Page 15 of Marquess of Stone

When Marian glanced up, she noticed the Viscount of Crowton standing in the doorway, the gentle light of the room accentuating his sharp features.

She acknowledged him, “Viscount Crowton,” in a polite yet distant tone.

As he walked in, his scrutinizing gaze swept over her before resting on the open book in her lap. “Ah, the diligent one. While everyone else in the house is relishing the lovely morning weather, I shouldn’t be surprised to see you here, engrossed in a book.”

Marian managed a faint smile, even though her heart raced. “And what brings you to the library, My Lord?”

Crowton moved closer, his pace measured. “Oh,” he replied nonchalantly, “I merely sought a refuge from the disorder of the breakfast room. And to possibly gain some mental stimulation as well.”

Marian fought the impulse to roll her eyes. “My Lord, I’m certain you’ll discover much of that here.” she replied, gesturing to the nearby shelves.

The Viscount’s laughter lacked warmth. “Yes. Speaking, however, is generally lot more interesting to me than reading books, I must say. Don’t you agree?”

Marian tightened her grip on her book, her patience ebbing. “I suppose it depends on the companion.”

“Touché,” Crowton murmured as a not-so-humorous grin spread across his face. “So perhaps you might offer me the enjoyment of your presence?”

Marian’s heart sank, yet her expression stayed neutral. “If that is your wish, I have no objections,” she said, even though the words felt forced.

Crowton took the seat opposite her, his gaze lingering for far too long for her comfort. “Tell me, Lady Marian,” he asked in a lighthearted but inquisitive tone, “what is it about literature that so captivates you? Is it the stories per se or the escape from the real world they offer?”

Marian hesitated, her thoughts still reeling from Nicholas’ sudden departure and the Viscount’s unwanted arrival. “Both,” she finally said, her voice steady despite her discomfort.

Crowton nodded contemplatively although the sparkle in his eyes indicated he wasn’t genuinely curious about her response. “Maybe you could entertain me further. What are you currently reading?”

Marian’s hold on the book became firmer, her mind instantly going back to Nicholas and the side door he had quietly passed through. She could only hope that he had managed to keep his presence unnoticed. She forced her fingers to relax their grip on the book as she tilted her head upwards and met the Viscount’s gaze. “It is a treatise on philosophical ideas,” she said smoothly though her heart raced at the thought of him probing further.

Crowton cocked his head with a combination of suspicion and humor. “Lady Marian, how extraordinarily… ambitious of you. I must admit that you have surpassed me in a way that most people don’t.”

His condescension caused her to regain her composure and raise an eyebrow. “I was unaware that reading demanded ambition, My Lord. Surely, you must have gone through at least one or two books in your time?”

Crowton chuckled in a slight, unimpressed tone. ‘Oh, I allow others who are more suited for them to partake in such scholarly endeavors. I find the pleasures of life far more captivating than the dusty contemplations of philosophers.”

Marian stifled a retort, unwilling to reveal how much his dismissal grated on her. Instead, she turned a page of her book, her eyes moving over the words without genuinely reading them.

As he watched her, the Viscount crossed one leg over the other and sat back in his chair. After a time, he said, “You are quite the enigma, Lady Marian.”

Without raising her eyes, she replied, “You flatter me, My Lord.”

“Not at all,” said Crowton in a light-hearted but questioning tone. “It is true, you are different from the other young ladies of the ton. You carry yourself with such… restraint, as if you are concealing something.”

Marian’s heart raced at the slight threat in his voice, but she maintained a neutral expression. “Perhaps I simply appreciate decorum.”

“Or perhaps,” Crowton retorted, “you are afraid of truly being seen.”

The statement sent a shiver down Marian’s spine, yet she forced herself to stay calm. “What a curious observation, My Lord. I was not aware that you considered yourself a philosopher, after all.”

Crowton’s smile grew tense, and he stood from his chair, moving deliberately. “It has been a pleasure, Lady Marian. I shall leave you to your lofty pursuits — for the time being.”

Marian nodded, her relief carefully masked. “Good day, My Lord.”

As the Viscount left the library, the tension in the room seemed to fade though Marian’s heart continued to race wildly in her chest. She held the book tightly in her lap, her mind swirling with a blend of frustration and anxiety. It was only then that she caught the faint sound of footsteps echoing in the corridor outside. They were quick, light, and unmistakably familiar. Marian’s breath hitched as Nicholas appeared in the doorway once more, his dark blue eyes sparkling with amusement. “Has the Viscount departed?”

She shot him a glare, getting to her feet with the book still in hand. “What are you doing back here?”

Nicholas stepped into the room, his smile broadening. “I could not leave you to confront Crowton by yourself. That would not be very gentlemanly of me.”

“You left me alone with him in the first place,” Marian snapped, her cheeks getting warm.

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