Willoughby 03 - A Rogue's Deadly Redemption by Jeannie Ruesch

stripes. It was a saying Aria had said once, and Lily felt it to her bones.
    Lily stepped through the doorway of The Rosemead Circulating Library and Reading Salon, the subscription library she had sponsored over a year and a half ago, and bells jingled above her head. She had wanted to offer a haven open to the public, for anyone who wanted to read, be read to or just enjoy books as much as she did.
    It had proven to be her haven.
    She had needed something, anything to take her mind from everything she’d lost. In the months since she had opened the library, it had become the place where she could retreat into other worlds and feel the joy that only a good book could bring. She’d begun to teach their less able members to read for themselves. The sense of accomplishment she’d earned had helped to ease the ache and fulfilled her in an unexpected way.
    The warmth of the main library buoyed her spirits. The welcoming perfume of the burning wood in the fireplace, the unique scent of crisp, clean books lining shelves and the aroma of East India tea tinged with cinnamon snuggled around her, settled all the way into her toes until she couldn’t wait to curl up on a chair and delve into discussion.
    “Lady Melrose!” The booming voice belonged to Mr. Carlton Hayes , the gentleman she had hired to maintain the library .
    He approached from behind on of the side counters with his wide grandfather’s smile, his bushy eyebrows waggling. “It is frightful outside, I wasn’t sure we would see you today.”
    She held up the books in her hand. “I wouldn’t miss it.” A pang of sadness halted her step.
    She would miss it.
    She could count future visits on her fingers now. She might attend two book discussions if she was lucky, before she left for America. Or walk through the reading salons, where the women she had taught develop their skills would be, talking or reading.
    Somehow, in the surety of her decision to leave, she had overlooked this. The thought tied her stomach in knots, but she shoved it down and painted a smile on her face.
    She would have to tell them as well.
    Mr. Hayes smiled in that sweet way of his, offering an air of comfort that so many adored about him. “Did you bring the new additions?”
    She sighed. “I had them tucked away in a safe place, which of course, I forgot all about. Tomorrow. You may add them to the lists.”
    The volumes they already had of Miss Austen’s works were always the first to be checked out, and they held lists a dozen people deep waiting to read. Their members eagerly awaited new books and Lily was determined to provide options since she believed it would be easier for the women to improve their reading skills if they read something they enjoyed.
    “Very good, my lady. And wonderful news: we acquired four new members this week.”
    “That is wonderful news, Mr. Hayes.”
    None of whom she would be present to talk with, to encourage. To help.
    Teaching had proven the biggest source of joy in her life. She was losing that. Uncertainty filled her. Was she doing the right thing in leaving? If she couldn’t even utter the words, was it the right choice?
    Or was she running away?
    “Are you all right, Lady Melrose?”
    Lily met his gaze. She had to tell him. They had to make plans for the library to continue on after she left. “I have something I need to discuss with you, Mr. Hayes. Perhaps after today’s reading?“
    “Of course.”
    “Lady Melrose!” A youthful, sweet voice echoed in her ear and Lily turned around. At the sight of the young girl who hurried toward her, Lily smiled.
    “Colette, you came.”
    Colette nodded, her bright red curls bobbing up and down with her enthusiasm. She clutched a copy of Cecilia to her chest, the book being discussed in the day’s discussion hour. “I worked an extra day the last three weeks, so I could be here today. I read the entire book, all by myself.” She held it up as though it would provide a testimonial.
    Lily leaned