Chapter 25

Why We Walk In Pairs

Rose could not stop smiling as she walked with Abigail in the park the next day.

I did not know I could feel so happy.

The sun was shining in a beautiful blue sky. A robin chirped from his nearby perch, and Rose breathed in the fresh air.

"You seem to be in a most wonderous mood, Your Grace." Abigail cast Rose a sidelong glance.

"I confess, I am almost overcome with emotion. I feel as though I could do anything. Were the heavens to open upon us and drench us or a carriage to drive past and splash us with mud, nothing could ruin this day." Rose threw her arms wide and twirled, too giddy to pay any mind to propriety.

Alexander and I are in love.

She wanted to sing, to announce her joy to all the world. She laughed and glanced at Abigail, who was smiling beside her.

"I am glad to see you so happy. I was frightfully afraid yesterday." Abigail wrung her hands. "I take it all is resolved?"

Rose nodded. "Indeed. All is resolved. All that remains is to enjoy the future and a life full of joy and laughter and love."

Nothing could ruin this day.

She wondered what Alexander was doing at that moment. Was he thinking of her? She pictured him standing in his study, a serious look on his face as he surveyed the gardens of Emberly.

"Your Grace!" a voice called, pulling Rose out of her pleasant daydream.

She turned and had to suppress a sigh as she saw Lord Verimoor striding towards her, his usual smile wide on his face. Manners stopped her from simply ignoring the man and continuing her walk.

He may be a boor, but I do not need to stoop down to his level.

Besides, even Lord Verimoor could not ruin her good mood.

She nodded her head to him. "Lord Verimoor." She kept her tone polite but uninviting. "I had not expected to see anyone else in the park so early in the day."

I had not wished for company.

"Well, it seems we are both early risers! I myself love walks at this time of day. There is no one around, and a man can be quite alone with his own thoughts." Lord Verimoor fell into step with her.

"Indeed. It is an excellent time to be alone with one's thoughts. It gives one a chance to collect oneself before the day begins." Rose paused, hoping that he would understand her meaning.

To her disappointment, the man seemed painfully oblivious. "Of course, of course. Although, I am rather partial to an early walk with friends. It is as if we are the only people awake in the world. There is something magical about it, do you not think?" He inched closer to her.

She moved aside, adjusting her course slightly as she did so.

You shall not touch me.

"I suppose. Though I would hate to keep you from the pleasure of your own company."

Lord Verimoor laughed. "What man would prefer his own company to that of a fine, beautiful young woman like yourself? Any man who would choose to walk alone rather than with you is a fool, indeed."

Rose was unsure of what to say, so decided to remain silent. She glanced at Abigail, who looked confused and a little taken aback by Lord Verimoor's forwardness.

"I am surprised your husband has not joined you on your little walk." Lord Verimoor had an odd look on his face.

"The Duke is busy this morning. But we plan to meet for lunch later." Rose only just kept herself from emphasizing Alexander's title.

He is your better in every way.

"He does seem to have rather a knack for leaving his beautiful wife unattended. And I confess, it does rather suit me." Lord Verimoor looked like a fox who had been let into the hen house.

Rose tried again to change her course and move further away from him, but the man seemed intent on dogging her steps. His movement made her step away just to avoid being within arms reach.

"I am not unattended. I am with my maid." Rose nodded towards Abigail, who had not quite managed to wedge herself between them.

The man is as slippery as a snake.

"Of course." Lord Verimoor smiled. "If you were my wife, I could not bear to have you out of my sight. No, wherever you would go, I should follow. I would want the world to know that you are mine and mine alone."

"Perhaps my husband does not feel the need to control my every move. Perhaps he simply trusts that I would respect the sanctity of our marriage. Even when others do not." Rose's words held a barbed edge to them that went straight over her unwanted companion's head.

Why will he not leave?

"Perhaps he is simply a fool and does not realize just how fortunate he is." Lord Verimoor moved to her other side, forcing her to move once more to avoid his attempt to be closer to her. "Regardless, another man's loss is my gain."

"Was there a particular reason for your interrupting my walk, Lord Verimoor?" Rose found that her patience had quite run out, and she did not care if she insulted him.

"Do I need a reason to enjoy your company?" Lord Verimoor smiled in a way she was sure he thought was charming.

To Rose, the smile seemed an utterly unattractive thing. Lacking in substance and slightly thin.

Perhaps if I stop speaking to him, he will leave.

"Besides, I felt I needed to explain my actions last night." Lord Verimoor adopted an earnest expression. "For I fear I caused you some upset."

Rose continued to say nothing. She had no wish to speak of his behavior the night before, nor to speak to him at all. Instead, she continued to walk, studiously avoiding him as he continued to somehow move closer and prevent Abigail from returning to her side.

"I should not have been as forward as I was. Not on such a public occasion." Lord Verimoor flipped his hair artfully, reminding Rose of a preening schoolboy. "You see, I was quite overcome when I saw you again. I could hardly contain myself. And my own desires… well, they made me forget just how proper and ladylike you are."

