Just the thought of her, so innocent and beautiful, saving his sanity every morning he’d woken up to face another day in the dungeon.
Sighing heavily, Valentin straightened from the desk as Robert entered the library after a shortknock upon the door.
“My lord, are you all right?”
He nodded, wondering if Donovan had kept the truth from his entire family in order to spare Linette, too, after her grievous injury—ah, but what of it? Such well-intentioned deception had been the best for all concerned and was now in the past.
Estelle Easton was here within these walls, the woman he hoped to marry. He knew that as certainas he lived and breathed. Even now his heart beat faster as he recalled his first glimpse of her at the carriage window, and then felt her trembling fingers upon his arm.
Perhaps she’d been thinking about him more than he’d ever imagined possible, whether she knew the truth of what happened to him or not. He could hope…
“My lord, you seem miles away today,” Robert’s concerned voice broke intohis thoughts, the valet drawing closer. “If the pain is troubling you, I could send for the doctor—”
“I’m fine, Robert. Did you come to check on me or perhaps you had some other mission in mind?”
“Actually, Princess Hortense has sent word that several special guests are arriving later this afternoon. Princess Ophelia of Luxembourg, Lady Ingrid of Bavaria, and Countess Alicia of Castile—”
“Damnthe woman!” From Robert’s tight-lipped expression, Valentin could see his friend shared the sentiment. “I had hoped for at least one evening to dine with Miss Easton before others encroach upon me.”
“Indeed, my lord. What is to be done?”
Valentin looked at Robert, the duties he’d thought to occupy himself with during the afternoon fast fading beneath another plan. “If she hasn’t yet retiredfor a nap, perhaps she might wish to see the castle gardens—with a chaperone accompanying us, of course.”
“Of course. Shall I have the kitchen prepare a light picnic for you? I’ve heard it upon good authority that young ladies enjoy picnics on a fine day. As you said, others will soon be encroaching upon you—”
“Yes, see to it, Robert, will you?”
Valentin didn’t wait for a reply but strode tothe door, knowing he was throwing all etiquette and decorum out the window—
Decorum! Thanks to Hortense, he hated that word, and the last thing he wanted to think about was his sister meddling in his affairs.
Instead he thought of seeing Estelle again, and wondered if she might be shocked by him seeking her out so unexpectedly.
No, not shocked, surely. From the way she’d gazed up at him, mighthe, instead, hope for pleased?
