Chapter 7. spider

The Varrow estate's library was a cavernous expanse of polished mahogany shelves, their surfaces lined with thick tomes and delicate scrolls. A soft hush lingered in the air, broken only by the faint rustle of paper and the occasional crackle of the fireplace.

Celeste stepped inside, her heels clicking softly on the marble floor. The library had always been one of the estate's quieter corners, a refuge from the constant swirl of politics and gossip. Tonight, however, it wasn't solace she sought.

"Lady Varrow."

The deep, resonant voice cut through the stillness, and Celeste turned sharply toward its source.

Duke Durand stood near one of the grand tables, a thick volume open before him. He was a man of commanding presence, tall and broad-shouldered, with streaks of silver running through his dark hair. His piercing gray eyes fixed on her, sharp and assessing.