Page 42 of Her Runaway Duke
He led her across the foyer and into the dining room, where he had asked the staff to prepare a table worthy of her.
Her gasp when she entered was well worth their efforts.
“What is all of this?” she asked as he held out her chair next to his at the head of the table, pushing her in.
“You said you loved the roses,” he said, as they both admired the petals splayed out upon the table, the flowers cut and placed into vases.
“Yes, but you didn’t have to cut them for me,” she said, meeting his gaze. “I would have been just as happy to return to the garden to see them.”
“Which we can do as well,” he said, surprising himself by reaching out and plucking a flower off of the table before placing it in her hair, slipping one of the pins around it as it contrasted perfectly with her fair strands. “Beautiful,” he said, admiring her.
“Why are you doing all of this?” she asked, spreading her hands out in front of her. “It is absolutely lovely, and I do appreciate it, but I am happy to simply have dinner with you.”
He reached out, taking her hand in his again. He liked it there. It fit.
“You deserve so much, Siena. Ballrooms where you are announced at the top of the stairs and all eyes in the room turn upon you. Lavish estates. A beautiful London townhouse. To be the talk of thetonbecause of how stunning you are. I cannot give you all of that. But I can give you this. So let me.”
She dipped her head before shifting her chair ever closer to his.
“Here is the thing – I do not want all that. I am the talk of thetonnow and I have no desire for it. I could have had the estatesand the townhouse and the riches. But all I ever wanted was to find love.”
The word hung in the air between them, although both of them appeared too hesitant to remark upon it any further.
Just when Levi felt the need to say more, the doors to the dining room opened and in came Thornbury himself, obviously quite pleased with the entire setting.
“Your Grace. My lady. I am ever so pleased to present your first course.”
Levi had to hide his smile at the man’s theatrics. It appeared that the last year of no guests – at least, none who were invited – had starved the man of the opportunity to host.
“Thank you, Thornbury,” Siena said, providing him with the smile that Levi had come to thrive upon. “Please tell all who decorated this room that it is ever so lovely.”
“Of course. They will be most pleased at your praise,” he said before leaving.
“This is delicious,” Siena said upon trying the soup, surprised, and Levi smiled to himself. The Cook had outdone herself. He knew she had grown tired of cooking for him alone, but it seemed Siena’s arrival had revived her spirits – as it had for most of the staff.
He cleared his throat.
“Siena.” He was more serious now, uncertain of how to broach the subject. He was becoming used to her being here and had no wish for her to leave, but he knew that he couldn’t keep her here forever as though she was his prisoner in this tower that he never left. “The roads will be dry in but a day or two and as much as I would absolutely love to have you stay here with me, it is not exactly… proper.”
She paused for just a moment before she laughed a high, tinkling laugh. “Levi. After yesterday, what difference doespropriety make? No one knows that I am here. And even if they did, you and I are not exactly above scandal, now, are we?”
He had to chuckle ruefully. “I suppose we are not.”
She sobered slightly. “If you want me to leave, I understand. But if you want me to stay… then I am happy to stay for as long as we both wish it.”
Warmth began to bloom in his heart, that she was not running away, but also hadn’t put any pressure of permanence upon him.
For it was not that he didn’t want her forever – he just had a feeling that eventually the novelty would wear off and she would want to return to her old life. He was willing to endure the heartbreak that would bring with it.
As long as he could have her for now.
Siena could hardly believethat this man sitting in front of her was the same one she had encountered just a week ago. He was not exactly enigmatic, but a glimmer of a man who cared had come shining through.
“I must ask you something,” she said, her fingers playing over the stem of her glass. They had enjoyed five courses, and she couldn’t eat another bite, but nor did she want this evening with him to end.
“Ask me anything you’d like,” he said, splaying his hands out in front of her, and she appreciated that he would provide her such an opportunity.
“Anything?” she said, wondering if he truly meant it.
