Page 28 of Her Duke at Midnight
“Who, I suspect, hasn’t given a thought to remarrying anytime soon.” Adam gripped the back of his neck. This was the one matter he felt certain of. “Bissenden was cruel to her. I don’t even know the extent of it, but Cecily has only spoken to me of making her own choices. She seems to relish her newfound freedom.”
“Marriage need not be a prison, Everton. Surely, you’re a man who could allow your wife a certain measure of autonomy, since you’re so fond of it yourself.”
Adam scrubbed a hand across his jaw. How had his life come to this in the blink of an eye?
“It’s only been two days,” he said again, freshly stunned by the realization that one’s life, one’s whole outlook, could change so quickly.
He hadn’t divulged much of the details to Bennett. Not the kissing, nor the moment Cecily had melted against him during her release, nor that they’d discovered a mutual love of astronomy. He didn’t even mention how charmed he’d been by her concern for the pregnant cat in the Derwent’s conservatory. If she planned to smuggle the feline into her rooms, he’d damned well help. The details of the short time he’d spent with her were precious to him, and though he knew Bennett would not judge her, he didn’t have any desire to risk Cecily’s reputation either.
“You should speak to her,” Bennett said, standing and checking his pocket watch against the time on the mantel clock. “And you should probably ask her to dance.”
“Do you think we could slip away during the ball without anyone noticing?”
“I believe so. The Derwents have set up a games room for both the ladies and the gentlemen. Not everyone will be dancing throughout the evening.”
“But you will, presumably.”
Bennett loved nothing so much as a lively ballroom filled with eligible young ladies.
“Lady Lara has already agreed to a dance.” He winked and then chuckled with a contagious kind of glee. “But I’m hoping for two.”
Adam smiled and felt a bit lighter, though he had no idea how things would go with Cecily.
“Right, well, I’m off to find my partner for the first dance. You’ll speak to Lady Bissenden posthaste?”
“Speak to me about what?”
Adam’s gut clenched at the sound of Cecily’s voice, but that warmth he’d felt kindling inside him sparked to life again when he turned to see her standing on the library threshold.
He could get used to that feeling, and he quite liked the prospect of a lifetime of turning his head and finding Cecily there.
Adam hadn’t even noticed that Bennett had crossed the room until the man came into view next to Cecily.
“I’ll just leave you two alone.” He smiled sweetly at Cecily and then shot Adam a sterner glance. “To talk.”
CHAPTER8
“He sounded rather serious.”Cecily smiled, not only to lighten the moment, but because seeing Adam again made her pulse jump.
She’d never seen a man look so good in white tie—something about the way the inky darkness of his hair contrasted with the snowy fabric of his waistcoat and tie.
But it was the look in his eyes that made her breath catch. She wasn’t sure anyone had ever looked as happy to see her. He wasn’t smiling, but somehow, his eyes were. Then he lifted a hand, beckoning her closer.
“First, I want to show you something.”
Cecily took his hand and relished the heat of his skin against hers. He wrapped her arm around his as if they were preparing for a stroll through Hyde Park. Then he led her to the far side of the room, and they stood side by side in front of the Derwents’ enormous bookshelves.
“They do have quite a collection,” Cecily said, uncertain why he’d led her over to stare at their books.
“Do you see where those shelves come together?” He pointed to the two directly in front of them. “And do you see the notch?”
Cecily didn’t at first, but then she tipped her head and did. The side of one bookshelf contained a notch and a receded area, though it was so narrow and subtle that one might easily miss it.
When she nodded, Adam stepped forward and slipped his fingers into the notch. Then he pulled, and a slat of wood flipped forward to reveal a metal lever.
“What does it do?”
“Pull it and see.”
