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The children took the news as expected After many tears, Alice decided she didn’t want to be a lady Jacob blaarden Christian found hi 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 ht 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 ork for eighteen pounds per annum?”

“There is so 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 ? What makes you think

I’m of a mind to marry?”

Mrs Hibbet shuffled uncomfortably on the spot “We all sa you ith Rose”

No doubt they’d seen a lint in his eye “And you would see me lumbered with another wife I cannot trust After what happened with Cassandra, I swore never toRose to be his wife Da for so 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 Iain, I would have been obliged to marry a woman I don’t love The children would have anotherfor 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 ive me, my lord I spoke out of turn It’s just I’ve been the housekeeper here for all these years and …”