Her shoulders relaxed slightly. That had to be a promising sign.
She glanced at Felix, but her brother’s face was unreadable. Pandora still aimlessly fenced with an imaginary opponent. Felicity bit back a smile, and then let it spread freely across her face as an idea came to her.
“Thank you, Mr. Thorne. I will go to the Duke immediately.” She stood, but Ash’s valet stopped her and withdrew a letter from his coat.
He handed it over to her. “You’ll want to read that before you make your way to the tower.”
She frowned at the unsealed letter. Odd. She began unfolding it and turned to the fencing Pandora. Time to put her idea into place.
“Oh, and, Pandoraaa,” she sang cheerily. “I just had the most wonderful idea. Do you not think it would bemostbeneficial if you practiced your waltzing with Felix? As he is not familiar, it will help build your confidence with dancing with strangers.”
Pandora spun to her, her broomstick coming frighteningly close to Felix’s head, and he jumped out of the way just in time. “That’s a brilliant idea! We should go practice straight away!”
“I love your enthusiasm, darling. Oh, and how perfect with Mr. Thorne here. Mr. Thorne, you will play for them, yes?”
If looks could injure, Mr. Thorne’s flat, grim expression would do just that. She patted his arm and tried to look sympathetic, but her lips twitched. Oh, she could just cackle with glee!
“Splendid. Thank you for being so agreeable, Mr. Thorne.” She blinked at him innocently, and she thought he might have just growled at her.Ha!
She glanced down at her letter.
Follow the letters I’ve left in the hall and stairwell that lead to the tower. I’ll be waiting.
— Ash
Curious.
She made her way to the library doors and called a “have fun!” over her shoulder. So perhaps she was meddling a little. A tiny bit. A touch. A mite. She had no idea what was going on between Felix and Mr. Thorne, and it didn’t seem like Felix knew either. So, what better way to find out than to force them to spend more time together. Felicity grinned. That and Mr. Thorne’s playing was pure skirt-lifting in how beautiful it was. Or she supposed…trouser-dropping?
She paused after she exited the library and scanned the hall. Sure enough, there, resting on one of the many hall tables, was a folded piece of parchment. She hastily made her way over to it and snatched it from where it leaned against a marble bust.
How your smile lights up your eyes.
A gentle, almost indiscernible flutter started up in her heart. Whatever was this? She began her journey down the hall again, scouring the tables until she saw her next letter. She scurried forward.
How you have the most adorable toes.
She let out a soft snort. Was the man in his cups? But even as she thought he might be dicked in the nob, she was smiling. She tucked it in with the first letter and went in search of the next one. She didn’t have to walk far:
How you do these little breathy snorts when you’re amused.
Are you bloody jesting?She whipped her head around, scanning the hall for him, though she knew it made no sense. The note was already written. He couldn’t have heard her snorting not even a moment ago. It was as if he saw her. Like perhaps he had always seen her… She hurried to find the next, and the next, and the next.
Your creative swearing.
The way you call me Duke.
How you have no qualms putting Colborn in a headlock. (Which he would have rightly deserved, I might add).
The way you waggle your eyebrows when you’re being saucy.
The way you make me feel when you do nothing but look at me.
Her hand lifted to her chest, and she drew in a shaky breath. Her heart was most definitely fluttering now. She blew out her breath, as if preparing herself for a battle. She didn’t truly know why, but she just knew she needed to fortify herself before she found her next note. She was at great risk of melting into a puddle. And if she did that, she’d never make it to the top of the tower.
She entered the tower and made her way up the stairs until she saw another note resting on a window ledge.
How you are genuine, accepting, and kind.
