Page 34 of The Viscount's Code
“Lady Hope.”
She waved her fork at him. “At this point, you might as well just call me Hope, as it seems we will be spending a great deal of time together.”
“Are you certain?”
She shrugged. “In private, anyway.”
“Very well,” he said, pausing, knowing what she expected but finding the familiarity uncomfortable, likely because he hadn’t offered it to many. “Anthony… is fine for me.”
“Oh, good,” she said with a smile. When she took another bite, he figured that he must be safe to try some as well.
He hesitantly placed some of the food into his mouth and chewed slowly.
“This is oddly… not horrible.”
She smiled widely. “Are you not glad I allowed you to discover that for yourself? Fortunate surprises can be such fun.”
“I am not one for surprises.”
“Not even good ones?” she asked.
“Not even those.” He shook his head.
“Well, perhaps I can teach you to change your mind.”
“I doubt it.”
“We shall see.”
They shared a small smile before returning to their food, and even though silence stretched between them, it was not uncomfortable. Not at all. In fact, for once, it felt rather… right. Again. And that bothered him more than he would like to admit.
For he already knew that he could not have this woman. Even if her father had not warned him off, he would never allow it himself. It was far too likely to end in disappointment, and he’d had enough disappointment for one lifetime.
CHAPTER13
Hope had actually grown quite comfortable around Anthony – until their shoulders had brushed and an odd tension had electrified the air.
It startled her, and she’d have felt foolish about it, except that she could see it had affected him as well. Luckily, the strange air between them had loosened somewhat once they had sat down to dinner, especially with his teasing banter, but now that they had finished, she couldn’t help but continue to look over at the bed, which took up the majority of the room, as well as her thoughts.
Anthony followed her gaze, lids heavy over his grey eyes, although Hope couldn’t quite read the expression within them.
“Do not be concerned about sleeping arrangements,” he said. “I will leave the room while you prepare for bed and I will sleep on the floor.”
“The floor?” she said, startled. “You cannot sleep on the floor.”
“Well, I certainly cannot sleep on the bed with you.”
“Why do you not tell the innkeepers that I have a maid sleeping with me and ask for another bed to be brought in?” she asked as brightly as she could in order to hide her nerves.
“They saw us come in without a maid,” he said, running a hand through his hair, and for the first time since she had stowed away in his carriage, Hope felt a tinge of regret at what she had done. She had obviously added a great deal of trouble to what was already a rather trying situation for him. “However,” he mused, looking to the side, “I suppose a large number of husbands and wives sleep separately. I shall go speak with the innkeeper.”
“Thank you,” she said, relief rushing through her. She knew he could never sleep in the bed with her, but she didn’t like the thought of him sleeping on the hard floor either.
“I’ll take the tray,” he murmured, gathering everything up, and she helped him as best she could. As she held the door for him to depart, she watched his back retreat down the stairs and considered that not many men in his position would be open to carrying trays, serving meals, and seeing to such menial tasks. But she supposed that was her fault, for he would not be hiding in the room if it wasn’t for her.
Hope sank down onto the bed, her hands coming to her temples. Goodness, what had she done? This was likely the most reckless action she had ever taken in her life. She had thought it had been for a good cause. She had wanted to trust him, but hadn’t been able to stop wondering what would happen if he left and they never saw the books again. Her father would not only be devastated, but he would blame her and Faith, for they had vouched for the viscount. If it wasn’t for her, neither the viscount nor his mother would even have come to Newfield. So she had thought she would come along with him — only now she was feeling like quite the little idiot. If anyone ever found out about this, it would change her entire life – as well as Anthony’s.
Anthony. She could tell that it had been difficult for him to be so familiar with her, and she wondered if it was because he didn’t want to give her the wrong impression, or if it was because he had never been so close to anyone before.
