“The pawnshop?”
If Rose could judge by the duke’s tone, he and Kit held similar opinions regarding pawnshops. “We’re not pawning anything,” she assured him with a laugh. “Just visiting a friend there.”
“A friend?” Sounding slightly disturbed, he gripped her arm tighter. “I shall accompany you, then, at least as far as the door.”
“That’s not necessary,” Rose protested.
“I was planning to take a walk in the Great Park, anyway. A brisk morning stroll does wonders for a fellow’s constitution. I usually leave from the castle, but I can enter off Park Street, no harm done.”
There was no arguing with him, it seemed. They walked through the Lower Ward, Rose wishing some of the ladies were around to see her on the arm of the tall, handsome duke. Was she a fool to consider leaving court when it appeared she may be on the verge of snagging him?
Beyond the gateway, it was a short stroll down Castle Hill and a left onto the High Street. The pawnshop was right there, as Ellen had said. Three golden balls—the pawn trade’s age-old symbol—dangled from a bracket that projected from the building. As they approached, Rose couldn’t help but notice the business looked prosperous. A wooden sign overhead said WHITTINGHAM’S PAWN SHOP in fresh gold paint.
Then she lowered her gaze from the sign to find a gorgeous pair of earrings in the window. Set in delicate gold filigree dangles, rubies sparkled and pearls gleamed. “Oooh,” she breathed, fingering her few coins through the thin fabric of her drawstring purse.
Dozens of items crammed the window, but the earrings stood alone as dainty works of art. She fairly itched to own them.
“Aren’t these earrings beautiful?” She gazed at them on their bed of black velvet. “If there’s gaming at Hampton Court tonight, maybe I’ll be lucky enough to win them.”
“They match your gown superbly,” Gabriel observed. “I think this is your lucky day.”
“Pardon?”
He grinned. “I’ve never patronized a pawnshop before, but wait here, ladies, if you will.” He bowed and then entered the shop, a bell jingling as he pushed the door open.
Rose pressed back against the building to avoid a careening carriage. “Mum, do you expect he’s going to buy those earrings for me?”
Her mother shrugged and smiled. “It seems so.”
An unfamiliar hand went into the window, square with pale hair sprinkled on the back. Rose watched the earrings and the hand disappear. “I hope he won’t think I belong to him afterwards.”
“Does that mean you don’t want to?” Mum raised a brow but didn’t wait for an answer. “In any case, they’re only earrings. A trifling item for a man like the duke.”
Rose breathed a sigh of relief, for the truth was, she wanted the earrings. She could hardly wait to see them on her ears. She hoped someone had pawned a mirror.
A moment later, the duke stepped back outside and presented the jewelry to her with a flourish. “Enjoy, my lady.”
The rubies sparkled even more in the sunshine; the pearls shone like they held secrets; the gold was intricate, fashioned by a talented hand. Mum slipped into the shop as Rose fumbled with the first earring.
“Here, let me help.” Gabriel took it from her and stepped close to fasten it on her lobe.
He still smelled of too much perfume, but Rose didn’t care. “Thank you, your grace.”
“It’s nothing.” He reached for the other earring. “Beautiful ladies deserve beautiful things.”
She turned her head to allow him greater access. “I love them.”
“I’m glad. I want to see you happy, Lady Rose.”
She smiled. He truly was very nice, and generous and handsome and a duke, too. When he was finished, she tucked her long ringlet curls behind her ears, the better to display her new treasures.
“Stunning,” he pronounced. Then he leaned close and pressed his lips to hers.
She tried to act enthusiastic, because truly, a kiss was a small price to pay for such beautiful earrings. But she was glad that Ellen’s cloak over her arm gave her an excuse not to embrace him.
Thankfully, the kiss was chaste. Gabriel was too polite to attempt more in broad daylight on Windsor’s High Street. But short as it was, all Rose could think was that his kiss was nothing like Kit’s.
When Gabriel pulled away, he reached into one of the deep pockets in his breeches and pulled out a handful of coins. A small, secret smile curved his lips as he counted them, dropping each into a little leather pouch. “It’s just as I thought.”
Rose touched her new earrings, assuring herself they were still there. “What’s that?”
“The fool gave me too much change. A crown more than I was due.”
“It was good of you to notice. I’m sure he’ll appreciate its return.”
He blinked his nice blue eyes. “Return? Why on earth should I return it?”
“It’s dishonest not to. Besides, I imagine he needs it much more than you do.”
“A pawnbroker? I think not.” He tucked the pouch into his pocket. “The knaves prey on the most unfortunate, paying pence on the pound for their goods, then charging exorbitant fees for their return. Ten percent a month—and when the poor clodpolls cannot pay, the brokers sell their goods at an enormous profit.”
Rose reached up to toy with the ruby earrings. She didn’t like to think of them as belonging to a poor clodpoll. Surely they hadn’t. “So you’ll just keep the money?”
“His loss, my gain. A wise man is more careful when doing business.” The duke patted the leather pouch where it was hidden inside his pocket. “Now I must be off for my walk. I’ll need to get back to the castle in time to see all my luggage is safely transported.” He executed a small, formal bow. “Your servant, my lady. I hope to see you at Hampton Court late this afternoon.”
“Thank you for the earrings,” Rose called as he walked away. Then she went into the shop.
The bell on the door was still jingling
