Page 27 of The Duchess’ Little Miracle

Seraphina closed the book with a thud. “That is a very cold way to look at the world, Your Grace. You talk about people as if they are numbers in an account ledger. Human beings do not work like that. You cannot just subtract their emotions and expect them to stay quiet.”

“Emotions are messy, Seraphina,” William replied, tilting his head slightly as he studied her. “They cause foolish choices. My father made his choices based on emotion and appetite, and that taught me everything I need to know about that subject. Logic and structure are the only things that keep an estate standing.”

“Logic without any human understanding is just cruelty,” she countered, taking a few steps toward him. “If a landlord raises rents so high that a family cannot buy bread, it does not matter how neat the ledger looks. The family will starve, and eventually, they will fight back. You call that order, but it’s almost as if you are building a fire under a kettle and closing the lid.”

William let out a breath that was almost a laugh. “Where did you learn so much about land reform and trade laws, Seraphina? From reading romantic novels in your drawing room?”

Seraphina straightened her back, her chin coming up immediately. “You must be referring to my sister, Effie. I do not read a lot of romance books. I write for the papers. I know how the world works just as well as you do.”

William did not move, but he kept his eyes fixed on her face. “Yes. How could I possibly forget. E. R. Voce?”

Seraphina went very still. Her hand, resting on the cover of the book, tightened slightly.

“What?” William asked, taking a step forward. “Are you scared I’ll tell someone? Does the thought of that frighten you?”

She did not answer him in words, but her reaction was written clearly across her face. A sudden, deep flush bloomed across her neck and climbed swiftly into her cheeks. It was one undeniable truth about Seraphina. Her skin never allowed her to hide her feelings. The bright pinkness standing out against her cheekbones betrayed how deeply flustered she was by his sudden closeness.

William observed the rush of color, forcing back a smile. For all her intellectual armor and fierce arguments, she was not entirely immune to teasing.

Taking a step back to grant her space, he placed both hands behind his back. “Do not worry, Seraphina. I have an obligation to protect you, remember? That also extends to your secrets. Even though I have people working to uncover your blackmailer, no one else will learn that you are E. R. Voce.”

Seraphina swallowed, the color lingering on her face as she turned and carefully slid the book back onto its shelf.

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

“I read your latest piece in the morning paper two weeks ago,” William said softly. “The one addressing the new property laws.”

Seraphina swallowed hard. “I suppose you found it completely unacceptable?”

“On the contrary,” William said, walking back over and stopping two paces away from her. “The arguments signed by E. R. Voce are far too direct to ignore. You do not waste time with long, fancy words or polite foolishness. You state the facts, point out the flaw in the law, and tear the government’s logic to pieces. I think half the men in Parliament could learn a great deal from your clarity.”

Seraphina looked up at him, her lips pressed into a thin line, caught between her natural urge to defend her work and her surprise at his assessment. “Even if you think my ideas on lower rents are impractical?”

“They are impractical for running a real estate,” William said calmly, reaching out so his fingers lightly touched the edge of the book she had placed back on the shelf. “But your logic is impeccably sound. You are an argumentative, headstrong woman who refuses to yield a point easily. But you are not foolish.”

Seraphina blinked, her posture softening just a fraction. A smile touched her lips before she caught herself. “Well... thank you. It is nice to know you are a fan of my work, Your Grace.”

William shook his head, his eyes narrowing slightly in amusement. “Do not flatter yourself, Seraphina.”

Yet as he looked down at her, at the lingering flush on her cheeks and the stillness that had settled between them, a strange, unbidden thought crossed his mind. The distance between them had shifted. The guarded walls they had built all evening were suddenly feeling remarkably thin.

He felt the subtle danger of it instantly. Allowing himself to stand here in the dark, exchanging wit with her, was a slope he had no business walking tonight.

“In any case...” William said, taking a step back and creating space between them once more, “...it is far too late. We should both turn in and rest.”

He offered her a brief, controlled nod, turning toward the doors.

“Good night, Seraphina,” he said, and began making his way out of the library.

“Are there any of my writings you do not agree with?”

Seraphina’s voice cut through the quiet of the library, catching William just as his boots reached the perimeter of the doors.

He stopped mid-stride. Slowly, he turned back to face her.

Under the flickering light, Seraphina watched his expression carefully. She could see the crease between his brows, the pause as he calculated whether to engage or simply walk away.

“You cannot possibly agree with everything I have ever published,” she pressed, her voice steady.