Page 8 of Read To Me, Lyon

Kitty nodded. “Yes, it is our passion to provide books to all.”

“A most noble endeavor,” he said.

The compliment made her go warm. “Thank you, my lord. I agree. Reading has the ability to alter one’s life.”

He contemplated her words, then, as if suddenly remembering he was a marquess and she was a shopkeeper, shook his head. “I apologize, I’m keeping you away from your work. What do I owe you?”

Kitty found herself wanting to tell him that he wasn’t keeping her from anything that couldn’t wait, but what was the point? He was the Marquess of Everly. So famous, people who weren’t even part of the ton, like Hazel and Jillian, knew him on sight. In her shop! He hadn’t even sent a servant to get the book for him, but come himself. “Five shillings.”

He handed her the money. “I think I will end up agreeing with you, Miss Larson, on your assessment of Pirate Dante.”

She smiled. “I just hope you enjoy the story.”

Kitty watched him leave the shop, feeling as if she was saying goodbye to a dear friend even though she didn’t know him at all. Maybe something different than a friend, as she agreed with Jillian and Hazel that the man was worth swooning over. It had nothing to do with his title or how handsome he was. Lord Everly had been far more personable than any lord she’d ever encountered. She wondered if her future husband would be that friendly.

“What did he say to you?” Hazel said as she and Jillian joined her, giggling.

She rolled her eyes. “Nothing beyond discussions on the book.”

Kitty wasn’t lying, yet she wasn’t sure she revealed the whole truth. Something about him lingered with her. Sighing, she shook her head. “I’m going to the back to see if Jack Green will bring in more books from the stockroom.”

Jillian sighed. “I wish Lord Everly had taken a liking to you. He’d be the perfect husband, if you could pick one.”

Shaking her head, Kitty left them at the counter to deal with the customers. She would be getting married soon. Daydreaming about some highly sought-after lord wasn’t her focus.

Oliver shut his copy of The Mysterious Disappearance of a Villainous Pirate. Miss Larson had been correct. Dante couldn’t be labeled as evil or good. Even in the story, there had been moments of both. He was surprised the book had been marketed to focus on the sailor who discovered the treasure, because he found the pirate’s complexity more fascinating.

He wondered why Mrs. Dove-Lyon wanted him to acquire this book. Did his potential future bride enjoy these types of stories? If so, he thought they’d suit fine. He was about to marry a stranger. Oliver didn’t feel bitterness about the situation, but he’d be lying if he didn’t acknowledge feeling a sense of loss about not having a choice.

Absurdly, Miss Larson flashed in his mind. He’d enjoyed speaking with her at the bookshop a few days earlier. He’d been drawn to her. She was beautiful, but it was more than that. Something about her had put him at ease. He’d wanted to linger in the store, but he’d forced himself to leave. Oliver was on the verge of marrying someone else. There was no reason to stay. He wasn’t the type of man who would step outside of his marriage. He couldn’t ever fathom it; not when he’d grown up with parents so dedicated to each other.

His mother and sister entered the room and joined him in the sitting area. Julia glanced at his book. “Everyone is excited for John Hall’s newest book, but I detest his stories. They are always so open-ended. Books are meant to have a final ending, not some ambiguous conclusion.”

He chuckled. “I enjoyed it, but you are right. The ending is designed to make you ponder what happened to the pirate. And maybe leave the way open if the author decides to write a sequel; people will buy the book to finally get that ending.”

“No, thank you,” his sister stated.

Oliver shook his head at his sister. Their taste in books was so drastically different.

His mother, not interested in their debate, asked, “Have you heard from Mrs. Dove-Lyon?”

“She was the one who told me to buy this book.”

“Well, lucky for you, maybe that means your wife will have the same atrocious taste in reading,” Julia pointed out.

His mother rolled her eyes at his sister. “Be nice.”

“I’m serious. Oliver loves to read. It will be beneficial if she likes similar stories.”

His mother eyed Julia skeptically but turned back to him. “How are you feeling about the arrangement with the proprietor of the Lyon’s Den? I was wondering if we should take out a loan instead.”

“No, I don’t want us to become embroiled in debt.”

His mother’s eyes filled with tears. “I feel like the worst parent, asking you to do this when your father and I were a love match.”

Oliver shook his head. “You didn’t ask me. I decided on my own that this was necessary.”

His mother sniffled, and Julia gave her a side hug. “Don’t fret, Mother. Everyone loves Oliver. I’m sure this lady will, too.”