Page 93 of Waking Roslyn

John

The celebratory ball would start in less than an hour. When Rose had made it clear to her parents that she required my protection in addition to her own parents’ men, her father had arranged for a uniform to be provided to me—one with the Duke of Weltshire’s own crest on it. He wanted to be sure that anyone who saw me close to Roslyn knew that I was there in an official capacity, a protective capacity.

So there I stood in the entry hall, my new uniform fitting better than the one we’d gotten from Sutton Manor. And with the duke’s crest on my chest—with Lady Roslyn’s crest on my chest—I felt more focused and determined than ever before.

When she appeared at the top of the stairs, I realized that I had had it in my head that she would stand there and smile, looking beautiful and regal, and then float down the steps. What truly happened was so much better. I heard her before she appeared. She was arguing with her mother.

“Of course I don’t want us to be late,” she said as she came into view, walking with a hurried step and then turning to her mother in exasperation. “But did we truly not have time for me to put on my other shoe?” She held up the dancing slipper in one hand.

Her mother looked chagrined. “I didn’t realize. Of course you can put your other shoe on. I was just anxious and—”

Rose put her empty hand on her mother’s arm. “I know. I’m nervous too.” She opened her mouth again, but it took her several moments to get her next words out. “I’m terrified.”

“Oh, Rose, I’m sorry,” her mother said, running a hand over her daughter’s hair. She did that a lot. It seemed she needed constant reassurance that Rose was here and real and well. “But I know all will be well.” She cut off abruptly, as though remembering something. “Do you remember all the dances? Have you had the chance while—”

“Yes,” Rose was quick to assure her. “I fell a bit out of practice while living with Uncle Richard, but being a guest at the palace in Winhaven gave me plenty of opportunities to practice.”

“Good. I’m certain everything will be fine. Lovely. Wonderful, even!” the duchess said with too much enthusiasm. “We could even pretend this is all for you. A birthday celebration.”

Rose shook her head. “It’s a fun idea and might have some merit, except these people are not those I would want to celebrate with. Let’s save any birthday wishes for tomorrow, shall we?”

“Yes, of course.” The duchess smoothed down the front of her dress. “I’m just nervous, about everything.”

“I know,” Rose said with so much love in her eyes. Even her frustration with her mother was drenched in joy and love. “Just let me put my shoe on, and we can both try to put on a brave face.”

Her mother nodded and squeezed the hand that her daughter offered.

Rose stepped down one stair and then sat abruptly on the top step, forcing her skirts out of the way so that she could see her foot well enough to put her shoe on. As she was pulling it over her heel, Everly rushed around from behind her and crouched on the stairs in front of Rose—Lady Roslyn. “Allow me, my lady,” she said before propping Roslyn’s foot on her knee and making quick work of tying the ribbons around Roslyn’s ankle.

“Thank you,” both she and her mother said to Everly, and then Roslyn grabbed hold of the stair railing and pulled herself to her feet, shaking her skirts out as if she were already annoyed with them. As she came down the stairs, she finally looked down and caught my eye. It made my heart swell to see her grin as soon as she saw me and then roll her eyes, bringing me in on the silliness of what had just transpired.

I fought hard not to grin back. One of the most difficult things about being her guard was that I had to play the part. I had to be stoic and aloof. I couldn’t go grinning at her, and I didn’t want to be caught staring at her like the love-struck fool that I was. So I smothered the smile, relieved and proud to see that this dressed-up, noble version of Roslyn was very much the same Rose I had gotten to know in the forest around Bridgefield.

I did my best to stay out of the way as the family got into the carriage, and then I climbed onto my horse.

Traveling the country roads to the royal palace only took about half an hour, and with the dim light and my unfamiliarity with these lands, it was easy to stay focused, constantly looking out for any possible threat or danger. Still, it was a relief to have the duke’s soldiers following behind the carriage as well. The responsibility wasn’t only on me now.

But when we entered the township surrounding the palace, it became more difficult to focus. I’d lived in Murrwood my whole life. I’d never been to a town as large as this one, and I certainly had never seen anything to compare with the majesty of the royal palace. It took all my concentration not to be distracted by the grand, elaborate gardens, the number of carriages rolling their way toward the palace, and the crush of people climbing the marble steps that led to a door so large that I wondered how the weight of it could possibly swing open and shut.

When Rose’s carriage came to a stop, I pulled myself together, dismounting and handing the reins to a waiting footman as I saw the other soldiers do. Then I waited close by for the family to emerge.

His grace stepped out, and instead of letting a footman assist his wife from the carriage, he turned and did it himself. Even more surprising, he turned to catch my eye and then tilted his head toward the open carriage door. He wanted me to help Rose—Roslyn—from the carriage.

I was proud of myself for simply nodding and stepping forward. I glanced inside and caught Rose’s eye. She smiled at me for just a moment, and then I watched her transform.

It was fascinating. At first I thought she was just straightening her spine and preparing for battle. But then she scooted forward and put her hand out. She placed her fingers delicately in mine, and when I looked back at her face, it was like I was looking at someone else. The grace with which she moved and the way she held her expression were decidedly un-Rose-like as she stepped out of the carriage and into the blazing light of the torches that lined the stairs. This—I realized as she released my hand and arranged her skirts while avoiding the appearance that she was fussing with them—was Lady Roslyn. Her smile was reserved and serene. Her eyes swept the area, pausing to bow her head when a passerby caught her eye.

She’d been away from her position in society, playing the role of Rose for the past four years, and yet her noble grace was effortless as she followed her parents. I followed four paces behind and did my best to remind myself of all the rules that Captain Sterling had tried to drill into me in the short time that we’d had to prepare for these circumstances.

She was Lady Roslyn, and I must ensure her safety at all costs.

21

Roslyn

The moment I stepped into the ballroom, I wished that my eyesight were not so keen. If the world around me had been fuzzy, I would not have noticed every look. I would not have seen the way people gawked or sneered or turned up their noses.

My mother slipped her hand around mine and squeezed. “Remember what we practiced.”