Page 20 of The Wise Daughter

Nora strode through the castle, smugly satisfied she was finding her way perfectly well by herself.

Every sconce, every tapestry, and every stern or critical glare from a portrait became a landmark to guide her through the endless corridors.

She was pleased to see that, more often than not, the maids and footman she passed returned her greetings with their own smiles.

When the duke had not come to find her that morning to breakfast with him, she had given into her curiosity and asked where she could find him.

The music room. Of course. She should have guessed. After the ordeal with the chimney sweep and all that she had observed there, Nora was certain there had to be more to that room than what she had seen.

Finding the tapestry with the deer on it that marked where she turned, she stepped swiftly down the long corridor until she came to the music room’s door. Unsure whether to enter right away or knock, she hesitated, then went inside.

Why should I knock if this is to be my future home?

Nora placed a hand on her stomach and closed her eyes. Future home? Just days ago, she would have given a resolute no to the possibility, but today?

She still was not confident enough in the engagement to think she could go through with it.

There was so much she did not know about the duke.

Even Mr. Hunt, who had tried to court Nora in West Riding, had also seemed perfectly kind and gentlemanly until she learned of how cruelly he treated his servants.

But she no longer felt certain that her answer to the duke was no.

Nora was disappointed to find the music room empty. Her duke was not there.

Even stripped of furnishings and adornments, the room was impressive.

Lavish, though dusty, silver curtains framed the windows where sunlight entered.

Elaborate white wood paneling lined the otherwise sky-blue walls.

She could imagine the round, vaulted ceilings swelling with music in years gone by.

Concerts, dancing, plays, there were so many possibilities in a room like this. So where had all the instruments gone?

And where was her duke?

She stopped abruptly. In the middle of the room was a small dusting of paint and plaster and splinters of wood that she didn’t recall being there last time. There were also more scratches on the wood floor in the center of the room than anywhere else.

She picked a few scattered sheets of music off the floor and blew off dust and soot.

The pages held simplified songs with the name Aaron Derricott written at the top in large, unsteady letters with the D written backwards.

She couldn’t help but smile. Was this why the room was so special?

Had he learned to play the pianoforte here?

A giddy rush spread to her fingertips. This was something she and the duke could share.

Memories of all the concerts she had hosted with her mother made her hungry for the music she had once enjoyed.

When her mother died, there had been no reason for concerts.

It was just another part of the life Nora had left behind in West Riding, but if the duke would play for her, she might find the motivation to revive that part of her life.

She let the hope linger as she went to the pianoforte and laid the duke’s childhood sheet music on the stand.

Nora had been an utter disappointment at the pianoforte, but she knew how to read music.

Hitting the first note, she laughed at the disharmonious twang that echoed more loudly through the room than she had expected, but the sound still invited her voice.

A gentle hum vibrated in her chest, warming her and filling her until words formed and her voice filled every corner of the room. The music carried her until she could no longer stand still. Lifting her skirt, she stepped and spun, and then–

“Nora!”

She looked up to see the duke rushing toward her, his brow dark, his eyes severe. How had she not heard him enter? He’s upset with me. Her heart gave a strange tremor.

“I’m sorry if I should not have come here without you. I meant no offense. I–”

He seized her arm and pulled her hard against his chest where she was buried in his embrace.

Instinct instantly made her push back. “How dare you?”

But he held fast, picked her up, and moved her several paces away.

What was going on? Was he intoxicated? She would never agree to marry a man who was forceful.

She was considering a well-placed kick when a raucous crash like a sudden rainstorm rattled the ground where she had been standing seconds earlier.

Several pieces of broken crystal hit the back of the duke.

The three-tiered chandelier, along with endless bits of broken crystal lay scattered across the floor like glistening ice.

He loosened his hold and searched her face, his own now flooded with concern. She realized she was gripping the lapels of his jacket. When had she taken hold of them?

The chandelier, now partially wedged between the split wooden floorboards, stood tilted sideways like a fallen cake.

How close had Nora come to being flattened or raked by broken shards?

If he hadn’t found her in time… A shiver raced up and down her spine, and suddenly, her legs shook as if she had just been running.

She closed her eyes and let him hold her, his warm, spicy citrus scent steadying her breathing.

He finally spoke, his voice low and gravelly. “Are you hurt, Nora?”

“Not at all.” His chest now seemed like the most sensible place to rest. She listened his heart pounding a continuous, urgent beat.

“Nora, why did you come here?”

Her reasons now felt silly. “I wanted to find you.”

“Me? Really?”

His arms tightened around her just a little, but the heady sensation of being so close was too much. She had stayed in his arms too long.

She smoothed out his lapels and gently stepped out of his embrace, wishing she had taken one last breath of his scent before creating the distance. “This room means a great deal to you, doesn’t it?”

He frowned at the broken chandelier and looked up at the gaping hole in the ceiling where it had hung. “Yes, it does.” His green eyes seemed to see something she didn’t, another secret he was guarding.

“Wouldn’t the thieves be interested in the room for that very reason?”

He stepped around the chandelier, his boots crunching over the broken bits.

“I sincerely hope you are wrong, but I’ve been wondering the same thing.

I only learned of the disarray of this room when I first showed it to you.

Carver assures me the instruments and paintings are safe, but he also disclosed that my mother’s flute has been stolen.

” He bent down, examining the broken floorboards and shook his head.

“More repairs in a growing list. Another theft in a list too long to remember. And now, another accident.”

“Another?”

He met her eye. Yes, another. A flurry of chills ran down her spine. Had he meant to give that fact away? Nora did not miss his clenched fist, the way he closed his eyes and swallowed, before looking away. So overwhelmed but trying to appear strong.

“This room brings to mind so many memories. So many secrets.”

Nora wandered to the pianoforte where the duke’s old sheet music still sat. “Like the fact that you know how to play the pianoforte?”

“How did you discover that?”

She smiled, thinking of the backwards D. “I found your sheet music. Would you…” She couldn’t tell whether he would be in the mood to indulge her, but the feel of his embrace still lingering on her arms gave her confidence. “Would you play for me?”

She held her breath, just as she had when wishing on the bridge, silently whispering a plea in her thoughts. Please. Give me something to learn who you are.

His smile was regretful. “Perhaps another time.” Before she could be too disappointed, he added, “But there is another secret I would like to show you.”