Page 31 of Lord of Fortune
“And this is who wrote it?” She pointed at where it said “By” followed by a Welsh name.
Their fingertips collided, and they both looked at each other sharply, as if a magnet had drawn their gazes to connect. The moment held, and ultimately, Penn forced out a “Yes.” He was unaccountably warm all of a sudden.
They returned their attention to the list, both withdrawing their hands to their sides. It wasn’t long before her indrawn breath filled the space and sent Penn’s pulse climbing.
“Look.” She pointed at one of the entries near the bottom of the page. It read “Ranulf and Hilaria.” Their eyes must have traveled across the page at the same time, because they both read the originating text aloud: “The White Book of Hergest.”
“That’s it!” She sounded so buoyant, so excited… Penn didn’t remember sharing a moment of discovery that was more alluring. But then Egg wasn’t Amelia. Inanyway.
He turned toward her slightly, his gaze meeting hers. At this proximity, he could see the scattering of gold flecks shimmering near the inner ring of her emerald irises. The book on the trunk fell away, and right now, the only thing crowding his mind was her. “You have the most extraordinary eyes.”
She blinked, briefly shuttering them to his view, and he realized he’d said that out loud.Damn.He’d meant what he’d said earlier about not having much experience in polite society. Sometimes he said things he really oughtn’t.
“Thank you,” she said softly. “You know so much about all this. I feel rather…dull.”
He leaned closer. “I just said you were extraordinary, and you feel dull? How can that be?” Her lips parted to respond, and he realized his error. “I complimented your eyes, but it’s much more than that. We haven’t been acquainted long, but you strike me as an exceptionally intelligent person. In that way, you remind me of my sister. It’s a pity Oxford doesn’t allow women.”
She looked up at him, the light of the lantern splashing across the elegant planes of her face. “I can’t even imagine having that opportunity.”
“And that is a crime.” The smallness of the space, and their proximity, infused him with heat. Or maybe it was just because of her. Rather, his attraction to her. He wondered what it would be like to kiss her.
“What is the White Book of Hergest?” Her question should have jolted him away from his errant thoughts, but he was too far gone.
Even so, he could answer. Maybe if he did, he could stop himself from doing what he wanted. “An old Welsh text, similar to the Red Book—they’re named for the color of their bindings.” He was intent on her mouth and its color, so pink and lush. Her lips had to be soft as down. Softer maybe.
“Is it here?” she asked, sounding rather breathless, which only fed Penn’s desire.
“The Red Book is at Oxford. I’m not sure where the White Book is, but we’ll find it.” At the moment, he could barely remember why…
Penn bent his head as her lids began to sink, and her delicious lips parted…
The sound of a man clearing his throat—loudly—filled the room like an explosion. Penn jerked back and noted that she did the same, moving to the other side of the trunk.
Worse than being caught in a near kiss, the interloper, though he wasn’t really one at all, was none other than the owner of this secret library: Lord Septon.
