A Dove's Tale

Chapter 111

The alcove was getting a little too warm for afternoon reading, I thought, turning the page of my book. It wouldn't be so bad if I were still a maid, but now, with all the layers of undergarments, corset, and a long-sleeved, full-skirted dress, I was a little uncomfortable in the direct sunlight streaming through the window, and that would only get worse as spring turned to summer. Maybe I could talk to the seamstresses about making a few dresses out of a lighter material, or even a couple of short-sleeved, knee-length dresses for me to wear in the privacy of my room. A summer nightgown was a must. Nobody except Theresa would see me in it, anyway.

I sighed and marked my place in my book. Chevalier's private library would be cooler, and Gilbert hadn't shown up yet. Maybe he wouldn't. I'd agreed to meet him again because I'd been trying to get him to leave my room last night, but then he'd manipulated me into letting him stay longer. He might have said everything he wanted to say. That was fine with me. I closed my book, stood up, and jumped as my eyes landed on him, sitting on a nearby sofa.

"You really need to learn to be more observant, little dove."

"How long have you been sitting there?" I demanded. He stood up and walked toward me, but I held my ground. The window seat wouldn't allow a step backwards, anyway, and he'd already put me at a disadvantage. I couldn't afford to give him more leverage by showing any signs of fear.

"Not long. I didn't have the heart to interrupt such a gripping book."

His ice-cold hand closed around my wrist with the word 'gripping,' and he turned and walked across the library toward the back room, not slowing his stride at all for me.

"You don't have to drag me," I protested. "I agreed to meet you, and I always keep my word. You can ask Clavis if you don't believe me."

He opened the door and threw me inside. I stumbled and righted myself, spinning back to face him as he shut and locked the door behind him. Fear and anger bubbled in my chest. I chose anger.

"What are you doing?" I snapped.

"You said 'alone,'" he replied in a pleasant tone, crossing his arms and leaning back against the door. "Now, we're alone."

"We were alone in the main library, too."

"How do you know? You didn't even know I was watching you."

I took a deep breath and set my book on the end table with Chevalier's, forcing my white knuckles to unclench. "Fine. Why did you want to see me?"

He chuckled. "You're fun when you fight back."

"If you won't tell me, then I have a few questions I want to ask you," I said coolly.

"Go on."

Another deep breath. I had to stay calm if I wanted to maintain any semblance of control over this situation. "Why did you tell Chevalier where to find me?"

His blood-red eye remained trained on me, and his smile remained unchanged, but he didn't answer.

"You put Obsidian at a disadvantage," I pressed on. "Why would you do that?"

Silence.

"I'm not naïve enough to think you love or care for me, and I don't think you feel a sense of duty because of a marriage agreement our parents made, so why?"

"You've been thinking about this."

"I've been trying not to think about it," I replied. "Ever since Clavis told me it was your information that helped them find me - even before that. He told me during the gala about how you look the other way when he helps Obsidianite refugees, and then there's the night when you came to my room right after Chevalier rescued me, and I just don't know what to think about you."