Page 13

THE NEXT DAY ~ FIVE MINUTES TO FOUR

Dariusglanced at the bookstore entrance as he made his way to the coffee room, where a table had been set for tea.

Nosign of the impudent MissWeldon yet.

Alending library was a good idea.

Butwas establishing it in his new bookstore ideal?

Alreadyseated, Cassius hooked an ankle over his knee as he helped himself to a Shrewsbury tart.

“You could’ve said no, Dare.”

Athread of censure deepened Cassius’s voice. Of course, he knew what Darius was thinking. It had always been thus with them.

“You don’t believe a lending library benefits the community?” Cassius asked.

“Of course I do.” His left knee cocked, Darius rested one hand on his hip and the other on the back of a chair. “I’m simply unsure this is the right time or location. How will we prevent customers from waltzing out of the bookshop with new volumes?”

“Ahem.”

Asfetching as spring sunshine in a sky-blue gown and a straw bonnet with a matching blue ribbon tied beneath her chin, MissWeldon stood just inside the coffeehouse entrance. A rather bedraggled and worn leather satchel hung from one slender shoulder.

“I can answer that question, LordDarius.”

Howhad Darius not noticed her before? For the undeniable truth was that MissWeldon was imminently noticeable. In fact, she was quite unforgettable, with or without her deuced goose.

Hesearched near her feet.

ThankGod.

No bloody goose today.

Cassiussprang to his feet. “Do join us, MissWeldon.”

“Thank you.” She beamed at Cassius.

Darius’stwin tossed him a gloating glance.

Cassiuswas welcome to the chit. Lovely though she might be, MissAramintaWeldon was also impudent, brash, and had an odd notion of what constituted a pet.

Besides, Darius had his eyes on another prize with molasses-dark hair and eyes.

Except, now that he’d met MissWeldon and had taken to heart what Cassius had observed about Eudora, he no longer felt as convinced as he had yesterday about pursuing Eudora. At least not with the intensity he had before.

Therewas no need to rush things.

Hewould use his head and not his heart. Or was it merely his libido that had turned him into a beef-wit of late?

“Yes. Do.” Regardless, Cassius’s gallantry made Darius appear a churlish sod. “I would like to hear your solution, MissWeldon.”

Aftersettling gracefully onto the chair, MissWeldon slipped the satchel strap from her shoulder and withdrew a pair of well-used ledgers from their leather enclosure. She flipped the top book’s cover open, and Darius couldn’t help but notice her mended gloves were void of the beautiful embroidery adorning the one her pet goose had stolen yesterday and that had led to their calamitous meeting.

Afterresuming his seat, Cassius snatched another tart.

Dariusslid into a chair as well.

“Each book from the lending library shall be clearly marked inside the cover,” she said.