“Tea would be lovely, thank you.” She pulled off her gloves and unhooked her pelisse. This was going to involve some serious inspection. She might as well get started.

“Yes, miss.” The butler bowed slightly, gathered her pelisse, and left the room. The dogs stayed with Jane.

“This is Mr. Upton’s library?” she asked the dogs.

The handsome animals blinked back at her.

“Mr. Garrett Upton?”

They merely cocked their heads to the side.

“And you are Mr. Upton’s dogs?” she asked them. “Mr. Garrett Upton’s dogs?”

One of the dogs was kind enough to stick out his tongue and pant a bit, which at least led Jane to believe he was listening. She turned back to the room and clasped her hands. When one was presented with one’s idea of heaven, where exactly did one begin?

The butler returned with a tea tray. He set the elaborate service on the table in the center of the room.

Jane pursed her lips. Only one thing would make this beyond heaven. “You don’t happen to have any teacake, do you?”

“We do, miss. I shall be pleased to fetch some for you.” He left again and Jane had to force herself not to clap her hands. Teacakes and a giant library? She might just stay in here indefinitely and devil take Upton if he tried to forcibly remove her.

Jane set her reticule and gloves on the side of a settee and took a deep breath. Like an athlete preparing for a sport, she needed to ready herself. She marched up to the closest wall and ran her fingers along the titles of the leather bound volumes. Alphabetical by author, he’d said. The book she wanted was written by a fellow named Brandon.

She turned toward the far wall. She’d just pop over there and see how close she was to the Bs.

Fifteen minutes later, Jane had eaten two teacakes and realized that finding a book in the vast expanse of Upton’s library was not nearly as simple a task as one might expect. She’d managed to narrow her search to the BRs and had climbed up a spiral staircase to the third level—third level!—in search of the book. Upton, she thought with some irony, was sorely in need of a librarian. Surely any of his friends or acquaintances who came into this room would require similar assistance. Of course, his affianced bride wouldn’t pose much trouble. The woman didn’t read. Jane doubted Upton had many copies of La Belle Assemblée tucked away in here.

Regardless, a librarian was in order. Perhaps he’d hire Jane. She could spend all day in here sorting and browsing and reading and—

The dogs barked as the door opened. Jane swiveled on the balcony. Had the butler returned with more teacake? What a helpful chap.

“Jane?”

She sucked in her breath.

Upton.