Page 19 of The Ambiguous Enigma of the Hunted Lady
“Perhaps when I can walk on my own.” She smiled gingerly.
“Of course, how foolish of me.” The Duke shook his head again, biting at his lip. Clearly, the interaction was proceeding differently than whatever he had imagined.
What had he imagined?
“Do not reprimand yourself,” she scolded playfully. “but I should like to read something. It seems I am to lie here for some time, and I feel I have learned all I can from this ceiling.” She pointed upwards with her eyes.
“Yes, I can imagine.” The Duke got to his feet, running his hat around his hands again. “I will send some books by that you might find of interest. If I am honest, well I–”
“You did not think I could read?” Leah finished his sentence for him.
“Yes, to my ignorance.” he bowed his head. “Forgive me.” The Duke turned to leave and rested his hand on the intricate doorknob.
“Your Grace.” Leah called out as he turned the handle.
“Yes?”
“Thank you, again, for saving my life.”
“It was my pleasure.” He grinned and left the room.
* * *
Kenneth was thrown off kilter by his meeting with Leah. He closed the door behind him and stared blankly down the grand hallway.
He could see Mrs. Redford coming towards him, another tray of piping chowder atop it, but the sound of her footsteps seemed delayed, and it disturbed him. He shook himself present, straightened his vest and began walking towards the library.
“Pardon, Your Grace.” Mrs. Redford bobbed her head towards him as she hustled past.
“See that she eats her absolute fill, Mrs. Redford.” he mentioned back.
“Of course, Your Grace.” she answered with another bob of her head.
Kenneth entered the library, scratching his head over what books he would have pulled for Leah to read.What do women read? Poetry? Not her, most likely.
He gazed over the towering shelves of varying leather spines, running his finger along a stack absently. In truth, Kenneth had not often spent time here. It had been largely his father's space, and with him gone, Kenneth had found very little reason to enter the room.
Standing there between the hundreds of books, Kenneth felt at a complete loss, helpless even. He knew nothing about the arrangement, nothing about the content, and nothing about quality literature, for that matter.
In a panic, he reached for the dusty servant's bell and gave it a frantic ring, summoning his manservant Daniel in a matter of moments. Sometimes it still surprised him how quickly someone would respond to the ringing of those little bells.
“You rang, Your Grace?” Daniel inquired, giving a stiff quarter bow.
“I did, Daniel, I did.” Kenneth threw up his hands. “Our guest upstairs, Miss Benson, she has requested reading material from the library.”
“Reading material, Your Grace?” Daniel looked puzzled.
“I know it, Daniel, but not sure enough.” Kenneth waved his hands about and dropped them to his side. “She requires something to read. Yet I know not what to bring her. Help me decide, man, I need your aid.”
“Well, Your Grace.” Daniel was clearly adjusting to the situation, but he composed himself and tried to help the Duke. “What does she enjoy reading?”
“I do not know.” Kenneth faltered. “I should have asked her.”
“Perhaps, it is a fair place to start, Your Grace.”
“You make a sound point, Daniel.” Kenneth turned back to ogle the shelves. “I shall go to her and ask, so that I might make an informed decision. However, I cannot return empty handed, surely. I must bring her at least one volume in the meanwhile.”
“What novel will you select, Your Grace?”
