Page 95 of Stolen By the Duke of Ice
Peter had gone through that encounter a hundred times in his mind. And in each time, he was astounded, speechless that she should see him in that light. Very few would describe him as she had. Certainly not the ladies and gentlemen of theton. It left him confused, as if seeing himself in the mirror for the first time. He was shaken, for he wanted to be what Dahlia claimed he was.
He stared at her book which lay closed in front of him. He had yet to return it to her. He tried to recall what it was that had him so against the Penelope Lovelace novels. He frowned, admitting that it was not the actual novels that he had problems with—for he had not read a single one.
“Be honest, Peter.”
He collapsed against his chair. Letting the truth out, he closed his eyes.
It was his mistaken notion that they were about him. And now that Dahlia had explained things to him, his dislike for the novels felt misplaced.Hefelt misplaced.
Something was happening within him. Dahlia’s words had disrupted his well-ordered world, and he found that it did not upset him as much as he thought it would.
His frown deepened. That did not change the fact that he still hardly knew what to say to her.
“You will need to acknowledge this, Peter,” Matteo had said, reading his friend very accurately, “Soon.”
Soon.
Helena and Chastity had said their goodbyes the day before. The difference of a lesser number of people was felt by the castle residents. Indeed, Peter had seen the tears in Dahlia’s eyes as she bid her friend farewell. Mary and Claire, too, had seemed genuinely sad at the departure of their new friend. Their going was delayed by many minutes as the twins and Chastity recited their promises and plans to see each other.
The new day had found the castle residents quiet as each took to their own activities and tasks. If one thing good came out of Dahliah confronting Peter the other day, it was thatThe Duke and the Aspiring Detectiveswas no longer taboo. Indeed, Peter had given it back to Mary and Claire.
“Your book might get lost if you do not take better care of it.”
They had stared at each other for a moment then grinned at the implications of Peter’s words. They had run to Dahlia with the express intention of telling her what just happened.
“Since we no longer need to hide from Peter, it means we can talk about the story more,” Mary said in excitement.
“Oh, Dahlia, this is too exciting! We can ask you openly if you are nearing the completion of another chapter; we can ask you if the aspiring detectives are going to be in trouble. We can ask you anything!”
“Pray, Dahlia, can I ask you to change something about the older twin please?” Mary asked her as they gathered on the settee in the sitting room
“What is it? What change?”
“Just a minor one, really.”
“If you are accepting changes, may I ask one for my character as well?
“Very well,” Dahlia said to both.
But two changes were not enough, and shortly, any number of requests rained down on her. Dahlia had slowly realized that she no longer recognized the characters for all their changes, and she struggled to do as Mary and Claire asked.
“Matteo is about to leave; he wishes to say goodbye to everyone,” Peter said as he interrupted their conversation.
Perhaps it was that they were saying goodbye for the second time that day, or perhaps it was because Dahlia had now come to care for Matteo, for when his carriage had driven off, she could not hold back her tears anymore.
“Are you quite all right, Dahlia?” Peter has asked, handing her his handkerchief.
She shook her head at the handkerchief.
“Oh, yes quite all right, I thank you.”
Peter had looked at her then, perhaps hoping that her gaze would land on his. Alas, it had not.
They went back inside the castle. The sitting room quieter than it had been compared to the last few days.
Peter, feeling that he must do something to expel the melancholia that was threatening to take over their company, went to the pianoforte and played a pleasant tune.
“Have you done it?” Claire asked after she had seen Dahlia working on the book. “Have you applied the changes?”
