Betrothed to the earl

chapter 20

''What is this?'' Rita asked in confusion when Rose walked up to her in her attire and baggage's ready for travel. Nicholas left a few hours before her leaving her in time for packing, she was already running out of time and the children was in school.

Now she had to do her hardest task, ''It is a letter. For Nicholas, give him this when he comes back alright?'' 

Rita's eyes widen realizing that Rose meant to leave, ''Oh no my lady I have promised the earl to not let you go from my sight''

Rose cursed that bastard who did not have to care for her well being this much, ''I have gathered that much but I can't be here, and he will find out one day'' she told slowly not wanting to cry again, she can't count how much she cried when she was always a though skinned person.

Rita sighed while looking at the letter like she was committing a sin, ''My dear I hope what you do is worth it but let me tell you the earl will not be happy, he—I have known him since infant and I have never witnessed him this carefree and blissful with anyone else, if another lady is---'' Rose cut off the words from Rita not wanting to hear it further when she was already filled with guilt, ''Thank you Rita, I believe you will give him this letter'' was all Rose could say before handing her the letter with shaken hands and storming out with tears in her eyes.

She wiped her tears every three second trying to see the road. As further away she came from the house as more built the guilt up, it was eating her up. She haven't been honest and crossed what he hated the most, betrayal and secrets. And another frightening thought came to her, she cant count how many times they slept together and the fact that she might be carrying a child has not crossed her mind.

but how stupid could she be to loose her heart in it all? She got fooled by her own plan.

And running away is her only solution.

Celeste was indeed right when Rose crossed roads after roads before finally seeing a carriage at the deep end, as she came near she poked the poor sleeping man, ''Oh you took your time''

Rose smiled seeing Mr. Bertram a man like the uncle she never had, ''I'm sorry''

She entered the carriage as it took off, ''You have been the latest talk of town for months although it died down'' Bertram started

Rose was not interested one bit her mind already drifting to another talk... like the talk Rita would say to Nicholas, but she needed to forget it so she answered, ''What talk?''

''How you snagged of an earl and rumors spread fast people even bet on that he would make you obey , but I did not, I know you ladies all too well,''

All too well, Rose wanted to tell him how he in fact did not know her from today, ''You ladies even entered that bloody what was it called again?''

''Feminist protest''

''Yeah exactly! If any man witnessed that he would not want to marry you so the rumors died quickly when I told them you would never''

Rose smiled lightly at him, ''Thanks''

Bertram could not see her but his words made her startled, ''I know you way to well, spit it out something is on your mind''

Rather someone,

Rose wondered how he could read her, ''And don't ask me how I know when your eyes are puffy and swollen, have you cried? Did they hurt you there? Where you---'' she cut him off wondering how In the world could he think that, but after all she did portray men as the worst of them all, ''No it was not like that at all, I just missed home''

Her lie could be seen through miles but Bertram thought it indeed was best to not push her further.

His silence was not helping, it only made Rose think back of everything, every little blissful moment she had, ''Tell me something'' she quickly blurted

''tell you what?''

''Anything, just anything''

Bertram took a deep breath, ''Lady Mabel is in trouble''

If Rose was not feeling so out of place she would've heard him, ''What?''

''Lady Mabel is in trouble..'' he said again making her bolt up from the carriage and sit up straight, it was not impossible to hear because Mabel always tended to be distant when she was close after all she joined their friendship rather late, ''She will hang me but I believe it is good to let you know,''

Rose nodded feeling like it is high time to knock some sense into her like what happened to reaching out? What happened to always help each other even though it seemed impossible?.

Mr. Bertram did not tell her the whole story because he himself did not know but he only knew she was troubled, ''Thank you for telling me'' she mumbled.

''And you would tell me if anything is bothering you right?'' He asked

Rose nodded slowly, ''I would''

She haven't realized the deeper meaning behind his words, Rose realized in that moment how secrets Is dangerous of them all, they are like a disease spreading far beyond the intention.

And at that moment Rose hated herself more than ever.