She was lost in thought for a moment when she realized that she had not heard any news of the duke. She took that as a good sign, for the absence of his news meant that he had not yet planned to return. She sighed in relief with that realization and smiled. She turned her attention back to her book. She was so engrossed in the novel that she did not know time had past by. She did not know that a man was standing at the doorway watching her. Max had forgotten the purpose of his presence in the library as he watched her. When he got his wit about him, he walked toward her and halted only a few feet away from her. Ivy looked up and jumped in surprise, dropping the book. So many questions jumbled up in her head then. Why was he back? Why did the servant not tell her anything? Why did he have to come back so soon? “Your grace,” she whispered. He stared at her, and his gaze, she thought, would probably slice through her like a knife through apple if it had the power to. So sharp it was. He reached his hand out to her.
