Romance: Detective Romance: A Vicious Affair (Victorian Regency Intrigue 19th England Romance) (Historical Mystery Detective Romance) by Lisa Andersen

then another, and soon the room had become unfocused. The Duke laughed. “I believe you are drunk,” he said.
    “Me! No, my lord, never!”
    He laughed again and Elizabeth laughed with him. The sound of her own laughter startled her, so rarely did she hear it. It was like listening to the laughter of a stranger. She sounded happier than she had sounded in a long time, this stranger; and Elizabeth was happy for her. After dinner, the Duke took her arm and led her from the dining room.
    He led her through the Castle, past old paintings of previous Dukes and ladies, past ornate suits of armor, past mounted animal heads, to a cavernous room. The room was dim, and the Duke rushed around lighting torches in the walls. When the torches plumed their orange light, Elizabeth took in a quick, frantic breath. The room was lined with shelf upon shelf, and upon each shelf sat dozens and dozens – or hundreds and hundreds – of books. Perhaps it was the wine, or the shock, but Elizabeth threw herself down in a nearby chair and looked around at the books.
    “This is incredible,” she said. “This is absolutely incredible. How many are there? There must be thousands!”
    “You like it?” the Duke said. “I am glad. This library is yours, if you will accept my proposal.”
    “Your proposal?”
    The Duke stood behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders. “I wish you to be my wife, Elizabeth Hawk. Yes, we do not know each other well at all, but that need not hinder us. How many men and women become husband and wife simply through the exchange of letters? We are steps above them already, as one hour spent in person is worth one-hundred letters. I also believe it will be beneficial for your family. Of course I will settle your father’s debts.”
    “But why?” Elizabeth blurted, the only thing she could think to say. “You could have anybody.”
    “I do not want anybody.” The Duke’s voice had not altered from the crisp deadpan monotone, in which no emotion was heard. “I want you. You are not like other women. You have not got their pretentiousness, their entitlement. You enjoy the quiet and nature and that is enough for me.”
    Elizabeth knew she should say yes, but for some reason the word simply wouldn’t part her lips. She didn’t feel comfortable marrying a man she had only known for two days, no matter how fine of a match it was. She knew he was right; marriages were often built upon the man and wife never having met once. But she had never wanted a marriage like that. In fact, had she ever wanted a marriage? She couldn’t recall fantasizing about it, like other girls must have done.
    “I need to think,” she said. “May I give you my answer at the end of the week?”
    The Duke bowed slightly. “Of course. Now, let us enjoy the books.”
    Together they walked through the stacks of books, occasionally picking one down and reading, sometimes just looking at the worn, ancient covers. Elizabeth found masses of French novels, which she picked up and looked over. She had enough French to read sentimental novels – some of her favorite novels were French – and she had a grand time reading over these. She began to amass a pile of a nearby table, which she would take back to her bedroom to read later. The Duke watched her with a sort of pride as she navigated the books. Whether it was pride for the books or pride for her, Elizabeth didn’t know. All she knew was that she liked the look in the Duke’s eyes. It was almost human. And a slight smile touched his otherwise straight-line lips.
    “Are you having fun?” the Duke said, when she had piled up around ten books.
    “Yes, yes!” Elizabeth beamed. “I have never seen so many books. Even if I lived a hundred years I would never be able to read so many books!”
    “I know,” the Duke said. “It is a travesty that people must go without books when I have so many which I rarely read.”
    “You have lived it, though, haven’t you?”
    “I have lived