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Chapter Thirty-Two
Even though Dominic’s conversation with Miss Sharp had been nothing but peculiar, the governess had at least done as he’d asked and had passed on his message to Celeste.
“Papa,” she cried, dashing across the library to where he’d installed himself upon a settee. “I’m so, so relieved you’re going to be all right.”
Her exuberant hug made Dominic gasp and flinch, but he didn’t mind. “I am,” he said, drawing back to smile at her ecstatic face. “And I have no doubt at all that your frequent visits to my room to read to me helped.”
“You remember that?”
“Bits and pieces. To be honest, my memories are rather hazy, but you read from Charlotte Brontë’sJane Eyre, did you not?”
“Yes. I did.” Her smile was brighter than a midsummer sunrise as she settled herself into the chair beside his. “Artemis wasn’t sure if you could hear me after you’d taken a dose of laudanum, but I was certain you could. Well, Ihopedthat you could.” A shadow crossed Celeste’s countenance as she added, “You’ve probably heard that she isn’t here.”
Dominic grimaced. “Horatia mentioned she had to see her sister. That it was an urgent matter.”
“Yes…” A furrow etched itself between Celeste’s fine black brows. “I’ll admit I was surprised by the way she left so suddenly, without really saying goodbye. And while it’s only been a few days since she quit Town, I’ve come to realize that I miss her.” She offered him a smile that was touched by melancholy. “I’m sure you miss her even more. It must have been a shock to find out she wasn’t here when you woke up.”
Dominic studied her for a moment. The sense that something was amiss still nagged at him but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. “I can’t deny that I’m disappointed. But you’ll be pleased to hear that I’ve already sent a telegram letting Artemis know my fever has broken. With any luck”—he summoned a smile—“she’ll return soon. Hopefully today.”
Celeste’s smile brightened. “I’m sure she will. How could she not?”
Dominic’s answering smile was less certain. That worrisome niggle returned. It was like a pebble in his shoe or a dog nipping at his heels. WhyhadArtemis left so unexpectedly? Of course, her aunt or sistercouldhave simply sent a message entreating her to come to Berkshire, at once. Artemis loved Phoebe and would do anything for her.
But then, what if therewasanother plausible explanation for Artemis’s sudden departure? One closer to home…
His mind returned to his odd conversation with Miss Sharp a short time ago. Of all the innuendos and evasion. And the not-so-subtle insinuation suggesting Artemis had done something wrong beyond having a taste for questionable literature. How had Miss Sharp framed it?I’m loath to make an unwarranted accusation…
He caught his daughter’s gaze. “When and where did you last see Artemis?”
Celeste’s brow creased in thought. “Two nights ago. In the hall outside your rooms. We’d been talking about how we’d have dinner together after she returned from her aunt’s town house. She was going to pick up a few things—fresh clothes I expect—and she also promised to bring back one of her books. A signed copy ofLady Sophia and the Seduc—”
Dominic frowned as a deep blush spread across Celeste’s cheeks. “Lady Sophia and the Seductive Sorcerer?By Lydia Lovelace?”
Celeste’s throat bobbed in a nervous swallow. “I… Yes, that’s the one.”
“I see… Perhaps you should check the books on my desk to see if it’s there,” he said, though he knew that particular novel wasn’t. He watched Celeste’s face closely as her gaze landed on the small pile. How her eyes widened in horror.
“Where…where did they come from?” she whispered.
Dominic raised a brow. “Miss Sharp brought them in earlier. She told me they belong to Artemis.”
Celeste’s nod was barely perceptible. “They do.”
Dominic narrowed his gaze as another thought occurred to him. “Is there anything you wish to tell me, Celeste? About the booksyou’vebeen reading lately? While I don’t have a problem with my fiancée reading anything penned by Lydia Lovelace, you know exactly how I feel aboutyoureading them.”
“I’m sorry, Papa, but…” Celeste inhaled a shaky breath. “Yes, I have been reading them…but only because I’ve been so unhappy and anxious and Artemis’s books—I mean, Lydia Lovelace’s books—bring me such solace. They’re gripping and romantic and wonderful and take me to another time and place. They make me forget all of my worries.” She lifted her chin. “I don’t wish to create discord between us, especially after everything that you’ve been through, but I happen to adore Miss Lovelace’s books and nothing you can say or do will stop me from feeling that way. Ever.”
Discord.There’d been enough of that between him and Celeste. And far too much sorrow and heartbreak. Enough to last a lifetime. Dominic blew out a sigh. “I don’t want us to be continuously at loggerheads either,” he said gently. “And I do understand how difficult things have been for you of late. How lonely you’ve been.”
“I’ve been far less lonely since Artemis entered our lives. And I really do hope that you can forgive her for lending me some of Lydia Lovelace’s books. Because when all is said and done, they’re just books, Papa. Books that are really not as salacious as you and Miss Sharp seem to think they are. In fact”—Celeste shifted forward on her seat, her face alight with eagerness—“you should read one. Properly. Not just skim through it, looking for all of the so-called naughty bits, but from cover to cover.”
“Perhaps I should,” Dominic said wearily, adjusting his position on the settee to take the strain off his wounded shoulder. Even though Artemis was intelligent and discerning when it came to other matters, he was suddenly ashamed that he’d continuously dismissed her favorite books as a load of tripe after only the most cursory of inspections. He’d believed Miss Sharp’s assessment over his fiancée’s. Yes, perhaps it was time to put his own preconceived notions aside about what constituted a good book and trust Artemis’s taste in literature too. And his daughter’s.
“Honestly, I’m certain you’d enjoy them,” said Celeste, her eyes glowing with enthusiasm. “They’re all exceptionally well written. Artemis is a very talented auth—” As she broke off for a second time, her whole face turned a blazing shade of crimson.
“A very talented what, Celeste?” Dominic pinned his daughter with a hard look. Suspicion prickling along every nerve, he leaned forward. “An author? Are you telling me that Artemis Jones—myArtemis—is really Lydia Lovelace?”
Tears shimmered in Celeste’s eyes. “Yes,” she said after a tense-as-a-bowstring pause. “I–I found out by accident. When we were all at Ashburn Abbey. Her latest manuscript,Lady Mirabella and the Midnight Monk, was caught up in the pile of books she gave to me to cheer me up and, well, it wasn’t hard to put two and two together. But I promised Artemis that I wouldn’t reveal her secret—hardly anyone else knows at all—and now I’ve been an unthinking idiot, blathering on about how much I love her books, and in the process, I’ve betrayed her.” She reached out and grasped his forearm. “Please, Papa. Please don’t be angry with Artemis. If you’re going to be angry with anyone, it should be with me for reading forbidden books behind your back.”
