Chapter 19

Hope Unfurls

"Rose, are you listening to a word I am saying?" Lady Cotswalts's voice jolted Rose out of her daydream.

Rose felt color rise to her cheeks. She had not been listening. She had, in fact, been thinking about the way Alexander had smiled at her that morning when she had woken up to find him watching her.

"Some people may find it slightly disconcerting to wake up to find a man staring at them." Rose had yawned sleepily and gently prodded Alexander's chest. "How long have you been peeping at me?"

"To say I was peeping at you would imply a level of discretion and secrecy that is clearly absent." Alexander smiled in a way that lit up his entire face. "I was simply observing you. And I have not been doing so for long."

"You would think that perhaps after nine nights together, you would grow used to the sight of me sleeping." Rose smiled at him, feeling her heart flutter in her chest.

Ten days since we kissed.

Alexander laughed, pulling her into his embrace. "I do not think I shall ever grow used to your beauty."

Rose mumbled something unintelligible as she nestled into his arms. She breathed in his familiar smell. The first frost of winter. "How long have you been awake?"

"At my best guess? I would say half an hour." Alexander's voice rumbled in his chest, the vibrations reminding Rose of their proximity. "I should return to my room. Your family are due to arrive this morning, are they not? I must be dressed when they arrive."

Rose grumbled, nodding but not releasing him from her embrace. "Are you sure you do not mind having them stay?"

"Of course not. There is plenty of room in the castle. And my own family are most anxious to meet them." Alexander gently extricated himself from her embrace and then climbed out of bed.

"But what if our mothers do not like each other? I love Mother, but she can be… Well, she can be quite a lot." Rose felt a flutter of panic in her chest.

"They have already met." Alexander was moving towards the door.

"Have they?"

"The night of the ball. They spoke, did they not?" Alexander raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, yes, but that was such a short meeting. This will be nearly a fortnight!" Rose swallowed nervously.

"I am sure they will get along perfectly. And if they do not… well, there is plenty of space for people to avoid each other, should the need arise." Alexander smiled once more at her and then ducked out of the room with a wink.

"Rose?" Once more, Lady Cotswalts's voice pulled her out of her thoughts. "You seem rather distracted this morning."

There was an odd note in the Viscountess's voice that Rose couldn't quite place. She felt color rise to her cheeks and shook her head, trying to clear it.

Rose forced herself to look at her mother. "My apologies, Mother, I am quite distracted this morning. Pray, could you repeat what you said once more?"

"I was simply saying that married life seems to suit you well. You seem happy." The Viscountess surveyed their surroundings. "And the castle looks simply wonderful."

"Thank you, Mother. I am happy." Rose smiled, feeling the happiness well up within her.

Happier than I would have thought possible.

"I am glad. You deserve happiness." The Viscountess took Rose's hands in her own. "Truly, sometimes the most unexpected things are blessings in disguise."

Rose nodded. "Indeed, they are."

"Such a place would be a most excellent venue for a ball, do you not think?" The Viscountess was looking around, and Rose could see the calculations she was making.

"Perhaps in the future." Rose bit her lip, wondering if Alexander would agree to such a thing. "There is still much work to be done in the gardens."

Lady Cotswalts nodded. "Yes, I suppose there is. What plans do you have for them?"

Rose was about to answer her mother when she spotted the Dowager Duchess and Alexander making their way towards them, and she raised a hand in greeting. Her heart fluttered. Though whether it was in excitement or worry, she could not say for certain.

"Good morning!" Alexander called, his deep voice booming as he swept into a low bow. "Lady Cotswalts, Rose."

Rose smiled at Alexander as she curtsied. She resisted the urge to take his hand in hers.

"Your Graces." Lady Cotswalts curtsied to Alexander and his mother.

"Lady Cotswalts." The Dowager Duchess smiled.

"I was just telling Rose how wonderful the castle looks." The Viscountess gestured around them.

"Yes, it is all thanks to your daughter." The Dowager Duchess beamed at Rose. "She has quite an eye for decor."

Rose felt her cheeks redden at the praise. "You are too kind."

"My mother is right." Alexander gestured to the grounds. "You have brought new life to the castle."

Rose's blush deepened further, and she looked away from him. "There is still much to be done. The gardens…"

"Yet, when it is complete, Emberly Castle shall be the talk of the ton." Lady Cotswalts beamed at her. "I am sure of it. Indeed, I was just saying that it would be the most spectacular location for a ball. Do you not think?"

Rose's heart twisted as her mother said the words. She glanced at Alexander, who was still smiling, though she noticed a tension in his shoulders that had not been there before.

"We have not had a ball at Emberly for many years." The Dowager Duchess's voice was soft. "Though, perhaps a ball would do us all some good."

"I would not want to open the castle until it's ready." Rose met Alexander's gaze.

I will speak to you before I agree to anything.

