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“It’s not your fault,” said Celeste with a weak smile. “Once I get an idea into my head, I can be particularly stubborn about changing my mind.” They followed the corridor back toward the great hall. “However, if I’m going to be confined to my bed for several days, I wondered if you might have something else I could read?”
Artemis smiled. “I do. And I will bring my books to your room later this afternoon if you’d like. Would you also like me to arrange some tea or soup for you?”
“Tea and soup would be love—” The duke’s daughter pressed a gloved hand to her nose, then sneezed. “Oh, I beg your pardon. It’s definitely a cold. I hope you don’t catch it.”
“I’m sure I’ll be fine. After working as a governess and a teacher for so long, I have the constitution of an ox. Now off you go to bed, my lady. Standing about in drafty halls isn’t conducive to getting better. I’ll order that tray.”
As Artemis watched Lady Celeste scale the stairs to the upper floors, she released a sigh, pleased that she’d made some progress with befriending the girl. She trusted the duke’s daughter would be all right. And for some reason she couldn’t quite put her finger on, she believed she could trust Celeste not to divulge her past history with the “wrong man.” Not that she would particularly mind if Celeste said something to her father about the fact his fiancéewasn’ta virgin. Dominic had probably worked that out for himself within no time at all, and he’d never passed judgment on her for not being the epitome of chaste womanhood.
She smiled. Last night had certainly confirmed it. Although, she wasn’t certain if she was ready to disclose how she’d lost her virginity. Or more to the point, with whom… Perhaps in time when the moment felt right.
Hopefully, Miss Sharp would keep her nose out of her charge’s books because Artemis was of a mind to pass on some of Lydia Lovelace’s titles. Celeste was not only nursing a cold, but also a broken heart, and she deserved some cheer in her life. Besides, it wasn’t as though she hadn’t already read most of them.
And one day, she would lend Richard Carlile’s book to Celeste. Continuing to keep a young woman in the dark about anything pertaining to sexual congress wouldn’t do her any favors. Celeste’s naivety could have landed her in all sorts of trouble if shehadrun off with Antonio Moretti.
Artemis was also sure Dominic would never have a frank conversation about where babies really came from. That sort of discussion was always left up to a girl’s mother or her more worldly married friends, and at present, Artemis was probably the closest to either of those things that Celeste had.
And if Dominic found out and protested about his daughter’s reading choices…well, Artemis would tell him the same too. Books were never the problem. Ignorance and prejudice and blatant narrow-mindedness were, and the world would be a much better place without them.
