Page 30 of Read To Me, Lyon

Jack, having had enough, stalked to the door and yanked it open. “Mr. Larson, you’ve collected your money. It is time to go.”

Her uncle glared at Jack but walked to the exit. Still, before departing, he said, “Your husband’s family doesn’t endure scandals. They remove them. That is exactly what will happen to this place once he becomes aware of your secrets.”

“Thank you for your wisdom,” Kitty bit out. She would not show this man how much his words affected her. Still, her heart pounded because he was speaking aloud every fear she had.

“You keep me happy, and I will keep your secret,” Uncle Dominic said, and then he disappeared into the night.

Jack slammed the door. “I detest that man. He did similar things to your father all the time. Always threatening that the underground books were on the cusp of being discovered, and it was always his doing.”

The books were too important, Kitty thought to herself. She wouldn’t allow anyone to shut it down. Not her uncle or Oliver.

“You must tell Lord Everly, and make a decision together,” Jack advised.

“It isn’t his business.”

Shannon walked to Kitty and placed a comforting hand on her arm. “No, it isn’t, but your uncle will always blackmail you if you don’t. It isn’t right.”

“Do you think Oliver will want me to shut it down?”

Shannon and Jack glanced at each other, and unease bubbled in Kitty’s belly. Shannon stated, “We’ve been so lucky no one has revealed the illegal side of the business yet. Maybe it is time.”

Kitty shook her head. “No, it is too important. Women who come here understand the value of this place when it comes to banned books. They will always protect it.”

“But your uncle knows about it, and he won’t,” Jack said bluntly.

Their illicit publications were especially important for women. Some purchases furthered their knowledge, provided pure enjoyment, or explained something not openly discussed in public. None of it was truly scandalous, and was often information that men readily had access to. It wasn’t right.

She wouldn’t allow anyone to take books away from the women who relied on them, not her uncle nor Oliver.

“Don’t let your Uncle Dominic get in your head,” Shannon said.

His words already were. She asked Jack, “Can you please tell the driver to ready the carriage?”

An hour later, the vehicle came to a stop. Kitty was exhausted and thankful Anna was the only one home. No one in the townhouse should know she was gone. The carriage and driver were employed by her business, and earlier she had departed for the bookshop after most of the townhouse staff escaped to their rooms and floor for the evening.

Hanson would be back down when her sister, Julia, and Oliver’s mother, Eloise, returned from the ball, but that wasn’t for at least another hour or two. The driver helped her out of the carriage. She smiled politely. “Thank you, Richards.”

He lit a lantern from the carriage lamp before handing it to her. “Of course, my lady. I will stay until you enter the building.”

She nodded and quietly walked toward the back of the townhouse, but passed the kitchen. Oliver had shown her a secret door used by the staff when wanting to circumvent the usual entrances. It had been built and used by one of his ancestors to sneak in his mistress. The hidden entrance opened into a narrow hallway, leading to a secret door that led to the study.

Kitty pressed her hand along the stonewall, searching for a latch, and breathed a sigh of relief when the discreet door pushed inward. Kitty waved goodbye to Richards and walked through the entrance. She weaved her way down the corridor but stumbled to a stop when she saw light sneaking out of the study. It had been dark when she left. Who could it be?

Her heart pounded, sensing it was her husband. She stared down the corridor, wondering if she should try another way, but what was the use if Oliver was home and knew she was out but not at the ball.

Taking a deep breath, Kitty pushed open the panel leading into the study. Her handsome husband sat in a wingback chair facing the corridor entrance, his legs spread wide and a glass of brandy resting on his knee.

Kitty swallowed nervously. “Hello, Oliver.”

Oliver’s gaze flicked over his wife. She seemed tired and rumpled, and an evil feeling of jealousy uncoiled in his belly. What was she doing, using the secret entrance? Why? What had she been up to, and who had she been with?

She placed the lantern on a table. He said nothing. He wanted to roar at her, but he didn’t. He loved this woman and couldn’t fathom on any other occasion bellowing at her, so he wouldn’t now. Suppressing his baser instinct, he forced himself to be calm and waited, raising his glass to his lips to sip the brandy.

She shifted back and forth on her feet. Still, Oliver said nothing. He searched his mind for any valid reason his wife would be out late and alone in the evening, yet nothing but salacious ideas filled his head. If he stepped near her, would he smell the scent of another man’s pipe? If he kissed her, would he taste another man’s favorite brandy on her lips?

She still hadn’t said anything. He placed his glass on the table and rose. Kitty walked backward until her back bumped into the panel hiding the secret entrance. He moved closer to her, gently placing a hand on either side of her head, boxing her in. “Where have you been, Kitty?”

His wife remained quiet.