A group of ladies stopped chattering to watch Roslyn walk by, then they all started whispering and gesticulating.
“It’s not a rumor,” Marta said. “She’s with child.”
“Oh no. I’ll go and speak to her.” But then the orchestra started playing, and Miss Rowland called for her.
“It’s time to begin, is it not?” the soprano asked. She was a handsome woman with an ample bosom that Somersby couldn’t stop staring at.
“It’s time.”
The crowd quieted and moved to the stage as Miss Rowland began to sing “From Rosy Bowers” by Purcell.“Teach me in soft, melodious songs to move, with tender passion, my heart’s darling joy.”
Dane caught Sandrine’s gaze from across the room where he stood next to Cleveland. There was a promise of tender passion in his eyes.
Roslyn still hadn’t returned from the gardens. As soon as the dancing began, Sandrine went to find her.
She was sitting on a secluded bench, smoking a cheroot.
“Mind if join you?” Sandrine asked.
“Go back to your guests.”
“I saw those ladies whispering about you. People can be so cruel.”
“I don’t care. Who needs them? I have plenty of friends.”
“I hope you consider me to be your friend?”
“A simple girl from the seaside? Hardly.”
“You don’t mean that. You’ve been nothing but kind to me.”
“That’s ridiculous. I’m not anything so ordinary as kind.”
“Marta says the rumor is true?”
“Don’t worry your sweet little head about me. My parents want to hide me away at an establishment where, as the brochure puts it,Ladies whose circumstances require a temporary retirement meet with every attention due to the delicacy of their situations. I say, damn their eyes and burn it to the ground!”
“Who is the father?”
“Kenwick.”
“And are you engaged?”
“Ha.” Roslyn stubbed out her cheroot against the marble bench. “He’s not the marrying kind. And neither am I. Are you shocked? You don’t want to be my friend anymore, do you?”
“Of course I do. I love you, Roslyn.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’ve only known me for a fortnight.”
“And yet I know you to be one of the bravest and most extraordinary people I’ve ever met. You’re so brave and so tough, but even you need love.”
“Save that speech for Lord Dane.”
“You pretend to be gruff and disagreeable, but I know better. You’re soft and vulnerable on theinside. That’s why you need friends like me and Francesca and Marta to defend you and love you, no matter what.”
“I don’t need love.”
“I understand.” Sandrine took her hand. “But even if you don’t need it, I’m giving it to you.”