Page 36 of Maid for the Duke

Amelie looked down at her grey, shapeless garment with mock surprise. ‘Don’t you like this dress? I would never have guessed.’

‘It draws attention to you for all the wrong reasons. If we are out walking together, then people will look and wonder why you are wearing such a monstrosity. It will be our undoing.’

‘This dress will be our undoing?’

He nodded.

She inched closer.

‘Not that you will struggle to keep your hands from me in public?’

‘I am restraint in human form.’

‘Or that you might stare at my lips when you are meant to be passing the time of day with one of our neighbours?’

His eyes flicked down to her lips and remained there for a few seconds.

‘I have argued points of law in front of some of the most powerful people in the country. I am sure I can stop myself from staring at your lips for a few minutes.’

‘Or that you might be spotted naked in our garden when you cannot bear to wait the two minutes it would take to get to the bedroom before we made love?’

‘Luckily for me, our little garden is not overlooked at all. We could spend the whole day naked, making love, and no one would be any the wiser.’

He caught her wrist then, gently pulling her forward in her seat.

‘I worry you are going to be a great distraction, Amelie. How am I supposed to work when I know you are at home, waiting for me?’

‘Luckily I am invested in your book and I am not afraid to withhold certain…pleasures…until you have met your targets.’

‘That would be cruel.’

‘I think it would be kindness.’

Scooping her up, he lifted her into his lap and kissed her. Amelie felt such happiness, a sense of belonging that she hadn’t for a long time, and she wondered why she had even hesitated.

Chapter Seventeen

‘Come quickly, I want to show you where I have been working,’ Will said, taking Amelie’s hand and pulling her into the shadows of the courtyard. Peterhouse was quiet at that time. It was the height of summer and even the most dedicated of fellows and professors had left to spend a few of the hottest weeks of the year outside the city. When he went into the library to work now he was often the only one there. It was wonderful for his productivity, and he did not miss the company, for he was always in a rush to finish his work and hurry back to the cottage to see Amelie.

He thought of the evening before, when he had found her preparing a picnic for them to eat in the shade of the garden to escape the worst of the heat. Before they’d even been able to think about food, they had tumbled onto the picnic blanket and made love in the cool of the garden.

The porters had tipped their hats to him when he’d arrived this afternoon with Amelie in tow. They were deferential in the extreme, and he knew a few coins pressed into their hands would ensure their silence and their loyalty.

Amelie had been good to her word, ensuring he was making progress with his book, refusing to let him become too distracted and then, when he had achieved what he had set out to do for the day, rewarding him with all the affection he craved. She’d also produced a series of excellent drawings and his section on the native land animals of Great Britain was looking much stronger with them.

It was because of her contribution, and her curiosity about where he spent his days, that he had decided to sneak her into Peterhouse to show her the library. It was one of his favourite places in the world, a haven of peace and learning, and he wanted to share that with Amelie.

They moved silently around the edge of the courtyard, sticking to the shadows cast by the late-afternoon sun. There was a narrow staircase leading off the main courtyard that wound up to the library with an ancient wooden door guarding the entrance. Will turned the iron doorhandle and pushed it open, grimacing when there was a loud creak.

Luckily the library was deserted. In term time, several librarians organised the books and fielded any enquiries, but these men were not needed over the summer months. All the students left at the end of Easter Term after the rigorous exams that came at the conclusion of each year. Some of the staff at the university stayed longer, organising and preparing for the next year, but in the height of summer there was little work to be done. The few fellows who did not leave were trusted to handle their own books.

Looking behind him, he saw the interest on Amelie’s face as he pulled her inside. This was one of the things he loved about her—she had a real love of life. She soaked up every new experience, enjoying the small pleasures alongside the big.

The library was not large in size, especially compared to some of those at the other colleges, but it was a serene and beautiful place to work. A central aisle had a few low cases made of wood and glass that displayed some of Peterhouse’s most prized possessions. There were letters from historical figures, first editions of popular old books and even a couple of handwritten Shakespeare plays and sonnets, entrusted to the college for safekeeping and prosperity.

Off to each side were five rows of wooden bookshelves, stretching from floor to ceiling. These were ornate with intricate designs carved into the wood. The shelves were full of books. In term time, with all the students studying and borrowing the books, there would often be gaps, but now there were even piles on some of the tables of books that did not fit.

There was a set of stairs at the back that led to a second level—a walkway that led around the centre of the room with shelves around the edge and a view down to the display cases below in the middle.