Page 42 of The Duke’s Defiant Love

"Curiosity."

"Yes. You appear displeased."

"I am surprised."

"That is not the same thing."

"No."

His voice softened.

"It isn't."

They stood there for another moment.

"Come,” he said quietly. “There is a quieter room just beyond the hall.”

He led her into a small library, shelves rising into shadow, a single lamp burning low on the mantel, the noise of the gathering fading to a distant murmur through the closed door. She looked at the books that filled almost every shelf and let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

"You actually have a library here."

"Some of us retain our scholarly habits. This is mainly for the four of us."

She smiled faintly.

"I suspected you might."

Sebastian closed the door halfway behind them.

"Why does this exist, Sebastian?" She used his name deliberately this time, watching it land the way it had in the park. "This place. The real Circle. "

"Because society asks men and women to pretend they do not want what they want and calls the pretending virtue." He set his glass down, unhurried, though something in his stillness told her the question cost him more than his tone let on.

"And what exactly do you do here?"

"Talk."

"About?"

"Philosophy. History. Human behavior."

"And desire."

His eyes met hers.

"Yes."

She waited.

Sebastian's mouth curved faintly. “You are wondering whether we merely sit about discussing it.”

“I You are making it sound remarkably academic.”

“We do discuss it,” he said. “But that is hardly the point.”

“Then what is?”

He leaned back in his chair, his expression becoming almost amused.