With each step down the grand staircase, she gained more assurance that Gavin was still out. She hoped the shock of seeing her had scared him away for good. Of course, she expected him to visit his grandmother on special occasions, just as any good grandson would, but no more than that. And if she saw him again, she wouldn’t hold back her verbal disgust of the rogue, especially his ill treatment of her when they last met.
Not that it would change him. He was set in his ways. But perhaps showing him her anger would be the first step to healing her own heart.
Seeing him again after all this time stunned her, and she had wanted to crawl in a hole and hide. But now she was ready to let him know that his nearness didn’t bother her any longer. She didn’t care what he did with his miserable life, as long as he didn’t plan on including her in it.
The lower floor of the manor seemed draftier than it had earlier. She rubbed her arms, certain the fireplaces were extinguished by now, which was why the corridor was cooler. The old manor creaked, and although it startled her, she knew nobody else was awake. Yet prickles rose on her arms, as if someone was watching her.
She rolled her eyes. She was not the type of woman to let creaks frighten her, and she certainly didn’t believe in ghosts. Within a week, she would be used to the large manor, and feel much better about wandering through the spacious rooms by herself.
Priscilla opened the large door to the library and held up her candle. She stopped at the nearest upright table and turned up the lamp to brighten the room. The small flame from the candle wouldn’t be helpful when trying to find the right book for tonight’s reading. Although she really should have gotten a book while the sun’s rays were still pouring through the windows earlier today, she had been kept busy with the dowager.
She set her candle on the table before picking up the lamp and stepped closer to the shelves lined with leather-bound books. As she moved from one aisle to the next, she didn’t know if she would be able to find something tonight at all. She loved reading, and there were just too many books to choose from.
When she passed a familiar title, she stopped and stared at a copy of William Congreve’sThe Mourning Bride. She chuckled, happy to know that she wasn’t a woman scorned anymore. Well… not that much, anyway.
“Why do you find drama so humorous?”
The deep voice behind her made her jump and drop the lamp. The moment it fell to the floor, the light went out. Although she couldn’t see him, as she was too far away from her candle, she knew he was very close.
His low laugh irritated her, and if she could see his face, she would be severely tempted to slap it.
“I suppose,” he said with a touch of humor, “that I need to rethink sneaking up on women when they are holding a lamp in a dark room.”
It irritated her that she hadn’t noticed him. The library door had been closed, and no lights were lit. So why would he be hiding in a dark room? If she had known Gavin had returned, she would have stayed in her bedchamber.
“Forgive me, Your Grace, but you startled me. I didn’t know there was anyone else in the room, especially this late at night.”
“If you must know, I was actually on the other end of the library with a low-burning candle, so I doubt you would have been able to notice me at all.”
As her eyes adjusted, she realized there was a small amount of light coming from the end bookcase. “Again, please forgive me for not seeing you. With the lamp, I wouldn’t have noticed another light in the room.”
“I just hope the flame doesn’t go out before I make my way back to that section of the room. After all, the flame was very low.”
Her heartbeat quickened. Being in a dark room with him wasnota good idea. “Yes, please see if you can retrieve it so we can relight the lamp.”
She heard the sound of cloth rubbing against cloth mere seconds before he touched her arm. She jumped back, knocking the bookcase.
“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “I’m just trying to grasp your hand and take you with me.”
“Whatever for?” Fear clutched her throat. “I assure you, I’m fine right here.”
“You are… unless my candle goes out. Then we shall both be in trouble, because I don’t think I know my way around the library in the dark.” He touched her arm again and slid his hand down to find her fingers. “I’ll try not to lead you into any walls.” He chuckled.
Oh, the nerve of that man. Of course he would lead her astray. Their past had already told her she couldn’t trust him. Why did he think that had changed? “You, sir, I do not trust.”
He laughed. “Indeed? After all this time? We know each other well enough, do we not?”
Priscilla gritted her teeth.The fool!She really wished he hadn’t brought up that subject. Did he even know what he hadunleashed inside her by bringing up their past? If only she could just forgive and forget. But that was easier said than done.
“Yes, we know each other,” she bit out slowly as she pulled her hand from his, “which is the very reason I cannot trust you.”
He sighed heavily. “Don’t tell me you are still upset at me. That was almost two years ago.”
“Actually, it was eighteen months,” she snapped, and then scolded herself for even saying it. Now he was going to think she had been counting the days, and of course she had not.
“I was close,” he mumbled.
Priscilla held herself back from spouting a rude comment. Now was not the time. When she voiced her thoughts, she wanted to watch his expression. She wanted to see if he felt guilty for what had happened between them.
