Page 59 of The Viscount's Code
“I know,” she said, taking a seat on the end of the bed. “But perhaps it is best that we are found alone. Then my father would have no choice but to allow us to be together.”
Anthony raked a hand through his hair. “We’ll have to discuss this later, for I am due to meet with your father in a few minutes.”
“What are you discussing?” she asked, her eyes wide and bright, and he knew what she was hoping – that he was declaring his intentions for her. But doing so, especially now, would only drive them further apart.
“We are to look at the books,” he said. “Ashford wanted to see them again, to determine if anything else within might help us with this new riddle. I doubt it, but I shall humor him. Your father wanted to be present, due to his increasingly failing trust in me.”
“I see,” she said, and he opened up the small bag he had carried the books in.
“What in the…” he muttered, placing the empty bag back down before quickly crossing to the wardrobe. He opened it, rifling through its contents, but all he could see within was his own clothing.
“Anthony?” Hope said from behind him. “Is something wrong?”
“Yes,” was all he said, too intent on his current mission. He moved through the room as quickly as possible, opening every drawer, looking in every crevice, under the bed, behind all of the furniture. Nothing.
“Bloody hell,” he muttered, forgetting Hope was there, and when she placed her hand on his back, he jumped, startled.
“I’m sorry,” she said softly. “Perhaps if you tell me what is wrong, I can help?”
“The books,” he said, both hands now in his hair as he looked around the room. “They’re gone.”
“What do you mean, they’re gone?” she asked, her eyes widening.
Anthony had to take a breath. He didn’t have time to explain, but he also couldn’t brush her aside. “The books are always in my small bag. The same one I used when traveling to see Reeves. I put them in there when your father and I retrieved them before we left for the wedding and haven’t removed them since. They’re not there. Nor anywhere in the room.”
Her eyes widened, her mouth forming an O.
“Could your valet have done something with them?”
“If he had, they would be somewhere in this room,” Anthony said, beginning to pace back and forth.
“Did anyone else know they were here?”
“Yes, everyone knew. I’m to see Ashford and your father in minutes. I’ll have to tell them that they are gone.” His stomach churned at the thought.
“I’m sure it is nothing to be concerned about,” Hope said, her optimism grating on Anthony’s nerves. “We’ve already found the clue, have we not?”
“That is not the point,” he said from between gritted teeth. “I promised your father that I would keep them safe. If I’ve lost the book he so prizes, how would he ever believe that I could—”
“That you could what?”
“That I could keepyousafe?”
His words hung in the air between them, the only noise the inhale and exhale of her breath.
“You want to – be responsible for me, that is?” she said, and Anthony fought the urge to take her in his arms, inhale the fresh scent of her, take the strength he knew she would offer.
“It doesn’t matter,” he said, brushing by her instead. “I do not have that choice.”
And without another look behind him, he walked out the door, leaving her – and her question – behind.
* * *
Hope knewshe should return to her friends, that to accompany Anthony would likely only cause further discord. But she couldn’t stop herself from following him to see how this would all play out.
After Anthony brushed by her from the room, down the stairs toward the library, Hope waited but a few moments before taking the same path, trying not to rush so that Anthony wouldn’t see her.
She had just reached the bottom of the stairs when Faith came upon her.
