mention it again?”

Christian inclined his head. “Very well.”

“Well, it’s two things, really. The first is a confession, and then I must tell you something Rose said the night the earl came.”

“Go on.” The empty feeling in his stomach forced him to breathe deeply. Was this where he discovered he could not trust Mrs Hibbet either?

Mrs Hibbet rubbed the back of her neck. “I am to blame as much as Rose. I know you don’t like us going into the woods but the snowdrops were out, and my mother used to take us on a walk to see them every year.”

The woods held no fond memories for him. Then again, the night he’d kissed Rose there would be forever ingrained in his memory.

“What I’m trying to say is, I knew Rose wasn’t a maid come from London. I saw her once, walking near the boundary of Morton Manor. For a moment, I thought I’d seen an angel.” Mrs Hibbet’s eyes lit up. “And then, just when I thought our problems here could get no worse, she appeared like a glorious vision in the night. That’s when I knew the Lord had answered my prayers.”

He could not chastise his housekeeper for her lofty ideas. He’d thought the same, too.

“One cannot deny that Rose is a special person.” The sudden pang in his chest almost robbed him of breath. “But she had her own reasons for coming here. We should not make more of it than what it is.”

“That brings me to my second point.” The woman’s lips twitched as she struggled to suppress a smile. “Rose told me she loves you, and that she never meant to hurt you.”

Christian dug his fingernails into the leather chair. The words were bittersweet. A warm feeling filled his chest, coupled with the pain of regret. Did Rose have strong feelings for him? He would never know.

“It’s not too late, my lord. Happen Rose would forgive you anything.”

“Thank you, Mrs Hibbet. I shall give the matter consideration.” He needed a distraction, something to take his mind off all he’d lost. “I shall take the children for a walk this afternoon. In the meantime, you can find me here.”

“Yes, my lord.”