Page 51 of Juliet's Touch

She smiled. “Oh, yes. I would like that very much.”

“I look forward to it.” He hoisted her off the desk, set her on her feet, and arranged her nightdress. Handing her the lantern, he ushered her toward the door. Although he wanted to escort her to her chamber, he had to send her on her way. Ironically, his desire to be chivalrous would ruin her reputation if they were seen alone together in the middle of the night.

Once he made sure the hallway was empty, he held the door open. “You go first,” he told her.

She sent him an over-the-shoulder coquettish smile. “I will see you at breakfast.”

Perhaps he should have been mournful because she looked wraithlike in her white nightdress, the light from the lantern casting shadows, as she disappeared into the dark. Instead, his heart was hopeful for the first time in his seven and twenty years. Juliet seemed to be as infatuated with him as he was with her. Despite his attempts to always keep his pride in check, he couldn’t help but think her desire to look at the book had something to do with him.

The book?Christ.They’d left it lying by the desk.

He hurriedly retrieved it. Tucking it beneath his arm, he stole through the dark to his room, where he tumbled into bed, and for the first time in forever, slept like the dead.