His woman? Marry her?
A more somber expression fell over Carver’s face. As if he were just now realizing that Oliver wasn’t finding the situation as humorous as he was. “I didn’t steal your woman, Oliver. She was never yours to begin with. She was only using you to get your money.”
But that only made things worse. Oliver took another step toward Carver, his face looking hard and angry and a little dangerous. “Were you behind this, Kensworth? You’ve played a lot of pranks during your time but this was too far.”
“It wasn’t a prank—,” but before Carver could fully get the words out Oliver had advanced to Carver and thrown his fist into Carver’s eye. Rose stood up but then quickly sat back down when she realized that getting between two angry men was not something she particularly wanted to do.
Carver didn’t hesitate even a second. He grabbed Oliver by the cravat with one hand and punched him in the jaw with the other. Oliver fell back a step and swatted the blood from his split lip before lunging at Carver again and ramming him into the wall, pinning him against it with his fists. The two huge men stood there staring at each other and breathing hard before Oliver said, “I hate that you let me win just now.”
Carver shrugged as much as Oliver’s grip on his jacket would allow. “Felt like the right thing to do. Are we alright now or do you want to hit me again?”
Oliver sighed and let go of Carver’s jacket. “I want to know what the deuce is going on.”
Rose swallowed and stood from the settee. She glanced between the two men—one with a swelling eye and the other with a split bloody lip. Their cravats were falling off, shirts were halfway untucked, their hair looked ridiculous, and it was all her fault. It was all because of what she had done. The weight of it sunk over her.
“I’m terribly sorry, Oliver,” she advanced toward him feeling an odd current of emotion running through her. “It was nothing personal, I assure you. I tried to scam Carver, too,” she said, hoping that would take some of the sting out of it. “It is, or rather, was my job. But I have decided to give up that way of life from now on.”
Carver’s gaze fell on her. It was intense and searching and hopeful. “You have? Does that mean what I think it does?” Blast. Why did she have to say that?
The only thing that Rose had officially decided over the course of that day was that no matter what happened between her and Carver, she did not want to continue lying and stealing. After meeting Oliver and Elizabeth and the duke, she just couldn’t do it anymore.
Chapter 29
Carver walked past Oliver and grabbed Rose’s hand. “Rose, are you accepting my proposal?”
Her hands felt soft and warm and tender. Carver had been able to sense all day that Rose wished for distance and time to think. He had happily given it to her and felt content to wait for her answer forever. But now all contentment fled, and he was desperate for her answer.
Her brows creased and then she looked down to their hands. What did that mean? Was she going to reject him? How could that be? He knew from some deep place within him that they were meant to be together. He released one of her hands so he could lift her chin up. He needed to look into her eyes, to help her feel the connection he knew was there.
“Are you going to marry me?” he asked again.
Those brandy colored eyes burned into his. She didn’t say a word, just looked at him. Such depth—such meaning behind her gaze. She looked at him as if she were searching for an answer to something but couldn’t find it. “Carver,” she said, her words thick before she paused to swallow. She was killing him slowly. “If I become your wife, I’ll need to be able to help carry your burdens.”
His shoulders relaxed. She was only afraid that she couldn’t shoulder the weight he carried? It was understandable. Rose had lived her entire life caring for herself. She was likely weary and tired, and if he married her, he would make sure that she never had to feel the weight of them again. And absolutely never make her responsible for his. He would be the husband. He would bear the world for her from then on.
He took her face in his hands. Her wide searching eyes looked into his. “Rose, my love. You needn’t worry yourself about that. If you allow me to become your husband, you will never need to carry a single one of my burdens.” What else could he say to ease her mind? “Any weight I carry is my own. I will make sure that you are happy and well taken care of. It won’t be the other way around.” Never had his thoughts come out so clearly before. So why did her eyes drop away like that? And why did it feel like she was pulling away from him?
His doubt rang in his ears as he waited for her answer. Rose opened her mouth to speak but then movement toward the door caught both of their eyes. Oliver. He was attempting to discreetly shuffle toward the door. He had completely forgotten Oliver was still in the room.
Oliver froze when he real
ized they were both looking at him. He grinned tensely and gestured his thumb over his shoulder. “I was just leaving.” He looked like he was going to turn around and leave but then he paused a second and his eyebrows drew together looking thoughtful and serious. “Kenny, I…I concede.” And then he smirked. “But I’m not sorry I punched you.” Then he looked at Rose and smiled. “As for you, Daphney, or Kitty, or Rose or whoever you are…don’t worry about what happened between us. I’ll be over it soon.”
She smiled looking both emotional and relieved. “Thank you, Oliver.” Rose looked back at Carver, an unnerving sadness hiding behind her fake smile. “We can talk later. You two should clean up before we go into dinner.”
The entire room gasped when the three of them walked back into the drawing room. Carver and Oliver had both changed their shirts and smoothed over their appearances but were not able to hide their various wounds and swelling faces.
“I hope you didn’t hold dinner on our account,” Carver said to his mother as if nothing in the world had just happened.
The duke crossed his arms and leveled a look at Carver and Oliver. “I think I speak for all of us when I say, what the devil just happened?”
Rose wanted to sink into the couch. She wasn’t ready to tell them everything. Not yet. Maybe not ever. But definitely not yet.
But what other choice did she have? She opened her mouth to let the ugly and shameful truth fall out but Oliver spoke first. “It’s an embarrassing tale that I’d rather not discuss but Kenny and Miss Bellows played a rather—” he peeked at Rose from the corner of his eye, “realistic prank on me. I found out and gave Kensworth his just deserts for it.” Relief flooded her and her regard for Oliver only grew. He didn’t have to say that. He had no reason to be kind to her.
“I see,” said the duke only looking mildly pacified and still a little skeptical.
Lord Hatley laughed from the corner of the room. “I’m impressed you managed to land him a punch, Turner. I would have liked to see that.”