Page 79 of Falling Into Bed with a Duke
“Has it been that long?”
He nodded. “The house was closed up when I was taken to Havisham. A few years back, I came to check on it. Didn’t make it past the foyer before realizing I wasn’t ready to live here, so I leased a place.”
“But now you are ready?”
Forced to be ready. The edge of poverty made a man do things he otherwise might not. Like marry. Although the notion of spending the remainder of his life with her almost made him glad to be reclaiming the house. “I think so, yes. The ghosts are a bit quieter now.”
She glanced around. “From here, it looks to be quite grand.”
“Would you like a tour?”
“I don’t want to impose.”
“No imposition. As I said, it’s not quite ready, but I could show you this level, so you can get a sense of it.”Since it is bound to become your home as well.
“Yes, all right. I’d like that.”
As he escorted her down one of the hallways, servants bustled out of their way. Seldom seen, they were usually more discreet in taking care of matters, but so much needed to be done here that they had no choice except to work an odd schedule. The rooms spoke for themselves: a sitting room, a private parlor, the breakfast dining room.
They stepped into the library. Servants were pulling down the sheeting that had protected the shelves.
“I think the number of books a person owns says a lot about them,” she said, glancing around, apparently pleased to see so many leather-bound volumes.
“My father liked to collect books, but I don’t recall him reading them.”
“You were a child. You were probably in bed long before his reading time.”
He’d never considered that. She wandered to a shelf, touched a spine. “My vision of my father when I was eight was very different from my vision of him now.”
He walked over and leaned a shoulder against a shelf. “And how did you see him at eight?”
“So large. I had to crane my head back incredibly far to see him towering over me. He seemed scary, easily displeased. He was gone a good bit, managing the club. And he made my mother laugh. He never had a harsh word for her. The same couldn’t be said of my brothers. He was quick to admonish them if they misbehaved. Not so quick to chide me.”
“And now?”
She grinned. “He’s rather a kitten.”
Ashe laughed deeply, the sound vibrating around them. “I don’t quite believe that. I think any man who made you unhappy would find himself floating in the Thames.”
“He does have a reputation for being surly, doesn’t he?”
“That’s putting it mildly.” Ashe didn’t fear the man, but he did respect the power he wielded. He could easily destroy anyone who displeased him or brought sadness to his daughter.
He led her back into the hallway. “I would show you the gardens, but they’re rather a jungle presently.”
“Will it be difficult being back here?”
“Not as hard as I thought. I already have a pleasant memory to replace the not-so-pleasant ones—as you’d hoped I would. I’m glad you stopped by.”
She faced him as they reached the entryway. “I know you’re remarkably busy, but I wondered if you might be attending the Claybourne ball tomorrow night.”
“Only if you promise me the first and last waltz.”
She smiled with pleasure. “They’re yours. I’ve missed seeing you.”
“I’ll make up for my absence to you tomorrow.”
“I can hardly wait. Have a good day.”
