He reached her side and began walking at a pace matching her own, smiling warmly at her. She blushed and smiled at him, suddenly feeling shy.
They walked along, trailing behind the animated group of party guests. Daniel was walking closely enough to Rose that once, his hand brushed hers. She blushed again, wishing that she could take his hand. She gave herself a mental shake, but she did not widen the space between them.
As they reached the library, to which the door was wide open, Daniel stopped. Rose turned back and looked at him as he stared at the vast collection of books within with what she was sure was awe and admiration.
She wondered if Daniel shared her love for literature. He answered her unasked question by stepping inside the library and gently caressing the spines of some of the books.
“This is an impressive collection,” Daniel said, his voice full of the same wonder that his expression held.
“Indeed, it is,” Rose agreed. “I have told Mary how envious I am of her library on many occasions.”
“Is she a reader?” Daniel asked.
Rose giggled.
“Not really,” she said.
“That is a shame,” Daniel said. “Literature is wonderful, full of all sorts of adventure, imagination, and information.”
Rose’s heart skipped.
“It certainly is,” she said. “I have loved books since I was a young child.”
Daniel looked at her, his smile lighting up his entire face.
“What do you enjoy reading?” he asked. To Rose, he looked like an excited child, and she could not help smiling widely.
“Anything and everything,” she said. “I am currently enthralled with Jane Austen’s work.”
Daniel nodded emphatically.
“She is a wonderful author,” he said. “Have you read The Complete Grimm’s Fairy Tales?”
Rose shook her head.
“No,” she said.
“It is a fairly new publication by Jacob Grimm,” Daniel continued. “I am halfway through it, and it is fantastic.”
Rose laughed, catching Daniel’s infectious enthusiasm.
“Then I shall have to read it, as well,” she said.
“And I especially enjoy reading plays,” he said. For a brief moment, Daniel’s face changed, flickering a strange combination of emotions, but it was gone as quickly as Rose noticed it. Rose blinked, thinking to ask Daniel about it. But his boyish smile widened, and the handsome charm of it quickly made Rose forget the thought.
“I have loved all things related to the theater all my life,” she said.
Daniel nodded again.
“I know,” he said.
Rose frowned in puzzlement.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
Daniel smiled with bemusement, but his eyes widened for just a fraction of a second.
“Well, your father owns the theater,” he said. “And you seem to love it every bit as much as he does. Then, there is your determination to figure out who was behind the chandelier incident. So, it stands to reason that you would have been born into your love of the theater.”
Rose flushed. Of course, he would have observed those things, she thought, mentally cursing herself. How silly of me.
“I suppose it is rather obvious,” she said sheepishly.
Daniel took a step toward her, still smiling.
“And quite charming,” he said.
Rose was acutely aware that it was just the two of them in the library. If someone should come looking for them and spot them alone together, it would likely cause quite a scandal. The flush in her cheeks deepened.
“Perhaps we should join the others in the garden,” she said. She tried to take a step toward the library door, but she found her feet unwilling to cooperate. In truth, she did not mind being there with Daniel, especially alone. But she did not wish to cause any sort of scandal in her friend’s home, because any resulting rumors might affect Mary, as well.
“Perhaps you are right,” Daniel said, though he, too, stayed where he was standing. He eyed the bookshelf, carefully removing a book. He turned it over in his hands, looking at the cover almost lovingly. He held it up to Rose, and she saw that it was Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
Rose had been wanting to read that book, as well, and she felt a pang of jealousy that her friend had a copy, which, she was certain, would only sit and collect dust on its shelf.
“I believe this would make a good play,” Daniel said thoughtfully. “Though I suspect that it would be quite a costly production.”
Rose thought about some of the more expensive productions that her father’s theater had put on, which were often works of Shakespeare. Her father always had a good number of well-to-do investors, which enabled him to ensure the best quality went into each production at the theater. However, many of the productions did, indeed, become rather expensive. Thankfully, everyone loved their theater, and the steady patronage kept them from suffering financial losses, even with the costliest shows.
“From what I have heard of the story, I believe you are right,” she said. “But it does sound like it would make a great play, indeed, given the right financial resources.”
Daniel nodded.
“You know, I am considering investing in the arts, in the very near future,” he said, gently placing the book back in its place on the shelf.
Rose looked at Daniel, her heart swelling. That he was handsome and intelligent were well enough. But he also shared her love of books and the theater and was interested in supporting the arts.
In that moment, her feelings for Daniel had never been stronger. She moved her gaze from him and pretended to be examining the rows of books, so that he would not notice her staring at him.
She did love him, but her heart was far from easy. She bit back a sigh as she realized that, to progress in a relationship with Daniel, she would have to well and truly let go of the Specter.
She decided that she would meet with him just once more and ask him to reveal his identity. Only then would she be able to put the fantasy of him behind her and move on.
Daniel sighed and looked at Rose with a suddenly grave expression. He squared his shoulders as though bracing himself for something. Rose looked at him, startled.
“Lady Rose,” he said. “May I speak with you about a very important, personal matter?”
Rose’s heart fell. She was certain that he had somehow guessed her thoughts, and more certain still that he was about to tell her that he did not love her.
She put on her best brave face and steeled herself for what must be coming next.