Page 39 of The Viscount's Diamond Bride
This, finally, was the correct one. The door opened onto a wide, airy space, with bookshelves lining the walls. She stepped inside, taking in all of it.
The library back home was considerably smaller, and darker, too. Papa had many valuable books, and while he never read them, he had a horror of them being exposed to sunlight. Not content with simply keeping his books away from the windows, he insisted upon heavy velvet curtains being closed over the windows at all times, day or not. Mama, who did not enjoy reading, begrudged the overuse of candles in the library “A room which no body uses and no body enters,” she’d said once and so the room was doomed to be gloomy even at high noon.
However, this was not the case with this room. Light poured into the room, along with a sweet and refreshing breeze. She stepped inside, allowing the door to close behind her.
A sudden movement caught her eye on the mezzanine rounding the room. Flinching, Ursula spotted none other than her brand-new husband standing there, watching her.
At once, her newfound peace filtered away, and Ursula’s heart sank.
“Oh, forgive me,” she stammered. “I did not realize that you were here. I shall leave at once.”
I shan’t trouble him with my presence any longer. He clearly does not wish it, and so…
“Not at all,” Graham said at once, tucking a small, leather-bound notebook into his pocket and hurrying towards the steps of the mezzanine. “There is plenty of room in here for us both, and if you desire solitude, then allow me to be the one who leaves.”
Ursula chewed her lower lip, eyeing him. “That won’t be necessary, I’m sure.”
He reached the bottom of the steps and paused, hesitant.
“I must apologise for my mother’s abrupt entrance. She’s accustomed to visiting me whenever she wishes and not concerning herself with invitations. It will take her some time to comprehend that she is not the only Lady Sinclair to consider. I shall speak with her, I give you my word.”
Ursula twisted her fingers together, resisting the urge to stare at the floor. She was a grown woman, a wedded woman, aviscountess, and she was determined to act like it.
“That won’t be necessary. I don’t wish your mother to feel as if she cannot visit her only son. As for her invitation to the Thornfields…”
“Now, that Iwillspeak to her about,” Graham interrupted firmly. “She cannot invite people to my home, to our home without our permission. That, at least, she will understand.”
Ursula wasn’t sure she agreed, but she nodded and smiled anyway.
“Of course.”
Perhaps now would be a good time to slip past him and begin browsing the shelves. Surely conversation was not agreeable to either of them.
She was about to move but stopped as Graham spoke again.
“What books are you hoping to find here?”
She glanced up at him, wavering. There was something earnest in his voice, something direct in his gaze which gave her the impression that hewantedto speak to her.
Perhaps all is not lost between us. Perhaps he does not despise me, after all.
“Novels and poetry, I hope,” Ursula said. “I was looking for a quiet place to read my book. However, I have begunFrankenstein.”
He brightened. “Oh? And what are your thoughts until now?”
Ursula paused, thinking. “Well, I have not finished the story yet. However, I am not particularly fond of the tale.”
“Victor Frankenstein?”
“Yes, there is a weakness about him. An inability to accept responsibility for what he has done. He creates a living thing, and then believes he is within his rights to simply turn his back onhiscreation, repulsed by the form thathecreated it. The creature reaches out its arms to Victor when it first comes alive, and yet he turns his back. How dare he? What cruelty. What injustice!”
Perhaps she was too impassioned. Mama had often warned Ursula to avoid high emotions or strong opinions around gentlemen. Gentlemen did not particularly like it, she’d said.
Graham, however, brightened, and took a step towards her.
“I do believe you are correct .I would propose that Victor is not the hero of the story, but the creature itself is.”
“Intriguing,” she murmured, tapping her chin thoughtfully. “I look forward to completing the story. I’m sure I’ll learn a good deal.”
