The Heart of the Rose

20

Olivia and Rose spent the next two weeks planning a wedding. It was a very happy time until the Countess of Potts came to call. Rose was in the middle of her final fitting of her bridal gown when the Countess came storming in to the parlor. Olivia was surprised and a little unsettled with the intrusion.

"What do we owe the honor of a visit Lady Bowles?"

"I am hear wanting answer and to why Lady Hillary is not marrying my grandson as I was believed she was going to do? I was led to believed you approved of Rands suit of your hand?"

Rose was not sure what to say. Madam Shay was in the middle of her fitting and gossip about your marriage was not something a future Duchess wanted. She was grateful when Madam Shay excused herself from the situation and left the room. Once the room was just the three of them Rose sat next to Lady Bowles and took her hands into her own. She wanted her to know she was sincere.

"I am sorry you were misled. I had always placed my cap on Ethan. I told Rand that. I was only a means to pay off the debts that were left to him. But I made sure that they were paid and that you would not be placed out of your home."

"When was the last time you talked with Flynn and Rand?"

It was Olivia who answered and she was not kind with her words.

"Was it when they threw her out of the moving carriage."

They watched as the blood drained from Lady Bowles face. They could tell she was trying to digest what the Duchess had said.

"What do you mean they threw you out of a moving carriage. I can not imagine them being a part of such a terrible situation."

"During the confusion at the Sullivan's ball. Flynn and Rand abconded with me and they took me on a journey to get to Gretna Green where Flynn planned to marry me off to Rand even after I told them I did not want that. I tried to explain that Flynn did not have the authority to give consent for me to marry that decision laid with the King. I explained that if I were to be married in Gretna Green it would be annulled and so it was a pointless trip. That was when they explained Rand was knee deep in debt and needed my dowry to get the out of debt. I told them to uses Flynns money he has more than enough. That was when Flynn and Rand started to argue and suddenly Flynn turned to me and began to choke me then when he thought I was dead threw me out of the carriage."

The Countess stood up without a word and walked out. She looked like she had seen a ghost. Both Olivia and Rose felt sorry for her, but there was nothing they could do to help her or make her feel better. They were both in agreement she did not need to know the rest of the story that was something she had to hear from Rand and Flynn if even them. If this was a shock for her the two of them being a couple would kill the poor woman.

That night they attended the theater where Wayne and Jen were in attendance. Rose was not happy when Ethan and Evan left her with the Duchess to go and talk with them. It was not fair this concerned her. But Ethan would not hear of it. He did not want her to worry about this situation.

"What did the pair of you find out?"

"We sent a message through Lady Chamberlin and we received a message the contract on her life has been canceled. She assured us that it is authentic and has the seal of the killer on it that is always placed on the responses. Wayne even checked at Whites and it is the seal they have seen as well. We may not learn who the lord is yet but your bride is safe."

Ethan could not ask for more. Rosy was safe and all but the assassin was rounded up and paying for their crimes. Lady Chamberlin was now working for the crown with the code name of Godiva. Her business was now owned by the crown and all the profit would no longer go to her but to the crowns coffers.