“Yes, Your Grace.” Harrison turned and strode out, leaving the doors open.
He quickly moved across the room. He wanted to see her expression when she first entered. That would tell him much.
The swish of skirts announced their arrival.
His pulse raced as he grinned, his anticipation strong.
Harrison stepped aside and his guests strolled toward the open doors arm and arm. Both stopped. Lord Mabry’s mouth dropped open and Lady Joanna’s eyes rounded.
He moved forward. “Welcome to the Haven House library, Lord Wakefield, Lady Joanna.”
Lord Wakefield just stared, but Lady Joanna scanned the room before resting her gaze on him. “Your Grace. This is magnificent.”
He didn’t miss the sincerity in her voice.
She let go of her father’s arm and moved toward him before turning around to view the entire room. Her violet skirts swayed as she turned. She grasped her hands to her chest, her voice coming out in a breathy sigh. “Truly wonderful.”
A stab of desire at the sound had him tensing. That was completely unexpected. He hadn’t invited the woman for a dalliance. He’d invited her to catch her, possibly entice her to confess. He studied Lady Joanna, but that made his desire flame hotter. Her eyes were alight with pleasure and that one long lock she always wore had settled beneath her hands and against her chest. It was so inappropriate that he forced himself to move toward her father. “Lord Wakefield, do step in.” He took the man’s arm and guided him in while nodding to Harrison, who discreetly shut the doors. “I’ve ordered tea, but if you prefer, I have some brandy.”
The older man nodded, and he guided him to a chair in the bay window where he could view the whole room. After pouring the older man a brandy, he handed it to him.
“Go ahead, Father. Take a sip.” Lady Joanna’s voice came from behind him as she strode closer.
As if used to doing what she told him, Lord Wakefield sipped.
She gently took the glass from his fingers and set it on the table next to him. “Tell His Grace what you think of his library.”
“I have no words.” The man turned his gaze to look at him. “How?”
For the first time since building his library, he felt humbled. Wakefield appeared about to cry with happiness. This was a man who could appreciate his collection as much as he did. His throat felt tight as he tried to answer the question. “A good architect and many years of acquisitioning.” He refrained from letting the man know he had a larger collection at Burhleigh Park.
“I think my father needs to adjust to so much wealth of knowledge.” Lady Joanna laid her hand on her father’s shoulder.
“Of course. I’m pleased that you can appreciate what I have built here.” Though he spoke to Wakefield, his gaze went to his daughter of its own accord. “If you would like, I can give you a tour.”
“I would like that very much.” She turned to her father. “Would you like to sit here and read that treatise on polar ice caps?”
At her mention of the treatise, James quickly strode back to his desk to fetch it. He’d already forgotten the reason for them coming. It was Wakefield’s reaction that had him off balance. Bringing the treatise over, he handed it to the man. “Here you are. It is the second one in. If you’d like to discuss it when you’ve finished, I’d be happy to oblige.”
“Have you read everything in here?” Wakefield’s voice still held awe as his gaze darted to the second-floor balcony.
Heat crept up his neck at Wakefield’s blunt appreciation. “I have, but I don’t remember every word.” He pointed to the book he’d shared. “I skimmed that last night to remind myself of its contents.”
Wakefield finally looked down at the volume in his hands and opened it.
“I’m excited to see your collection.” Lady Joanna moved away from her father. “Do you have it arranged by pressmark, size, title, or field of study?”
Remembering his strategy to coax out a confession, he stepped away from Wakefield and moved to where she stood, awaiting her promised tour. “It’s by field of study and then alphabetical by author, though many in my collection bear old pressmarks inside.”
“Ours is arranged by author, but I have seen some organized by title. I would think it would be difficult to find a book if one forgot the title, don’t you?”
“I don’t forget the titles of my books.” At her look of surprise, he softened his tone. “I simply find my arrangement makes it faster to find what I want. I prefer not to take an hour gathering three books on the same subject from different areas of the room.”
She held her hand out to encompass the library. “Do you mean to tell me you know every title in here?”
Pride filled him. “I do. I read every book I purchase, so remembering the title is not difficult.”
She turned away at that, moving to a bookcase. “These appear to be about ancient Greece.”
