Page 36 of The Viscount's Code
He shifted, trying to find somewhere to rest his head, and that was when Hope sat up in bed, dimly visible by the light from the fire.
“This is ridiculous. You are never going to sleep like that,” she said.
“I can sleep in the carriage tomorrow. Why are you not sleeping?”
“I cannot sleep knowing how uncomfortable you are.”
“There is no point in both of us staying awake all night.”
They both paused for a moment, before she responded, her voice hesitant. “Why do you not sleep on the other side of the bed? There is plenty of room. You can stay on top of the blankets.”
“I couldn’t do that.”
“Why not?”
Because he would be too tempted to reach over and run a hand down the smooth skin of her arm, to lean in and see what she smelled like up close. He had been teased by her fresh, sweet scent before, and he longed for more of it.
“Because… you are an innocent young woman, and it wouldn’t be right.”
“Well, it isn’t right for us to be sleeping in the same room together – alone – according to the rules of society, so I’m not sure what the difference would be in you at least getting a good night’s sleep as well.”
Little did she know that being close to her was the very reason he wouldn’t sleep.
But even if sleep alluded him, the thought of having a bed to lie on instead of the floor or this equally uncomfortable chair was nearly as tempting as she was.
“Very well,” he said, easing himself out of the chair and walking over to the bed. She scooted over until she was nearly falling off the other side, and so he did his part and stayed close to the edge away from her.
“Thank you,” he said gruffly.
“Of course.”
He listened to her breathing, knowing she wasn’t sleeping either, but he was unsure how to ease this strain between them.
“Why is this so important to you?” he asked, surprising himself with the question.
“Sleeping?”
“No. The books. This journey.”
She turned over, and he could tell she was now facing him, although he didn’t quite trust himself to turn around and look her in the eye.
“I know how much this means to Cassandra, as well as to Gideon. I am happy to do what I can to help. And, to be honest… I have always felt that my life has lacked purpose, if that makes sense. All I do is sit around with my mother and sister, visiting other women and playing music for them. If I can help with this, then it would feel as though I am making a difference.”
“Your music makes people happy.”
“That’s very kind of you, and I do enjoy it as well. But this is the opportunity to do something else. Something different. Something… good.”
“And yet you didn’t trust me to help you?”
“It is not that I didn’t trust you,” she said slowly. “I know that you would never do anything to jeopardize this mission. It’s that I can help you make sure the books stay safe. I am concerned about what would happen if my father discovered that they were gone.”
“He shouldn’t.”
“Why do you sound so confident?”
He turned over and faced her, seeing the openness on her face in the dim light, realizing that he was seeing a rare side of her – one that was open with her concern, that didn’t hide behind the smile she wore almost like a mask.
“Because I made it appear as though the book is still there,” he said.