Rose frowned at him, hoping that he would stop speaking. Yet, her hope was a vain one.

"You see, I can understand how one such as yourself would be opposed to such forward proclamations in such a public space. It was foolish of me to be so candid at a ball." Lord Verimoor glanced over his shoulder and then leaned towards her. "Which is why I am so glad to have run into you this morning."

Rose's heart rate quickened.

He thinks that the cause of my distress is the location rather than his own behavior. Does the man feel no shame?

She opened her mouth to disabuse him rather firmly of his mistaken notion, but before she could, he cut her off.

"You see, I am in love with you." Lord Verimoor said the words as though he were bestowing the most marvellous gift upon her.

Rose gaped at him. "You are in love with me?"

"Indeed. I have been since the moment I first laid eyes on you. My heart knew I had to have you, and the strength of my desire has only grown over these last few months." Lord Verimoor grabbed her hand, taking advantage of her shock. "I know you feel the same. That you, too, must sense our connection."

Rose shook her head, attempting to free her hand from his grip. "Indeed, My Lord, you are mistaken. I do not love you. And I have no wish to be loved by you."

"Come now, you do not need to hide your feelings. There is no one here but your maid, and she will not tell a soul." Lord Verimoor shot Abigiail a threatening look. "Will you, girl?"

"She will not tell a soul because there is nothing to tell. And how dare you speak to her like that." Rose tried to free her hand from his grip once more.

When did it get so dark?

She glanced around as she tried to catch Abigail's eye. To her horror, she realized that at some point they had left the park and entered the forest. And Lord Verimoor was now using the trees to lose Abigail.

"Perhaps we should return to the park, Your Grace?" Abigail called, concern in her voice.

"I think that is an excellent idea." Rose managed to tug her arm from his grip and began to step away from him.

How do I leave this place?

"I am not finished." His eyes narrowed. "I love you, and you will be my wife."

"My Lord, whether you love me or not, it matters little." Anger and panic welled up within her.

How did I let him drag me to the forest?

"I am a married woman, although you seem to be unable to remember this fact."

Lord Verimoor laughed. It was a high, unpleasant sound, and it sent shivers down her spine. Rose glanced at Abigail, who was shaking her head and moving towards her.

We shall run as soon as she is closer.

"Do not worry, my dear. I remember that you have a husband. Or should I say, you had a husband." Lord Verimoor grinned.

Rose's heart stopped. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, just that I get what I want. And I would not let a little thing like some unhappy accident stand in the way of that." Lord Verimoor glanced at his pocket watch. "Yes, even as we speak, my little plan is being set in motion."

Rose froze in fear. "What have you done?"

"Me? I have done nothing." Lord Verimoor grabbed her and pulled her to him. "But my companion… well, he is another matter entirely."

Behind her, Rose heard Abigail let out a shriek. She jerked her head back and saw a burly man with greasy brown hair and an unkempt beard emerge from behind the trees, holding her maid back.

This was his plan all along.

"Alexander would not let himself be bested by some common thug." Rose felt tears form in her eyes.

Oh, Alexander. I cannot lose you now.

Lord Verimoor laughed. "Oh, I do like your spirit. Your precious Duke may be large, but he is a weak man. Besides, I suspect he will be caught quite unawares. What hope can a man have of saving himself from the knife he never sees coming?"

"You're despicable!" Rose yelled.

Lord Verimoor's man had a hand clamped over Abigail's mouth, preventing her from screaming as he dragged her towards them. Rose opened her mouth to scream for help, but Lord Verimoor shook his head.

"You shall both be coming with me, and in a few days, you will be my wife." Lord Verimoor fumbled in his pocket for something, and she smelled something sickly and sweet, like an overripe fruit.

"I shall never be your wife." She spat in his face.

He cried out, and she used that distraction to elbow him in the stomach. He groaned and doubled over. His grip slackened, and she broke free. She turned away from him, her eyes finding Abigail.

As she began to run, Lord Verimoor yelled, "Grab her, you fool."

His lackey released Abigail and lunged at Rose. She tried to dodge, but the mud made her movements slow and awkward. The man collided with her, knocking her to the ground.

"Run! Abigail! Run! Get help! Get Alexander!" Rose screamed.

Abigail hesitated, but only for a moment. Their eyes met, before she turned on her heels and ran. The man holding Rose glanced at the fleeing woman and then back at Lord Verimoor, who was pulling himself back up to his feet.

"Do not worry about the maid. By the time she finds anyone, we will be long gone." Lord Verimoor wiped the spit from his face, his eyes ablaze with fury. "Your Duke is dead. If not already, then soon. He will be of no help to you."

Rose opened her mouth to scream, but the man behind her placed something over her mouth and nose. A sweet, chemical smell filled her nostrils, and she felt dizzy.

Her legs gave out. The world began to swim as the edges of her vision started to turn black.

I am sorry, my love.

Then everything went dark.