“I suppose we are. You know, you’re very wide awake. Did you not retire early? That was hours ago. Have you even tried to sleep tonight?”
“I didn’t know we were here to doubt one another’s sleeping habits,” he responded lightly. “Is this also your way of asking if I snore?”
A short huff of amusement escaped her. “Certainly not. I can hear you through the door all on my own.” Then she laughed when his eyes widened in alarm. “It’s only a jest! I haven’t heard a peep.”
“Then that is a relief, I think.” He allowed a short chuckle, low and rumbly in his chest, before he steered them down the stairs.They were near their descent when he nodded to her hand. “You have ink stains. Were you writing in your room?”
“What? Oh. Yes. Erm… letters.”
“Letters?”
“To my sisters. I was telling them about a funny story, and…” Verity slowed down as something came to mind. There it was. The words had arrived. She had her story angle for the couple. Warm relief soared through her as she pulled away from him.
Turning, Dominic asked her, “What is it?”
“I just remembered something. I must write it down at once.” Verity took a step back up the stairs. “I’m sorry, Dominic, might we save this for another evening? I should like to pen this down before I forget myself.”
Confusion clouded his brow before he gave a quick shake, clearing it. He didn’t suspect a thing. He couldn’t. “Certainly. Walk carefully, if you please, and I shall see you tomorrow.”
“Yes, yes, exactly that.”
“And one more thing.”
She looked back, waiting with wide eyes. “Yes?”
He hesitated for a moment as though he didn’t know what he was going to say. Or perhaps he was reluctant. But then the words came out with his chin raised and his eyes focused right on her. “Dominic. You may call me Dominic.”
Hopefully the candlelight did not shine bright enough to reveal her blush as she considered his Christian name. It was such an intimate thing to know. To say.
Finding her tongue, she nodded. “Very well, Dominic. Good night!”
It only took her a moment to return to her bed chamber and portable writing desk. Breathlessly taking her seat, Verity’s hands froze. The words remained. She could write them, and she would. But now Dominic’s name was on her tongue and something about that felt different. Special.
CHAPTER 11
Dominic laid in bed an hour after leaving Verity and drinking his milk. Already he had bent his ear to the shared wall, wondering if he might hear the scratching of her pen.
Was she really writing to her sisters? What if she does write the gossip rag?
He didn’t like how she had run off like that, and he wondered if she would ever tell him the truth. And if he would know the truth when she said it.
Could he trust her even if she had secrets that she never told him?
Secrets were a strange and uncomfortable thing. He didn’t like it. And yet… He couldn’t control her. He wouldn’t dare attempt such a thing. Verity wasn’t the sort to be controlled, and hewould not be his father. He would simply have to wait. And wonder.
At least he had seen her for a moment. He’d caught her studying him and was curious about what she saw. If it mattered.
Such a foreign desire settled strangely inside him in that moment; he pushed it out quickly. Turning over in his bed, Dominic attempted to remove her from his mind. He must try to sleep and he never would with Verity in his thoughts.
He slept little that night, waking disoriented and sleepy through breakfast. Just as he was leaving the room, he came across Verity.
“Oh! Good morning!” She was cheery with a wide smile as she placed a large cream-colored hat over her head. “I’m off for a morning walk.”
“A wonderful idea. Might I accompany you?”
The question surprised them both. He stopped in his tracks and she widened her eyes. But before he could take back the offer, she was relaxing her arms and beaming at him.
“I enjoy a hearty stroll for a good distance. I trust that would be all right, Dominic? If you are up for it, then certainly I would like your company. Do you need to change? Are you certain you’re not too busy?”
