Hetty was awakened from a doze in a chair by the sound of a door opening. She was about to make herself known to whoever had entered the library when someone else entered, too, and she heard Minerva say, “Well? What do you think? Am I right about Oliver and Miss Butterfield?”
Shrinking into the chair, she prayed she wouldn’t be noticed in the corner.
“It certainly looks that way.” It was Jarret’s voice. “He does seem to have genuine feelings for her. I’ve never witnessed him act like that over a woman. You should have seen him-ready to strike me when I suggested going after her myself.”
“What a brilliant touch!” Minerva cried. “I told you he liked her. And I’ll hazard a guess that she likes him, too. I went up to her room after they got back, and she blushed furiously when I asked if Oliver had behaved himself.”
“That’s the problem. Liking her is one thing, but whether he’ll act on the attraction honorably is another matter entirely. Oliver isn’t used to being around a woman he’s not allowed to…er…”
“Take to bed.”
Hetty blinked.
“My God, Minerva, don’t say things like that! You’re not supposed to know about such matters.”
“Pish posh. I could hardly grow up with a rogue for a father and three rogue brothers without hearing a few things.”
Hetty had to chomp on the inside of her cheek to stifle her laugh.
“Well, at least pretend you don’t know, will you?” Jarret grumbled. “One day you’ll say something like that in public and give me heart failure.

Author: Sabrina Jeffries