Lucy wondered if they would ever forget about their fears and use their hiding for exploration. But no, they didn’t even come close. They maintained several feet between themselves.
At that point, she wondered if he had more to lose if they were caught in a scandal.
“I like to sketch birds in their cages.” It was her time to confess. “I do not own my life. It just pushes me from one end to another. I am a prisoner.”
“You are not,” he insisted. “Not if I can help it.”
She shook her head bitterly. He would not understand. He would not know that their interaction in this library, devoid of any touch, felt more intimate than anything she had experienced with him. Or with anyone, for that matter.
Suddenly, the door opened. Even though they were feet apart, Lucy still jumped further away. Daniel remained where he was.
It was Victoria.
She surreptitiously slipped inside, her movements slow and quiet. It was not like her at all. But then again, she probably was enjoying the secrecy, the thrill of it.
“Time is almost up, and I believe your brother is growing restless, Lucy,” she whispered. “Daniel, leave first and go straight to Theo. Lucy and I can stay here for a while, and then we’ll leave together.”
Daniel immediately agreed.
There were stolen moments, some brief and some arranged, that skirted the edge of propriety.
Today, at the Royal Ascot, Lucy found herself caught in one such moment.
She had arrived escorted by Joshua, who was every inch the showman. He stood straight, chest puffed with self-importance, gesturing expansively toward the horses, explaining the bloodlines and the strength in their hocks. Every word was delivered with the air of a man entirely certain of his own brilliance.
Lucy tried to feign interest. Victoria inclined her head, murmuring politely, her eyes fixed on Joshua’s performance. But Lucy caught the faint, knowing look Victoria gave Richard, the subtle glance meant for those who understood the quiet conspiracies of the family.
Richard caught her eye. The silent signal made her pulse quicken. She could see it in Daniel, too, tucked just beyond the crowd. He had been watching her, always aware, always attuned. And it sent an exhilarating thrill through her chest.
The group moved toward the paddock, following the swirl of expensive coats and ladies’ skirts. The crowd surged as a bell rang, urging the spectators into a frenzy. Lucy felt pressed,jostled, nearly suffocating among the eager bodies and the scent of perfume.
A low voice sounded behind her, unmistakable.
“An unruly crowd might just be a blessing.”
She shivered despite herself. Even amidst the noise, she could feel him there, the heat radiating off him in that subtle way that left her aware of every inch of his presence.
“Daniel.”
“Step back, my lady. You might be trampled.” His hand hovered an inch from her waist, his tone formal, but the intent behind it betrayed a promise he did not speak.
He guided her gently, invisibly, through the throng, keeping her safe without even touching her.
Eventually, they found shelter under a heavy canvas canopy, where grooms darted to and fro, and footmen popped champagne for the esteemed spectators. The noise of cheers and hooves became a wall of sound, rendering their corner nearly private, a stolen moment in the middle of chaos.
“You seem quiet,” Daniel remarked, and the closeness in his voice made her pulse jump.
“I am generally quiet,” Lucy replied, forcing herself to steady her breathing, “unless among friends.”
He pouted slightly at her words, and despite herself, she giggled.
“It is hard to speak here,” she continued, “and I could not argue with some of the things my brother said earlier. It would have been pointless… he would only watch me more closely whenever I defied him.”
Daniel’s eyes softened as he looked at her. “I like horses,” he admitted quietly. “Though I never claimed to understand them. In Italy, I preferred to watch them in their stables, rather than ruins or statues.”
“Er…” Lucy leaned closer instinctively, noticing a speck of dust on his lapel.
She reached out, brushing the fine wool with her fingers. The simple contact made her shiver, a thrill she did not attempt to hide.