She was surprised that the Dowager Duchess seemed so open to the idea of Emberly Castle hosting such an event.

"Oh, of course not. You want your first ball to be remembered for the right reasons." The Viscountess glanced sideways at Rose.

She heard the unspoken words. Presentation is everything.

Rose swallowed, but before she could say anything, the Dowager Duchess said, "Interestingly, we have just received an invitation from the Marquess of Gladstone. It seems he is having a small get-together next week and has invited us all."

Rose glanced at Alexander, whose face was blank. He stood straight and stiff. Her mother appeared not to notice the change in his posture.

"Oh, goodness. It has been many years since I saw the Marquess and his wife." The Viscountess pursed her lips thoughtfully. "Will you attend?"

The Dowager Duchess glanced at Alexander before nodding. "It is Olivia's first Season, and I would like us to make the most of it."

Lady Cotswalts nodded. "Yes, of course. It is such an important time in a young lady's life."

"Indeed. It is a shame your other daughters will not be able to attend." The Dowager Duchess tutted. "For they are not yet out, unless I am mistaken?"

The Viscountess shook her head. "No, indeed not. Next year, Jane shall be out, and once Emily is of age, she shall debut."

"A prudent approach. I am most grateful that my Olivia and her sisters are so far apart in age. I can only imagine how much more complex it would be to manage girls so close in age." The Dowager Duchess linked her arm with Lady Cotswalts's.

Rose was so taken aback that, for a moment, she stopped trying to catch Alexander's eyes. She felt her heart flutter in her chest as the two women began to walk arm in arm, laughing as they talked about small things.

It is as if they are old friends.

Alexander was also staring after the women. "It seems you had little to fear. Our mothers seem quite fond of each other."

Rose nodded and looped her arm through his. "Indeed."

They walked a little behind their mothers. Birds chirped overhead, and Rose glanced up at Alexander. She could see the tension in his jaw.

"I would not arrange a ball at the castle without discussing it with you first." She squeezed his arm reassuringly.

"I know." Alexander rolled his shoulders. "But I am glad to hear you say it."

"I do think that when the castle is ready, a ball could be a splendid way to celebrate." Rose felt him tense up.

"I am not sure it would be a prudent idea." His expression darkened. "There are so many rumors surrounding my family. Half the invitees would attend out of sheer curiosity and the other to see what kind of gossip they could spread."

Rose pursed her lips. "The rumors will not vanish on their own."

"I do not expect them to." Alexander frowned. "What do I care what they say about me? It matters little."

"Yet, it is not just you whom such things affect." Rose did her best to keep her voice gentle. "It affects your family, too."

Alexander sighed. "As more people see my family, they shall be given the chance to shine."

"It will be easier for them to do so if you give people a reason to doubt the rumors." Rose shook her head. "Some of the things people say about you are most ridiculous. But if you refuse to rejoin Society, then even the most ludicrous of stories will catch the imagination of the ton."

Alexander frowned. "Then what am I to do? You saw the way they looked at me the night we met—you heard the whispers."

"I did. And I saw how their curiosity was sated at our wedding."

"There was plenty of whispering and gossiping there."

"Perhaps we should start small, then." Rose pursed her lips thoughtfully. "Throwing a ball at Emberly Castle at this point would be too much spectacle. Our wedding was a spectacle, and while that was appropriate, what we need now is… something more ordinary."

"Ordinary?" Alexander sounded doubtful. "What exactly are you proposing?"

"That we attend the Marquess's ball. Together."

"I do not think it is a good idea."

"Please, Alexander." Rose met his gaze, determination welling up in her chest.

I will not let these people continue to see you as a monster. Not when I know the truth now.

"Let us try it. It is just one ball. Let me use everything my mother has taught me and show the ton that the rumors about you are nothing more than childish fancy."

Alexander bit his lip. "And if you cannot do this?"

"If I am unsuccessful, I shall never ask you to go to another ball again," Rose relented. "But I do not think it will come to that. It is about presentation. The ton thinks you are some monster, driven by demonic fury. So, we must show them a man."

Alexander sighed. "I do not think this will work. But if it is important to you, we shall go to the ball."

"Wonderful." Rose beamed at him. "It will be excellent, just you wait."

Alexander looked doubtful. "I hope you are right. Let us speak of something else. Tell me about your plans for the gardens."

Rose began to tell him about her plans for the grounds and how she had found a few living trees in the orangery. "And I think with some careful planning and attention, we should be able to save them. As they are not young, if we are very lucky, we shall see them bloom within a year."

"You truly are a marvel." Alexander smiled at her, and an odd look crossed his face. "I cannot believe I am so fortunate."

Rose blushed but said nothing. She was going to show the world that she was the fortunate one. She would not let the ton believe the stories about Alexander. One way or another, she was going to free Alexander and herself.

There will be no "Beast" of Emberly Castle.