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“Do you mind if I get a book?” she asked. “I don’t really want to do anything except read. It’s been a long day.”
“Of course, dear. Take whatever you like.” Lady Derbyshire peered at her. “Unless you want to retire. You do look a bit pale.”
“I’m fine. I just want to curl up in a corner.” Although retiring now did sound tempting. Dorothy managed a smile. “I won’t be long.”
“Take your time. It’s a week where we don’t have to worry too much about formalities.” Lady Derbyshire winked. “It’s a holiday for you as well. Make the most of it.”
Dorothy liked the sound of that. She left the dining room and made her way back to the library. If she was honest, this was the room where she felt the most peace. It was a huge room, with books going from floor to ceiling. There was even a ladder that was needed to get to the higher shelves.
Dorothy had been itching to explore, but she hadn’t had much of a chance. Maybe she could now.
Putting the ladder against a bookcase, she climbed up to the top shelf and perused the shelves. There were a lot of different topics, just slotted together in an order that didn’t make sense. It wasn’t in alphabetical order, or even subject order. It was just put on the shelf and left it.
Dorothy wondered what the marquess would say if she spent a couple of days reorganising the books into an order that would be satisfactory. At least they would be able to find anything.
Then she spied a book further along the shelf, just out of reach. The spine said it was about art in Italy. It looked interesting, and it mentioned art. Dorothy could get easily sucked into anything involving the subject. But it was just out of reach of her hand. It would mean getting down again, and then she would have to climb up for a second time. Dorothy didn’t want to do that.
As long as she was careful and stretched a little more.
Her fingers were gripping the edge of the spine, and she was tugging it off the shelf when Dorothy felt the ladder moving. It was starting to tip to one side. Panicking, she pulled back to put the ladder back on both legs, but this caused it to rock and fall back, taking her with it. Dorothy tried to scream, but all she could do was gasp, her body bracing for impact.
This was going to really hurt.
She hit something hard and warm and heard a grunt from whatever she hit – nowhere near the ground – and then arms wrapped around her as she carried on down. Whoever had grabbed onto her hit the floor before she did, and there was a gasp from them both. The top of the ladder hit Dorothy in the chest, and she cried out as it seemed to bounce off her breastbone.
Yes, that did hurt a lot.
Then there was a groan from the man underneath Dorothy. At that point, Dorothy realised someone had caught her from hitting the floor, and she pushed the ladder off her, rolling off him and pushing onto her knees.
Only to stare at Lucas Dashwood, lying on the floor with a painful expression.
“Lord Dashwood?”
“I’m glad you remember my name after that,” he gasped, staring at the ceiling. “At least you didn’t hit your head.”
“Oh, goodness!” Dorothy shuffled closer. “Are you alright?”
“I’ve been better. I think I need a moment before I get up.” He turned his head, fixing his gaze on her. “Are you alright? You fell almost from the ceiling.”
“I’m alright. I think.”
Although her body would hurt in the morning when she had a nice bruise across her chest. Dorothy swallowed.
“Thank you. For saving me.”
“I’m happy to help. At least you won’t be found in a broken heap on the floor.” Dashwood flinched as he slowly sat up. “I might be the broken one, though.”
“Should you be getting up?”
“I know you like seeing me helpless and at someone’s mercy, but I’m not about to lie here on the rug forever.” Dashwood got up slowly, leaning against the nearby settee. “Thank goodness you completely missed hitting anything. It could have been worse.”
“I realise that.” Dorothy got to her feet and dusted herself down, adjusting her dress. It felt like it had been twisted a little. Thankfully, nothing was on display that shouldn’t be. “What are you doing in here?”
“I saw you going in another direction, and I wanted to make sure you were alright.”
“I don’t believe you.”
Dashwood spread his hands.
