Her Night with the Duke by Diana Quincy

Author:Diana Quincy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Avon
Published: 2020-09-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Lady Victoria sucked in a breath. “This is the most beautiful place I’ve ever laid my eyes on.”

Hunt couldn’t help but smile at the young woman’s reaction. One would think he’d presented her with the crown jewels rather than the extensive library at his Mayfair residence. They’d returned to Town three days earlier. Victoria requested this visit to Weston House primarily, Hunt suspected, to examine his book collection.

She stared up at the book-lined walls. “Isn’t this the most delightful library you’ve ever seen, Delilah?”

“Oh yes, indeed.” Leela, who’d accompanied Lady Victoria, smiled as she watched the girl wander up and down the rows of books. “This is all very grand.”

Hunt’s father had seen to that, restoring the historic home after Hunt’s debauched grandfather sold away many treasures to finance his gaming habit and numerous mistresses. A serious-minded boy from the start, Hunt’s father took to hiding the family treasures before his father could sell them all off. He was aided and abetted by his grandmama, the dowager duchess, who realized her adored son had inherited the disastrously decadent Townsend gene.

Phillip had not yet resorted to selling off family heirlooms before his untimely death. The book collection Lady Victoria now perused remained one of the finest in London. Touring the house, she’d appeared suitably impressed with the stately house’s massive mahogany staircase, carved and twisting balusters, generous chambers and fluted walls. But it was the library that truly took her breath away.

Victoria’s pale fingers trailed along the book spines as she wandered down the book stacks. “Do you have a travel section?”

Hunt noticed she’d overcome some of her discomfort in his presence. She no longer stuttered and stammered. “Yes, but Foster has just reorganized the books at my request.” He shot a discreet look at the attending footman, who silently slipped away. “He will know where to find them.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t want to disturb Mr. Foster’s work.”

“Nonsense. His duties are to serve me. And in serving you, Foster serves me.” He tried not to look at Leela, even though he felt her presence as keenly as if he were touching her. She’d remained quiet during the tour of his home, although he’d sensed her interest in seeing where he lived. She wore a red spencer over her cream day dress. Red was certainly her color, especially against that dark mane of hers.

“What do you think?” he asked her.

“Victoria will get lost for hours in here.”

“But it isn’t the library that interested you the most, I believe it was the family sitting room.”

Her brows lifted. “What makes you say that?”

“Am I wrong?” He’d noted the way her face lit up when she’d first seen the chamber’s silvery oak paneling and full wall of mullion windows.

“Well, it is a lovely room.”

“I noticed your appreciation.” As he noticed everything else about her. Even though he tried not to. It was just as well that she planned to continue traveling. As much as he could not bear the thought of not seeing her, having Leela around constantly—and knowing he could never have her—was far more agonizing.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.