Rosalind was at a loss for words. She had been the one who had been initially weighing her marriage options so that there “wouldn’t be any trouble” with her family.
She even felt like Alexander’s situation was much better—at least he liked his would-be partner.
“I-I was going to, but you—”
“Yeah, I put a stop to it. And I still don’t feel bad about it,” he added, his amused voice sounding sincere.
The duke’s estate had sent word to Rosalind’s marriage candidates to put a stop to their attentions, and they had all withdrawn their proposals. Not only did Rosalind’s family have to return to the drawing board in their search, but every family they approached shied away from the match, putting the entire marriage hunt on hold.
Her parents and guardians spoke of marriage candidates less and less, and Rosalind had more and more free time to read.
It was starting to look like she would graduate without securing a fiancé, but Rosalind wasn’t particularly disappointed—she wouldn’t even care if she remained unmarried her entire life.
She wanted to say that it was all Alexander’s fault, but really, she felt like she should be thanking him.
Alexander had such a wide social circle of men and women alike, but in reality, these were all superficial relationships. Deep down, he was the type of person who would keep an eye out for his best friend, go to great lengths to protect the girl he liked, and stop a friend from marrying out of a compromise…
He only thinks of other people, Rosalind realized.
“Alec…has anyone ever called you a good person?”
“No. This would be a first.”
“Just as I thought. It’s not exactly a fitting description of a territory manager and businessman.”
“That’s fine. I’ll have a wife with a strong enough character for the both of us,” he said, suddenly grabbing Rosalind’s hand and kissing the back of it.
Alexander had escorted her places many times before, but this was the first time he had ever kissed her hand. Rosalind stood there in shocked silence.
“So marry me, Rosalie.”
“Wh… What?!”
“You’re really that surprised? I thought I had planned the lead-up so well, too…” Alexander said, metaphorically tossing her another bomb while she was still reeling in shock.
Wait a minute… This was all a lead-up to a proposal?!
Rosalind was desperately trying to remember what they had just talked about, but she wasn’t succeeding very well. Her mouth opened and closed, uttering soundless words and gurgles. Alexander looked perfectly content, smiling as he held her hand.
“The Coverdale estate doesn’t need any more territories, and the Knowles family is welcome to use our markets to sell their products.”
“Wha— Wait—”
“I will need some help with the household. But if it doesn’t interfere with that, you can read and study to your heart’s content.”
The way he spoke, Alexander sounded like he was simply asking her what she thought of his offer. But what he had just offered her was precisely what she had told him before, in their first practice in the music room—her ideal conditions in a marriage. Rosalind had boasted then that if these few conditions were met, she wouldn’t care about anything else.
“You…have quite a good memory.”
“I could never forget a single detail about the day I fell in love.”
Rosalind exhaled so hard she was rendered speechless, her narrow eyes perfect circles.
“It was quite intense,” Alexander continued, once again bringing her hand to his lips—this time, he kissed the back of her fingers. “I was immediately taken by your strength in how you wanted to pave your own way in life,” he muttered.
Rosalind’s cheeks flushed bright red at this.
“Plus, if you marry me, you won’t have to cut ties with Amy when she becomes a royal. It wouldn’t even be possible. Oh, and my mother’s cats will be there, so Portia will be happy too.”
“That’s a very effective pick-up line you have there.”
“Isn’t it?”
Alexander’s smile was full of confidence, and Rosalind found herself drawn in by it and smiled back at him. She looked out the window and saw Tigger begging for Amy to hold him and Amy bending down to pick him up.
The Earl and Countess of Northland joined them, and they all talked together as the four of them started to head back inside.
She caught a glimpse of Amy’s face—her bashful smile was positively radiant.
“Lady Rosalind Knowles,” said Alexander, applying light pressure to her hand.
Rosalind turned to face him again.
“I think I’d like an answer soon,” he said.
“…I’ll consider it.”
“That’s got to be a yes!”
“You really are a good person, Alec.”
Alexander looked slightly deflated at this. Rosalind grinned.
No one but Alexander would leave the decision to the other party when they were high-ranking enough to give irrefutable orders. Well…that, and the thought of being rejected was probably unthinkable to him.
“I have to talk to my parents.”
“Oh, I’ve already spoken with the Earl of Knowles. He told me I have his blessing, ‘As long as she says yes.’”
“What? What do you mean? When did you do that?”
“It’s only proper to get the parents’ permission first.”
“I can’t believe this! You went all the way to Knowles?”
“I couldn’t ask them to come all the way here. I was the one humbling myself, after all.”
Rosalind wasn’t listening. Something suddenly came to her mind… Was this the reason she had suddenly stopped getting letters from her parents trying to mediate between marriage partners?
The son of a duke, coming all the way out there from the royal capital… Rosalind put a hand against her forehead. She could only imagine the madhouse her home had turned into.
“I can’t believe this…”
“Knowles is a great place. Peaceful, delicious food…”
“My family’s cook makes the best kidney pie…”
“I asked him to serve some next month, too.”
Not missing a beat, Rosalind’s head snapped up.
“Alec, what do you mean ‘next month’?”
“You want to eat some too, don’t you? If we don’t go together, I’ll just go there on my own.”
“Now wait—wait just a minute!”
She had managed to modulate her voice before the full-blown shout came out of her mouth. Rosalind thought she had caught it quite well, even if she did say so herself. If she drew any outside attention to this room, she really wouldn’t know what to do with herself.
Alexander seemed to be thoroughly enjoying seeing Rosalind so worked up.
“Listen, if you won’t take the reins, I will. Your partner can be anyone, right? Then let it be me.”
Rosalind thought he drove quite a hard bargain, but despite his teasing demeanor, there was a seriousness behind his eyes. Rosalind didn’t know what to make of it.
She didn’t know what to do, but she had to tell him this, at least.
“I want to talk about this a little bit. But in the meantime, please let me have a say if we’re going off somewhere.”
“Understood. Where do you want to go?”
As Alexander began asking if she wanted to go out to eat or go shopping, Rosalind tucked her own hand in the crook of his elbow.
“First…we’re going to the first aid room. Getting out of this place is the first order of business.”
Rosalind smiled up at Alexander, his eyes wide and his face blank. Then he broke out into a wide smile.
“You beat me.”
“Oh? So this was all a game?”
“But that’s all right,” Alexander said boldly. “I’ll spend the rest of my life winning!”
“Oh, would you give it a rest?!” she whined, blushing.
Alexander talked a big talk, but when push came to shove, he would always surrender to Rosalind.
Rosalind left the VIP room arm-in-arm with Alexander, surprised at herself by how natural it all seemed.