Page 29 of A Wallflower's Convenient Duke
"Please," he offered, making a gesture with his hands.
But Blanche shook her head. "No, carry on. I have already explored the artefacts, and this is your collection. I will take a step back so you can see it all."
But that was not enough for Philip. For the first time in a very long time, Philip wanted to share his collection. "Let us continue to explore together. I am excited to share this with you."
She could not hide her happiness. "Thank you, I am excited to look through this with you also."
As the evening deepened, painting the room in amber light and quiet shadows, Philip and Blanche moved through the collection side by side. Their conversation was fluid, unhurried—filled with anecdotes, observations, and the occasional spark of shared laughter.
In that hour of shared fascination, the library became more than a room of relics—it became a bridge between two souls cautiously learning to trust. Every artefact they examined, every word exchanged, was a step away from uncertainty and a step toward something deeper.
And for the first time since their hurried wedding, the Duke and Duchess of Brooksdale found themselves not bound by duty, but drawn together by quiet, unmistakable affinity.
