Page 35 of The Wise Daughter
But he held fast, picked her up, and moved her several paces away. What was going on? Was he intoxicated? She would never agree to marry a man who was forceful. She was considering a well-placed kick when a raucous crash like a sudden rainstorm rattled the ground where she had been standing seconds earlier. Several pieces of broken crystal hit the back of the duke. The three-tiered chandelier, along with endless bits of broken crystal lay scattered across the floor like glistening ice.
He loosened his hold and searched her face, his own now flooded with concern. She realized she was gripping the lapels of his jacket. When had she taken hold of them?
The chandelier, now partially wedged between the split wooden floorboards, stood tilted sideways like a fallen cake. How close had Nora come to being flattened or raked by broken shards? If he hadn’tfound her in time… A shiver raced up and down her spine, and suddenly, her legs shook as if she had just been running.
She closed her eyes and let him hold her, his warm, spicy citrus scent steadying her breathing.
He finally spoke, his voice low and gravelly. “Are you hurt, Nora?”
“Not at all.” His chest now seemed like the most sensible place to rest. She listened his heart pounding a continuous, urgent beat.
“Nora, why did you come here?”
Her reasons now felt silly. “I wanted to find you.”
“Me? Really?”
His arms tightened around her just a little, but the heady sensation of being so close was too much. She had stayed in his arms too long.
She smoothed out his lapels and gently stepped out of his embrace, wishing she had taken one last breath of his scent before creating the distance. “This room means a great deal to you, doesn’t it?”
He frowned at the broken chandelier and looked up at the gaping hole in the ceiling where it had hung. “Yes, it does.” His green eyes seemed to see something she didn’t, another secret he was guarding.
“Wouldn’t the thieves be interested in the room for that very reason?”
He stepped around the chandelier, his boots crunching over the broken bits. “I sincerely hope you are wrong, but I’ve been wondering the same thing. I only learned of the disarray of this room when I first showed it to you. Carver assures me the instruments and paintings are safe, but he also disclosed that my mother’s flute has been stolen.” He bent down, examining the broken floorboards and shook his head. “More repairs in a growing list. Another theft in a list too long to remember. And now, another accident.”
“Another?”
He met her eye.Yes, another.A flurry of chills ran down her spine. Had he meant to give that fact away? Nora did not miss his clenchedfist, the way he closed his eyes and swallowed, before looking away.So overwhelmed but trying to appear strong.
“This room brings to mind so many memories. So many secrets.”
Nora wandered to the pianoforte where the duke’s old sheet music still sat. “Like the fact that you know how to play the pianoforte?”
“How did you discover that?”
She smiled, thinking of the backwardsD. “I found your sheet music. Would you…” She couldn’t tell whether he would be in the mood to indulge her, but the feel of his embrace still lingering on her arms gave her confidence. “Would you play for me?”
She held her breath, just as she had when wishing on the bridge, silently whispering a plea in her thoughts.Please. Give me something to learn who you are.
His smile was regretful. “Perhaps another time.” Before she could be too disappointed, he added, “But there is another secret I would like to show you.”
Chapter 14
“Here we are.” The duke gestured into the dark space, expecting her to enter first.
Nora ran her fingers along the door’s lines. The molding was flawless. She never would have seen the hidden door behind the pianoforte had the duke not opened it for her.
“It’s very well hidden, Your Grace, but I would have eventually noticed your footprints.” She pointed to the light tracks of dust and dirt. “You should be more careful.”
“Me be careful? Aren’t you the one who was almost crushed by the chandelier?”
Despite his playful tone, a shudder rushed through her. “I’m glad you came. This passageway is why I didn’t see you enter, isn’t it?”
He shrugged. “You might not have noticed me because you were entirely lost in your song. I came when I heard you singing. You have an enchanting voice.” His cheeks grew red to match his hair. He suddenly looked uncomfortable. “Nora, I don’t like to leave this door open for long lest someone come and discover my secret. Would you like to see where it leads?”
Cobwebs loosely hung from the hidden door’s frame and swayed from the draft that pulled into the dim passageway. “Curse my curiosity,” she muttered, earning a small chuckle from the duke.
