Page 8 of Lady Mariel’s Scandalous Love

Chapter Four

Over the next few days, that overheard conversation kept coming back to Mariel. Lord Longwood had not visited again, since that day, and she was at a loss to work out how she might discover more. She wanted to know what that book was about – wanted to know more about his whole mysterious collection, for that matter. It was the kind of secret that drove her quite mad, not knowing.

But she, as a woman, could not simply drive or ride over to Longwood Peak and ask him – she might be rebellious and prone to taking risks, but that would be a step far too far. What made it worse was that she knew that Alex knew all of the details that she wanted. Yet she couldn’t ask him – could she? After all, she had been eavesdropping on his private conversation when she’d heard about it!

She couldn’t even discuss it with Selina, for she was, unusually for her, embarrassed by the predicament that eavesdropping had placed her in.

On the third day, as she moved from her little ‘office’ back into the library, to dig through yet more dusty corners, she almost collided with Alex, who was walking towards the main door, a book in his hand. She swallowed, stepping back.

“Mariel! I am sorry, I wasn’t paying attention – I had forgotten that you were using that room. It’s so rare for anyone to use that door. In fact, in the last year or more, I suspect that you are the only person who has – and glad I am that you did so, at least just before Christmas!”

She laughed lightly at his reference to the evening of the scandal that had freed him to marry Selina. As she did, she wondered – could she ask him? Right now, with no one else about, would be the perfect time… She hesitated a moment, then decided – why not be brazen? After all, he did sort of owe her assistance, in return for her helping by ‘discovering’ them in a scandalous compromise.

“Um, Alex… might I ask you a question?”

“Of course,” he raised an eyebrow, looking at her – hesitance was not a normal part of her personality, after all. “What would you like to know?”

She fidgeted, making his eyebrow rise even higher, then blurted out her next words.

“First, before I can ask you, I have a confession to make.”

“That sounds very dramatic – do tell me more.”

He was obviously amused, and she wondered if this was wise, after all – but it was too late now.

“I… aaah… I happened to be in this room, a few days ago, and I… overheard a conversation.”

“I see. A conversation?”

“Yes. Between you, and Lord Longwood. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop… I was just in the room, with the door not quite closed, having just taken more books in there, when you came in. I should have left. But… I didn’t. And what I heard made me want to stay and hear more. And that left me utterly frustrated, because it became obvious that there was something you both knew, that I didn’t, which would have made sense of the conversation, more.”

“And because of that, you want to ask me about…”

“The book he mentioned. The one written in Russian. I want to know what it is about, what sort of book it is.”

Alex gave a startled laugh, then stopped, and looked at her, as if considering something carefully. She almost squirmed on the spot, so intense was that look, but she managed to stay still and wait. Eventually, his lips twisted into a wry smile, as if he found something decidedly funny about the entire situation. She wanted to stamp her foot in frustration.

“And why do you want to know that? Why does a book in Russian interest you, when you have a library full of books in more readable languages to explore, right here?”

Mariel felt herself blush – she rarely admitted her ability with languages to anyone, for young ladies were not supposed to be ‘too intellectual’, and avoiding mentioning it had become habit. But this was Alex – she knew, from everything that Selina had told her, that he was different, no matter that he was a Duke.

He waited, that amused expression never leaving his face.

“A book in Russian interests me, because I can read Russian. And books in Russian are rather rare in England.”

He looked truly startled by her words.

“You can read Russian? How did you come by that skill – for it is as rare as the books written in the language. At least in this country.”

“My Grandmother – my father’s mother, was Russian. She taught me, when I was tiny, that she might have someone else to speak Russian with, that something of her family heritage might be preserved here – for my father had singularly failed to learn it, as a child – in fact he had little talent for languages of any kind. She is near ten years buried, and I know that my skills in the language are fading, as I have so little opportunity to use it. So, whilst I search through libraries for… interesting books…”

“Ah yes, Selina has mentioned your interests to me.”

He was amused again, and she blushed, but went on.

“…interesting books, I also search for books in Russian – and almost never find them. Lord Longwood said, if I heard it aright, that he wished someone to translate it? Someone… not easily shocked, I think the words used were? I believe that I could do that, if I might see it? And you already know that I am not easily shocked…”

“I expect that you probably could do that, Lady Mariel, for you are determined, and, as you say, not easily shocked. Still… I will need to discuss this idea with Longwood, before I can tell you anything more than you already know.”