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Whatthe devil was wrong with him?

Hewas interested in Eudora.

Yes, but that was before I met Araminta.

STOP.

Dariushad a complicated enough life. By thunder, he would not muddle it further by acting like a fickle debutante who couldn’t decide which beau she preferred.

MissWeldon pointed to her list, the angry red pinpricks on her fingertips a stark contrast to the pale paper. “In addition to all the library books being labeled and kept in a separate, clearly marked section of the bookstore, the library would only operate during specific hours while I am here. I would suggest a prominently displayed sign clearly stating the library’s hours.”

“Go on,” he urged, enjoying the sound of her husky voice. It soothed him in an unexpected and inexplicable manner.

“We could cover the shelves and rope or block off the library section outside lending hours.” She paused, and a small furrow creased her forehead. “I am forgetting something.”

Herexpression cleared, and her green eyes sparkled.

Greenalways had been his favorite color.

“Oh, my father says I may come on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from one to four in the afternoon. He thinks a library and bookshop can only benefit the community.”

Dariusnodded. At least he wouldn’t have to deal with the lending portion.

Thatwas a relief.

Hisbudget didn’t permit additional hired help just yet—only PhilipSherman to prepare the food and operate the coffeehouse. In time, Darius hoped to hire a cook and servers for the coffeehouse and clerks for the bookstore too.

“What if someone wants to return a book when you aren’t here?” He blew on his coffee before venturing a taste. Strong and black. Just how he preferred it.

“I can leave a crate marked BookReturn behind the counter or just outside the library’s roped-off area.” She fished in the satchel for a minute, then withdrew a few sheets of foolscap. “I made a list of the books I currently loan out.”

Hereyes glittered with excitement.

Thisventure was important to her. He found her enthusiasm touching.

“I’ve operated the library out of the parish salon for over three years.”

She’dsubdued her riot of flaxen curls into a chignon, though he doubted she’d ever achieve the sleek perfection of Eudora’s glossy tresses. Oddly, he’d thought of Eudora much less since yesterday. MissWeldon, on the other hand, had consumed his thoughts.

Well, not her, but her proposed library, of course.

“How old are you?” he blurted

Hermouth went slack, and her eyes widened. “I beg your pardon?”

Thequery surprised him as much as it did her.

Hescrambled for a reason to have asked the rude question. “You possess a rare maturity for a young woman.”

Shearched a winged eyebrow. “Are you calling me old?”

“No.” He fervently shook his head.

MissWeldon laughed, and Darius’s heart flipped over.

Howcould it be that in a day, she’d wriggled her way into his life so much that he had allowed her a lending library in his bookstore, that he was reevaluating his interest in EudoraClarke, and he had experienced a more potent reactions to Araminta than any woman he’d ever met?

“I’m teasing you, my lord.” Humor twinkled in her eyes and creased the corners of her mouth. “I am four and twenty.”