Page 30 of His Godsent Duchess
As she swept from the room, Victor turned back toward the window, his thoughts racing. He had forbidden the library for a reason, and Christina clearly chose to ignore it.
He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. What is that hellion doing in there? There was only one way to find out.
Victor marched to the library and opened the door as quietly as possible, slipping inside without a sound. His senses were immediately greeted by a soft humming, light and free. His brows furrowed, and he ventured further into the room, moving around the darkened shelves. It didn't take long for his eyes to find her.
She stood near one of the towering shelves, her back to him, red curls spilling down her shoulders and over the white satin gown she had worn to dinner. The dress gleamed softly in the candlelight, as though it were made of moonbeams. Victor stopped, his breath catching. He tugged absently at his cravat, as if loosening it might help him regain control of his racing thoughts.
What is she doing here? he wondered, though he already suspected the answer.
Still humming to herself, Christina reached up to place a book on the shelf. It was then that Victor felt something brush against his leg.
"Good—" he cursed under his breath and glanced down, his eyes narrowing. Carrot.
The cursed cat was sitting there, tail twitching, staring up at him with what could only be described as smug satisfaction. Victor's gaze snapped back up to Christina, who was now facing him, wide-eyed, a book clutched behind her back as though she'd been caught in the midst of some great crime.
"I—I know you forbade anyone from entering the library," she began, her voice breathless with surprise, "but I promise you, I am not defying you."
Victor felt a slow, amused smile tug at the corner of his mouth. He crossed his arms over his chest, his posture casual but his gaze sharp.
"Not defying me, you say?" he asked, his tone touched with amusement. "Then what, pray tell, are you doing here?"
Christina shifted slightly, taking a cautious step back, her eyes still wide with that mixture of surprise and defiance that had become all too familiar to him.
"I noticed," she began carefully, "that your book collection is… incomplete."
Victor raised a brow. "Ah. So this isn't the first time you've slipped into the library after I gave my orders."
Christina hesitated for a brief moment, then shook her head. "I've been here almost every night," she confessed, though there was a glint of challenge in her eyes.
Victor tilted his head, his curiosity piqued despite himself. "And what business have you with my book collection, Duchess?"
Her lips pressed into a thin line for a moment before she answered. "I want to help you complete it. I've noticed how important they are to you."
He stepped closer, narrowing the gap between them, his amusement growing. "And who told you these books are important to me?"
Christina's gaze didn't waver. "No one told me. I saw it—the way you handled them after the children had played with them."
Victor's heart thudded once in his chest, something stirring within him. He stepped forward again, closing the distance. She retreated until her back pressed against the wall, leaving her no escape. Her chin lifted in defiance, and her eyes gleamed with determination.
"And it was only the children who played with them, was it?" he asked, his tone playfully sarcastic.
She met his gaze boldly. "You didn't see me playing with the books, did you?"
Victor's smirk deepened, his eyes alight with something he wasn't ready to admit. "Perhaps not, but…" He reached for her hands, gently prying them apart and taking the book from her. Their proximity made it impossible to ignore the way her skin felt beneath his touch, how her breath seemed to catch as his fingers brushed hers.
They were so close. He could see the flush creeping across her cheeks, the way her lips parted ever so slightly, and without thinking, his hand moved of its own accord. He tucked a stray lock of her fiery hair behind her ear, his thumb lingering near the curve of her jaw. Christina's eyes fluttered closed, and for a moment—a dangerous moment—he leaned in.
What are you doing? a voice screamed in his mind.
Victor froze, the warmth of her skin beneath his fingertips burning into his thoughts. He straightened abruptly, stepping back and turning his attention to the book. He cleared his throat, trying to shake the inexplicable pull he felt toward her. The title caught his eye, and a flicker of surprise crossed his face.
"The Risen Empires," he murmured, recognizing the title instantly. "This is the last volume I needed to complete the set."
Christina smiled, her earlier flush still lingering. "I found it in Mr. Stone's bookshop in Willsbury."
Victor was impressed, though he took care not to show it. "Indeed." He handed her the book and turned, putting distance between them as he walked toward one of the shelves. "I must say, I am surprised."
Her brow furrowed slightly. "Surprised? Are you displeased?"
