My gaze lingered on her. Was that approval? Acceptance? I forced a smile. “It gives me some comfort to know you feel that way.”
“It has been a tiring day, and we should both get some sleep. But think on what I’ve said.” She reached the door, turning the handle. “You could do far worse.” Then she walked out of the room, leaving me even more confused than I’d been before.
After the barrage from all sides the night before, the next morning I sought solitude. I inquired of the staff if there was a smaller—and hopefully empty—library I might peruse and was led to the east side of the house, where a footman held open a door that led into a sun-drenched room of cream and gold. Its shelves held only perhaps a quarter of the books the large library did, but it promised isolation and still had more books than I could ever hope to devour.
At breakfast Robert and I had made plans to meet in the conservatory, but for the next few hours I would enjoy some time to myself. Back at Lymington Park, life was simple. I avoided Aunt Agnes and her daily lectures as much as possible, had passing conversations with Hugh, and spent time with Robert. But I always had long stretches of the day to myself.
Here, things were more complicated. Being a guest in a prestigious home meant heavy demands were placed on my time. Both the duke’s mother and grandmother seemed to have their own priorities concerning me, and even Lady Ellen, whom I adored, seemed to have her own agenda. Not to mention the fact that my relationship with Robert had grown monumentally more complex.
And then there was Halstead.
I pushed all of that aside, walking over to a cheery and inviting corner of the room where a study table basked in the window’s plentiful light. A large volume occupied its center, and I removed my shawl and took a seat, closing the book in order to see what it was called. Much to my delight the tome was entitled, The British Catalogue of Stars. What good fortune! I eagerly pulled it back open, remembering hours spent on my father’s lap as he pored over maps of the sky and the stars that guided him as he sailed.
The sun shone on my back, but it was more than the warmth of its rays I felt as I turned page after page, reading about stars. When we first went to live with Aunt Agnes, I’d spent hours searching her sparse library for a book on stars, with no success. I’d asked my mother where our things had gone and received only a blank stare.
Yet here, in front of me, sat the very thing my eleven-year-old heart had hoped for—something tangible to bring back memories of my father, to feel his presence through a passion he had passed on to me.
It wasn’t until my stomach began to growl that I looked up and realized almost three hours had passed. Robert would have expected me more than ten minutes ago. I reluctantly pushed the book back and stood, stretching my back as my muscles groaned in protest after sitting for so long in one position.
After leaving the small library, I glanced around the corridor trying to orient myself. In a castle of this size it was entirely possible it would take me another twenty minutes just to find the conservatory. I’d hate for Robert to think I wasn’t coming. Thankfully, I caught sight of a servant, a maid with a stack of linens in her arms.
I cleared my throat as she approached. “Excuse me, but could you direct me toward the conservatory?”
She peered around her large bundle. “Yes, miss. Work your way toward the west side of the castle, go down the first corridor, and take a left. The conservatory will be all the way at the end of the corridor on the right.”
I repeated her instructions in my mind. My stomach growled again, an audible reminder I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. “Thank you very much. Also, will you have someone send a tray to the conservatory? Just a small and simple repast will do.”
“Of course, miss.” She bobbed a curtsy and then hurried on her way.
After a brisk walk I pushed open the doors of the conservatory, congratulating myself on having taken only one wrong turn. I was at once impressed by the tall walls and arched windows that gave added height and light to the place. The room was warm and humid and full of well-placed greenery. I removed my shawl as I walked, taking in the spacious conservatory. Oddly enough, this enclosed space felt more natural and organic than many of the gardens that surrounded the castle.
“Robert?” My voice echoed up to the high ceiling.
“I am over here,” came his response. “I thought you weren’t coming.”
I made my way down the tiled walkway, looking this way and that, still unsure of where to look for him. Through the window I caught sight of a separate building that housed some unusual-looking trees, but I passed by, still searching for Robert. “It’s only that I lost track of time.”
Robert appeared from behind one of the arches and greeted me with a smile. “That’s no great surprise.”
“You won’t believe what I found this morning in one of the libraries,” I told him eagerly. “A book on stars!”
“At last, after all these years.” He shook his head. “If we stay in a castle with such well-endowed libraries for too long, you’ll never care to hear about the things I learned at Oxford.”
“Of course I will. Having a book is not the same as having a living, breathing professor. It would be hopeless to think I could ever catch up.” I batted at him playfully.
“Well, be careful you don’t turn into a bluestocking.” Before I could pull my arm back,
