“To some fathers,” Theo agreed. “For now, I am locked in an excruciating, never-ending apprenticeship. I cannot advance without proving my worth and am never given the opportunity to try.”
“What is left to prove?” Virginia asked. “If your father is the only person who can’t see your value, the fault lies not with you but with his willful blindness.”
She didn’t understand because she didn’t know his father was a marquess… and the most exacting man of Theo’s acquaintance. Even if pleasing his father was impossible, Theo still longed to be seen as an equal. To work side-by-side.
“My father,” he said at last, “won’t let go of the reins for a single moment. He controls everything and everyone in his life with ruthless precision.”
“Birds of a feather,” Virginia said. “You seem to have inherited your father’s need for control.”
He glared at her. “I am nothing like my father.”
“Every ripple is unique, and exactly like those that came before.” She pursed her lips. “Do you know the difference between the greater and lesser white-toothed shrew?”
“The greater white-toothed shrew is slightly larger, and its teeth are unpigmented.” He pretended to stifle a yawn. “Who doesn’t know that?”
“You didn’t,” she said in surprise. “One week ago.”
Theo widened his eyes innocently. “That was before you loaned me an illustrated book on the topic.”
“I didn’t think you’d read it,” she admitted.
He crossed his arms and gave her a good scowl. “I can read quite well. I’ve been making my way through Azureford’s library.”
Her eyes lit up. “Azureford has a library?”
He grinned. “Want to see it?”
She bounded out of her chair. “At once.”
He fished his crutches from the floor and led her down the corridor to the duke’s library.
Virginia’s eyes shone as she took in the fireplace, the comfortable chairs, the towering rows of books, the proliferation of Roman statues on pedestals.
“It’s marvelous,” she breathed.
Theo wished he could show her his private library. Fewer statues of Juno and Cupid, but just as many books. He would love to see Virginia’s face.
“Azureford must be a wonderful friend to allow you the use of his library.”
“Azureford is a terrible friend. He left me at the mercy of his butler. I will have stern words when he returns.”
Virginia frowned at the stacks. “All his books are arranged by size and color.”
“That is the fashionable manner in which to display them. Libraries are meant to be aesthetically pleasing, not utilized.”
She spun to face him.
“Aha,” he said. “You missed my eyebrow. Now you will forever wonder whether I shelve my books in rainbow order or according to height.”
“Neither,” she said. “You’ve given yourself away by reading the one I loaned you. You appreciate books. Symmetry is lovely to gaze upon, but a ridiculous manner in which to organize a library. We should fix Azureford’s.”
Theo nearly choked. “We should what?”
“Organize it for him.” Virginia lifted a palm toward the impeccable display. “Fiction with fiction, science with science, diaries with diaries.”
“Azureford will hate it,” Theo said. “It’s exactly what he deserves. Where do we start?”
She grinned at him. “Follow my lead.”
