Chapter Three
Kitty took a deep breath. The bookshop was insanely busy.
The long-awaited book, The Mysterious Disappearance of a Villainous Pirate was available today.
The story was an adventure-mystery about a man called Pirate Dante, whispered to be the most odious man to ever captain a ship on the high seas, who suddenly disappeared with several chests of gold.
Well, no. The story was partly about him, but mostly about the group that was hunting him and his treasure.
Kitty wasn’t surprised so many people wanted a copy.
As its publisher, she’d read it over the last few days and found it enjoyable.
The tale ended with a young sailor finding the chests, making him wealthy.
Still, the mystery of what happened to Pirate Dante was left up to the readers to imagine, as well as how villainous he truly was.
Its author, John Hall, always concluded his stories on an ambiguous note.
Kitty normally hid out in her office, but on days like this, everyone needed to pitch in. She didn’t mind. Watching a patron leave, excited to read a story that came from her family’s shop, exhilarated her.
“Kitty,” her sister Hazel whispered loudly.
Why was she talking like that? She turned and found both Hazel and their shopworker Jillian Tierney motioning to someone in the shop. She frowned. What were they going on about? Kitty walked to them. “What is it?”
“The Marquess of Everly is here,” Hazel said, her voice reverberating with awe.
Her sister adored reading the gossip pages far more than she did. “Who?”
Jillian sighed with annoyance, apparently at Kitty’s ignorance. “He is from one of the most respected families of the ton and has just returned from the Continent. He is so handsome.”
Kitty shook her head and attempted to leave, but Hazel grasped her arm. “Oh, Kitty, have a bit of fun. Look at him. He looks like a prince from a fairy tale.”
She rolled her eyes, but it wasn’t hard to identify the man with whom they were enthralled.
Other women in the room were whispering about him as well.
He stood out and was certainly attractive with his broad shoulders, blond hair, and blue eyes.
And, she supposed, his title only added to his appeal, for some women.
He picked up a copy of the pirate story and headed to the counter. Hazel nudged her. “He is ready to buy his book. Go assist him and smile, but not overly large like you do when you are nervous. Just a nice gentle one, like when you’ve finished a lovely book.”
Perplexed, she drew her brows together. “Are you trying to insinuate I should flirt with him?”
They both nodded. Jillian giggled. “Why not?”
She shook her head. “You both have gone mad. Excuse me.”
Kitty rounded the counter. The marquess was reading the dedication page. She steadied herself, thinking about how Hazel had accused her of smiling overly large before she said, “Good day, my lord. Thank you for visiting my shop. Is there anything I can help you find?”
He glanced up and provided her with a lazy smile. “I imagine your shop has been filled with gentlemen buying this book.”
Her stomach dipped, startling her. Something about his smile and gaze warmed her and put her at ease. She expected him to be pretentious. Do not go thinking crazy thoughts.
Hazel and Jillian’s fanciful ideas were getting to her. This man’s mother ruled London society. Kitty should only be happy that he’d entered their bookshop.
Then again, their store was a strange place where people from all walks of life could be found.
Her parents had been intentional about having a variety of books and pricing things fairly.
Having the underground publications helped support those efforts.
Though today, Pirate Dante brought people through the doors.
“It has been our busiest day of the month,” she answered.
He wiggled his brows. “Did you read the story? If so, did you find Pirate Dante to be villainous or a decent man?”
“I think he is probably a combination of both, as are most people. None of us is inherently good or bad. We are products of our surroundings, which can change at any time, my lord.”
He seemed intrigued by her opinions, and her cheeks heated as he studied her. He asked, “I didn’t catch your name. What is it?”
She smiled, telling herself not to read too much into the question. “Miss Kitty Larson.”
“Oh! Your family owns this shop?”
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.”
He joined them on the dainty sofa, feeling slightly foolish, but he took his mother’s hand. “I have no bitterness over this choice. You and Father gave Julia and me so much. It is my duty to ensure the Everly title and all it entails are well cared for.”
His mother smiled at him, gratefully. She wiped her watery eyes. “I miss your father so much, but I am also so bloody angry with him.”
Oliver brushed away a stray tear on her cheek. “Let it go, Mother. Father was a well-meaning but not very wise man who became excited about a venture his new man-of-affairs told him about. It sounds like the man was very inexperienced. Father couldn’t have known.”
She pulled both him and Julia in for a hug. “He loved you both so much.” Releasing them, she stood and said, “I will tell Mrs. Fitzsimmons we would like some tea.”
Once she departed, Julia turned to him. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
Oliver laughed. “Yes, for the hundredth time.”
“Do you think Mrs. Dove-Lyon is close to finding you a bride?”
He wasn’t sure. “She is a peculiar lady, and odd games are played at her club.”
Julia’s eyes went dreamy. “I wish I could go to the Lyon’s Club.”
“There is no need for you to be present in such a place.”
His sister frowned at him. “You are no fun.”
He wrapped her in a hug. “No, I’m not. I’m a monster as a brother.”
“The worst,” she said. “But I do hope you find happiness, Oliver. Even if it means our newest family member will have atrocious taste in literature.”