Page 62 of A Lady's Beastly Duke
“Hubert. He saved our daughter,” Lady Graystone began.
Lord Graystone glared at her.
“The Lord uses all manner of things and people to manifest His will,” the vicar said quietly. “Unmasking a liar is never a bad thing. Lies are an instrument of darkness.”
Lord Graystone shot the vicar a warning look, but even though he opened his mouth as if to say something, he shut it again, fighting to hold his rage from crossing his lips.
“I have never been so rudely treated in my life,” Lord Graystone blustered, but he said nothing more, simply went to the door and pushed his way through. Sidney watched him withdraw. Lady Graystone followed him.
Sidney turned to Lady Anastasia. The remaining wedding guests, including Lady Camilla, stood silently, and he was distantly aware that they were all staring at Lady Anastasia and himself. Lady Lily stood beside them silently, a happy smile still sparkling on her sweet, youthful face.
“I wonder if we might go somewhere else?” Sidney managed to ask Lady Anastasia. “It is a little disconcerting in here.”
She laughed, a bright sound that washed through his soul like sunshine. She nodded. Her gossamer-light veil billowed out around her face, framing it beautifully as she tipped back her head, clearly amused.
“Yes. Perhaps we might retire to the anteroom next door? From there we can access the balcony.” She gestured to the balcony that ran the length of the drawing room. Sidney nodded.
“Yes. Let us go there.”
Lady Lily grinned. “I’ll stay outside in the hallway,” she suggested. “That way, if Papa or Mama or that horrid man come back, then I can tell you.”
Sidney smiled at her bright young face. “I thank you, Lady Lily. But I assure you that we will be quite all right.”
“Oh. Well, then.” Lady Lily beamed. “Then I’ll stay here. Camilla can show me that new piece I’m learning. Is that all right?” She looked at Lady Anastasia frowningly.
“Of course, dearest sister.”
Sidney smiled as Lady Anastasia turned to him. Her blue eyes were full of joy and delight. His heart started to thump wildly, more uncontrollably than it had when he ran up the stairs. That had been from fear. This was because that look was something new entirely and he had no idea where to begin.
“Come,” she said gently.
Sidney nodded and followed her into the hallway. They went next door to the anteroom, and she shut the door behind him and went to sit down.
Sidney followed her to the chairs by the window, his throat tight and his heart racing and he stared into her eyes, not knowing what came next or what to do. All he knew was this was unchartered water, this new closeness, and he had never been keener to dive into anything else in his life.
Chapter 24
“Thank you,” Lady Anastasia began. She sounded shy.
Sidney swallowed hard. His gaze moved around the room, which contained two chairs, a fireplace and a low table, some paintings decorating the walls. She had taken a seat in one of the chairs and he stood opposite her, the clouds filtering pale sunshine in through the lace curtains behind them.
“I did nothing,” he said, his heart pounding so loud that he could feel the beat of it rushing in his ears. “I did only what I wished to do.”
Lady Anastasia smiled. “You came here. You rushed in without warning to save me from an untenable situation. I cannot thank you enough.”
“I did not do it just for you,” Sidney blurted, and then he felt his cheeks go bright red. “I mean, I did it for me.” He looked down at his toes. He had assumed, always, that she knew how he felt, that her feelings were the same as his. Now, his throat tightened shyly. “I had to try. I could not give you up.”
It was the hardest sentence he had ever said, and yet it shot out of him, unchecked and unguarded, because he could not lie anymore. He could not hide anymore. He gazed into her eyes, terrified. What if she laughed at him? What if she cried?
He held his breath as something miraculous happened. A slow, sweet smile began to spread over her face. It started at the corners of her mouth and tugged upwards, growing and moving to her eyes so that they sparkled brightly, and it was like watching the sunshine spill slowly over the mountains in the early morning.
“I could not give you up, either,” she said softly. Her smile had shifted, and her face was solemn again, her big blue eyes huge as they held his gaze. He blinked.
“You...you...” he stammered. He grinned, a smile blossoming on his own face as he laughed, relief flooding through him like the clear water of a stream. “You felt like I did?” He had always assumed so, but having her say it, having her look into his eyes with that solemn gaze, was like sunshine flooding his heart.
She laughed, that tinkling giggle that set his heart alight with joy. “Of course I did. I could not wait to see you! I counted the days before every event, hoping that I might chance upon you there. I was miserable when I did not see you for a week. I longed to talk to you. I enjoyed every one of the many conversations we had so much. I spent days awaiting them.”
“You did?” Sidney gaped. “I felt precisely the same! I greatly enjoyed our discourse. I often found myself reflecting upon our conversations days hence, recalling something you did utter or the manner of your smile. I revisited them time and again in my mind, and I smiled anew each time I thought of them.”
