Page 68 of Stolen By the Duke of Ice
“Oh, please do not think that I am weary of the present company; that is far from it!” She laid a hand on his arm, worry on her face. “I assure you I am not—quite the opposite really.”
Then she continued with a smile, “I was just thinking how lovely it would be to see my friend before the holidays. Celine cannot travel of course; she will soon be in confinement.”
Peter felt relief wash through him. He smiled.
“Well, since we shall be having a visitor, I think I shall invite Matteo for a stay as well. That is, if you would not mind?”
“Of course not. It would be lovely to see His Grace again.”
Her hand still rested on his arm. Peter kept still.
“Might Helena bring a sister with her? So that she will not be alone in the journey.”
“By all means.”
It was fortuitous, this proposed visit from her friend, for he had in fact been pondering how to meet with Matteo as they had some business matters to discuss regarding a joint venture. He had considered riding to London for a short stay but was not really leaning towards that. In truth, he had no wish to leave Icedale Castle. But now, since they were having visitors, he might as well invite his friend over to stay as well.
In the back of his mind, he thought the distractions might be a good idea as well. Dahlia was a constant figure on his mind. It alarmed him how often he wanted to be in her company. Many times, he had stopped himself from joining her and his sisters.
He knew that the hothouse was a favorite of theirs. Yesterday, he had debated with himself whether he should join them, but at the last minute, he decided it was not the wisest thing to do. What would his excuse be for joining them?
Everyone in the castle knows I do not frequent the hothouse, not since mother…
Grunting, he berated himself.
And why must I need an excuse? It is, after all, my hothouse! It is my castle, my land!
Peter felt like a petulant child, but in the end, he had followed his earlier decision. And so, he had watched from a distance as they left the hothouse, Dahlia with a book tucked under her arm, Mary carrying a picnic basket, and Claire clutching freshly cut blooms.
What a scene they had presented in the fading light of that winter day. Peter felt his heart soften as he watched them walk towards the castle.
Like a real family. Where one found kindness and trust.
Perhaps that scene was his undoing, for he could not hold himself back. He walked to them to join their trek back. The welcoming smile on Dahlia’s face was something to behold.
Am I fighting a losing battle?
“Thank you, Peter.” She turned back to her breakfast. “I shall write to Helena and tell her that they are expected.”
“A pleasure Dahlia.”
Then with a mischievous smile, he reached for the last blueberry scone on her plate.
Dahlia absolutely loved the hothouse. When she was younger, she had been desperately jealous of her cousins for their hothouse. The idea of enjoying summer blooms and summer fruits in the middle of winter had astonished her young mind.
Spending time in the hothouse with Mary and Claire for their secret reading club was a completely different experience from spending time by herself picking fruits and choosing flowers for the castle’s various rooms—hers included.
Joshua had produced new gloves and pruning shears for her. Perhaps, she flattered herself, it was Peter who had instructed him to do so. She had a feeling it was he, for somehow, he seemed to know everyone’s every move in the castle.
Which means that he knows the twins and I are spending time in the hothouse. Perhaps it is time for us to find a new location for our secret reading club.
She made a mental note to ask the twins for recommendations.
Her favorite among all the hothouse blooms was the rose. Perhaps that was predictable, perhaps that was common and boring even, but the rose, to Dahlia, was a classic.
Look at the curve of its petals, its full blooms and satin texture. Is there anything that can display femininity more than the rose? I think not.
Indeed, they made her feel very feminine. Inspired, she snipped off a bloom and tucked it behind her ear.
