Rose Gardner's Florist (The Providence Street Shops #2) - Bonnie Dee Page 0,33

how isolated she had been kept from London society. Merker had been intent on controlling Candace completely, but she had escaped her keeper. Still, she held on to her freedom by a tenuous and easily snapped thread.

The day’s work passed slowly while Rose’s mind carouseled in circles. She had arranged for Arietta to come that very evening to try on her dress, and felt unaccountably nervous that her sister would finally see the florist shop. Even more nerve-racking was the stallion riding front and center on her merry-go-round: Will Carmody.

Their encounter in the conservatory yesterday had left Rose both elated and shaken. She had certainly not intended any of it to happen, but the intimate atmosphere and Will’s magnetic presence had drawn her into his arms like a honeybee to pollen. She wanted him with a powerful longing she’d never felt before. The only thing akin to it had been her desire to open a shop.

It wasn’t as if she had no experience with lovemaking. She’d kissed lads in her neighborhood, and chaps she had two-stepped with at the dance hall. On a date at a movie house, one fellow had fervently mimicked the passion of the lovers on screen. But Rose had never been inspired to see any of these beaus a second time. She’d begun to believe that so-called “true love” was a myth—until she’d seen Hattie and Guy together.

And now there was Will to further illuminate this truth. Yesterday, she had felt a stirring of feelings she could not deny for a man whom she had once deemed awkward or snobbish. How wrong she had been. He contained so many facets—intellect, shyness, caring, trustworthiness, and gentle sweetness—that made him a diamond. He had always sparkled but she had been too blind to see it. Could she allow her heart to tumble willy-nilly into such powerful emotions?

She would only be hurt when reality put an end to the fairytale. The prince did not marry the pauper in real life.

When work was finished, Rose went to telephone Will as promised. Heart beating far too fast, she requested the exchange and the operator connected her. Reardon the butler answered, his stiff greeting making her even more nervous.

By the time Will came on the line, Rose felt like glass ready to shatter. Images and feelings from yesterday robbed her of reason, as she responded to his warm, “Hello! So good to hear from you!”

“Yes. Good hearing. To hear from you is good also,” Rose mumbled. “I—wanted to ask… That is, I, um—” What had she wanted to ask him? She couldn’t recall. Her heart pounded so hard she felt faint.

“How may I help you?” His resonate bass instantly prompted the recollection of him reading aloud to her. She wanted more of that sweetness, and the pulsing arousal his deep tone inspired.

She forced herself to breathe normally. “Do you recall I mentioned a friend in need of a solicitor? Her situation is quite grim.”

“Oh.” He paused. “Of course. I shall arrange a meeting with Jennings right away.”

“That would be of great help to her. Thank you.” She lowered her voice confidentially as if that would deter any person sharing the line from overhearing. “I also wanted to say how much I enjoyed our time together yesterday. It was rather wonderful, don’t you think?”

“Yes! Very wonderful,” he replied enthusiastically. “I had hoped I might see you again soon. Perhaps this evening I could take you to dinner.”

“I would like nothing better, but my sister is coming to see me. She is to be wed soon and I’ve bought a gown for her.”

“Congratulations to the bride. I pray she will find happiness in her marriage.”

“As do I. She is very young and her husband decades older. They scarcely know each other,” Rose confided. “He is stationed in India and will soon take her there with him. I fear I will not see her again in this lifetime.”

The tears which made her throat ache every time she considered that, now rolled down her cheeks. The chasm between herself and Arietta would now be one of miles as well as opposing personalities.

“That is difficult. I am sorry,” Will said softly. “But perhaps this man truly loves her despite the difference in age. Maybe he will cherish her.”

His kind tone prompted more tears before Rose regained composure with a sniffle. “I apologize for weeping at you over the telephone.”

“Please don’t. I am happy you feel comfortable entrusting me with your feelings. If there is anything I may