Rowena couldnât sleep until dawn as she tossed and turned in her wide bed, but in the morning she was woken by Melissa.
âYou have an appointment today.â
âYou have an appointment with the publisher in the park. Itâs almost noon.â
Opening her eyes wide, Rowena suddenly jumped out of bed and tossed the covers. Wondering if she got ready and left now, will she be able to make the appointment in time? She rushed to wash up and change her clothes, but then a question popped into her head.
âHave I told you about the appointment?â
âI prepared menâs attire for you to change into while you were taking a bath. Iâll go call the carriage.â
Rowena nodded after she was handed the luggage, she heard the door close and the sound of footsteps moving away.
Suddenly Killianâs gaze from last night came to her mind.
âIâve lost my mind.â
Shaking her head, Rowena descended the stairs in a hurry, instead of changing her clothes, and caught Melissa as she was about to open the front door.
âOn second thought⌠HaâŚâŚâ
âI donât think I should goâŚâ
Rowena whispered while gasping for breath .
âThe Duke isnât in the best of moods, and I donât want him to get the wrong idea if he misunderstands the situation.â
The book was important, of course. But âKillianâ was more important than that.
Since the moment she met him, her priorities in life were always the same.
âActually, I took a sneak peek at your manuscript yesterday. There were other manuscripts in the bag beside the one you took to the publisher.â
âOh⌠thatâs right.â
Taking a deep breath, Melissa suddenly grabbed Rowenaâs hand, Rowena flinched from her sudden movement, Melissaâs eyes sparkled as she began to speak passionately.
âEven though I donât know anything about writing, I can tell you that you are very talented Miss.â
âI hope you donât miss the chance you finally got. Thereâs a chance that you might be able to sign a contract today, you know.â
Never had anyone spoken so passionately and positively about her writing, which made warmth spread deep in Rowenaâs chest. A warmth spread deep in Rowenaâs chest. Melissa continued while Rowena stayed silent.
âThis may be your first and last chance. If you return to Rockford, youâll have to stay there for another six months.â
First and last chance. Melissaâs words rang in Rowenaâs head. Simultaneously, the passion she had forgotten for a while kicked in.
Nodding, Rowena clenched her fist tightly.
She was going out dressed as a man anyway, so there was no chance that someone who knew her would recognize her even if she passed by.
âYouâre going with me, arenât you?â
âItâs an important matter, isnât it? itâs better if I donât tag along this time.â
âDonât worry. Just tell me where youâre going so that I can meet you there when you finish your meeting and we will return together. Then there wonât be any people around, and Mrs. Gertrude wonât have anything to complain aboutâ
Melissa smiled and replied reassuringly. Rowenaâs face brightened and gave her a light hug.
âThank you very much.â