“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?”
Chrystabel shrugged and smiled. “It seems so.”
A masculine 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?” Chrystabel 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. Chrystabel 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 women 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 short. Gabriel was too polite to attempt a seduction 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 the devil 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 finger 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 as she headed toward a pockmarked blond man who was polishing a glass counter. Though he was younger than she had pictured Ellen’s Thomas, he looked very industrious indeed. And certainly not like a knave who preyed on the unfortunate.
“Lady Rose!” Ellen came running over. “Thomas and I were just having the most lovely conversation with your mother. And the duke bought you earrings, did he?” Her eyes danced. “Mercy me, imagine that.”
“Kit loaned me this last night,” Rose said, handing over Ellen’s cloak.
Ellen looked at her sharply. “When?”
“Later, when it grew cold.” Rose dug in her drawstring purse and pulled out a silver crown. “Mr. Whittingham gave Bridgewater too much change. He asked me to return it.”
Ellen set the cloak aside, effectively distracted from wondering how she’d come by it. “That wasn’t Thomas’s doing, but the new apprentice he’s training.” Her disapproving gaze went to the young man behind the counter. “Thomas will have a word with him for certain.”
Rose felt sorry for the boy. “I’m sure it was an honest mistake.”
“Fear not, Thomas doesn’t beat the lad. But he must learn to be more careful.” Ellen took the coin gratefully. “Please thank his grace for returning this, next time you should see him. Thomas needs every penny, because he dreams of moving the shop to London—to the Strand, no less!” She laughed as she walked over to add the crown to the till.
Noticing a fine gilt-framed mirror perched on the wall, Rose went over to admire her new earrings. She turned her head this way and that, watching the rubies catch the light. “Where is your Thomas?”
“In the back, talking to your mother. Come, I cannot wait for you to meet him.”
“Just a minute.” She sidled closer to Ellen and pulled the paper out of her purse. “Here,” she whispered, passing it to her.
“The sonnets?”
“One of them. It took me half
