A Love So Dark (The Dark Regency Series Book 4) by Chasity Bowlin

you… and your plain, little bride.”
    Griffin cursed under his breath. “Leave her be, Florence, or so help me I will toss you out into the snow myself!”
    “I will see you at dinner,” she said.
    “No. You will not. You will take a tray in your room and I will make your excuses,” he said. “I’m not going to have you tormenting her there!”
    ***
    Olympia had taken a minor detour to the library before returning to her room. Upon her entrance, she found Collins coming from her dressing room nestled between her chamber and Lord Darke’s. She was white as a sheet and appeared nervous.
    “Collins, has something happened?”
    “No, m’lady,” the maid said, shaking her head vigorously. “Just got a bit spooked is all. This house is so big and so drafty, and all them tall tales from my grandmother started wafting through my head while I was alone up here. It’s nothing.”
    Relieved at the explanation, Olympia nodded. “Fetch me those letters and the journal Collins, and then return an hour before dinner. I mean to find out all I can from them!”
    “Yes, m’lady… The other Lady Darke, the one was married to Lord Darke’s uncle—.” The maid broke off abruptly.
    “Yes, Collins? What about her?”
    “Don’t trust her, m’lady. Not as far as you can throw her.”
    Olympia nodded. “I have no intention of trusting anyone in this house save for you. And thank you, Collins… for everything.”
    Looking much relieved, the maid fetched the books from where she’d hidden them, tucked carefully into the lining under the chair that sat before the window. Olympia accepted them from her and then sat down at her small writing desk to begin her study of them. She had the feeling that whatever information was contained within them would be very important.

Nine
    O lympia dressed for dinner with care. She was acutely aware of the fact that she would have to withstand the presence of Lady Florence and she wanted—no, she needed —to put her best foot forward. It was a kind of armor, really. And it did truly feel as if she were on the verge of battle.
    She hadn’t seen Griffin since their encounter in the hall, when he’d announced his decision to make theirs a marriage in truth. It was mostly by her own design that she’d remained hidden in her room for the remainder of the day to avoid any further conflicts with either Lady Florence or Mrs. Webster. Neither woman was to be trusted and while her place at Darkwood Hall was becoming more certain, that only increased their enmity. With Collins as her only true ally, she was sadly outmatched and she knew it.
    While her chambers were grand and luxurious, after a certain number of hours, they still felt like a prison. The only bright spot in the entire ordeal was the realization that it had once been Lady Florence’s chamber and she’d had to forfeit it. It was something of a consolation prize.
    Olympia reflected that the room was certainly finer than any place she’d ever called her own before. The modest townhouse that had belonged to her parents had been comfortable and more than adequate for their needs, but it hadn’t been overly luxurious.
    The room was done in rich shades of apricot and blue. The carpet and the drapes complemented one another perfectly. The bed curtains were of the same fabric that covered the windows and the furniture was all intricately carved and quite lovely. The frescoed ceiling would take some getting used to, she thought. The nymphs and satyrs appeared to be leering down at her. It was as feminine as Lord Darke’s chamber had been masculine.
    Would he join her in her bed, or would he expect her to come to his?
    It wasn’t the first unbidden question to come to her mind about what her husband might expect of her. Her traitorous mind had tormented her with such thoughts throughout the afternoon. A part of her was eager to learn, to explore the notion of passion and desire. Another part of her simply wanted it all done. The