She nearly hesitated when Miss Delaney so easily agreed, because thwarting Miss Delaney's murder plans seemed like the sort of thing that would bring out some sort of reaction, but it hadn't. There wasn't some way she could commit murder at the library or bookstore... right?

No, that was silly. Definitely a reach. This had to be some deflection, Miss Delaney's way of regaining her trust so she might later be lured into the lake. (There were worse ways to build trust, though, and the idea of a thirty-third, thirty- fourth, and thirty-fifth book nearly brought a grin to her face. Nearly. She would not allow the wretched woman to worm her way into her heart!)

"If you would like to," she said, phrasing it in that specific way so it would leave no doubt as to who desire those extra books. This might be a test—she wouldn't have Miss Delaney make her out a beggar to Uncle Evander. She didn't need those extra books.

At least, not that badly.

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