Legendary Rogues Volume Two by Darcy Burke

Author:Darcy Burke [Burke, Darcy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781944576578
Publisher: Zealous Quill Press

Chapter 2

Hollyhaven was a charming, well-apportioned house backed by a small woodland. Green pastures rolled before it, and an inviting curl of smoke whispered from a rear chimney. It was lovely and picturesque and apparently housed one of the finest medieval libraries outside a university.

The coach stopped in the drive, and Daphne Foliot waited for her coachman to open the door. Only it wasn’t him but Argus, her manservant, rather, her personal guard according to her father, who greeted her. On occasion, he beat the coachman to the step.

Daphne nodded at him as she descended, and then walked toward the house. The door opened before she reached the stoop, and a middle-aged woman wearing an apron greeted her. “Good afternoon, welcome to Hollyhaven. You must be Mrs. Guilford.”

“I am indeed,” Daphne said brightly, though it was a lie since she was in truth Miss Foliot. But it didn’t do to gallivant around Wales and southwestern England as a miss.

The housekeeper opened the door wide in invitation. “Mr. Bowen is expecting you.” Daphne had corresponded with Mr. Bowen about the manuscript she wished to view, and they’d agreed upon her visiting today.

“Thank you.” Daphne walked into the reception hall, where she was greeted by gleaming dark wood and a plush red-and-moss-green patterned rug.

“This way,” the housekeeper said, gesturing to the left where a door stood ajar. “Would you care for me to take your hat?”

“Oh, yes, thank you.” Daphne untied the ribbons beneath her chin and handed the bonnet to the housekeeper.

She took the hat and went to the open door, pushing it wider and announcing, “Mrs. Guilford is here to see you.” Stepping aside, the housekeeper smiled at Daphne and allowed her to go inside.

“Good afternoon. Welcome to Hollyhaven.” The deep voice greeted her as she entered, and she offered a curtsey to her host. Tall with dark hair streaked with a bit of gray and his complexion a light olive, the scholar was far more attractive than she’d expected. What had she expected? A wizened old man with spectacles, probably.

“Thank you, Mr. Bowen. I’m so grateful for this opportunity to view your manuscript.”

“It’s always my pleasure to share my library when I am able. Come and sit. I have the text ready for you on my worktable.” He indicated a small book that lay open on a long table in the center of the impressive library. Dark wood shelves lined the walls, and a bay window overlooked the drive and front lawn.

Daphne moved toward the table, feeling a bit awestruck. She’d seen copies of this story, but Mr. Bowen possessed the oldest known version. She dearly hoped she’d find what she was looking for.

“Good afternoon.” A feminine voice drew Daphne’s attention to the doorway. A very pretty woman with blond hair entered the library and, given the way her gaze connected with Mr. Bowen and the intimate smiles exchanged, Daphne assumed she was his wife.

“Margery, allow me to present Mrs. Guilford. Mrs. Guilford, this is Mrs. Bowen.”

“How do you do?” Daphne gave another curtsey.

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