One Enchanted Christmas by Heather Boyd

Author:Heather Boyd [Boyd, Heather]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-925239-73-7
Publisher: Heather Boyd

Chapter 8

Otis rested his feet on the wall in the corner of the library and wet his finger, ready to turn the page. Meg’s book was truly terrible but he couldn’t rest until he’d caught up with the beginning of the story. He’d sent Lady Margaret a request for the loan of the book so he could catch up late last night, and his valet had delivered it to him at daybreak, before he’d managed to make plans to do anything else.

Beginning a story in the middle had been vastly unsatisfying to him, and he wanted to discuss the whole book with Lady Margaret the next time they met for a reading. Thankfully, he was a quick reader, and he was already a quarter of the way through the story. Unfortunately, his meeting with Meg to read together would be delayed because he was required to spend time with the Milnes that afternoon instead. Father had insisted on being present.

Otis was expected to meet with them at four in this room, resplendent to begin a courtship, but the story was much more interesting than sizing up any woman for marriage.

He lifted his eyes and rested the open book against his chest and gave thanks for Lady Margaret and her unusual choice of reading material. Otis found her utterly charming and far more interesting than Miss Milne. Lady Margaret was quite the surprise really, given the odd remarks Hector had said to her detriment in recent years. Very lively—now that she’d settled into the informal pace of the estate and its occupants. Much more talkative than upon her arrival, too, and spending time with her was no hardship. So entirely kissable that he didn’t quite trust himself still.

It was clear that Mother’s affection for Lady Margaret was reciprocated, and his siblings begged for her company constantly. Hector would obviously have no trouble finding her a husband once she was comfortable with the idea. She seemed a truly uncomplicated creature. That was a quality quite rare in his experience with women of the ton.

“Yes, I think we will all be very comfortable here,” a man said suddenly to Otis’ right.

“I hope so,” a woman replied.

Otis risked a peek as the voices grew louder and louder. No doubt it was the Milnes prowling the house. They were drawing closer to the library and his hiding spot. He could not see them but because he’d left the door slightly ajar, what he soon heard was more than enough for one day.

He closed Meg’s book and set it behind him.

“Vyne assures me he’ll propose before the week is out,” Mr. Milne boasted.

“Yes, Papa,” Miss Milne agreed, but to Otis, she did not sound so confident about her chances.

Good.

The library door handle rattled, and then Mr. Milne pushed both doors wide to admit them.

Otis quietly set his feet on the floor. He had been hoping to avoid the Milnes for a little longer but it appeared his luck had run out. Mr. Milne strode to the center of the room and looked about as if he owned the place.

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