Free The Captain's Christmas Family by Deborah Hale

is a work I admire. When I was younger, though, I had a thirst for adventure stories. Robinson Crusoe was a favorite of mine for many years. Have you read it, Miss Murray?”
    Marian shook her head, almost ashamed to admit such a lapse. “I have heard of it, of course, but never actually read it. That is an oversight I must rectify at once. I know I have seen a copy in this library.”
    She turned toward the nearest shelf, scanning the titles. “Here it is. To think I could have passed over it so many times.”
    Pulling down the book, she replaced the other volume she had taken earlier. For the first time she glanced at its title. “I have no doubt I will find Robinson Crusoe’s adventures more stimulating than The History and Art of Chalcography and Engraving in Copper. ”
    “They could hardly be less.” Captain Radcliffe tried to suppress a grin. “So tell me, Miss Murray, if you were stranded on a deserted island, like Robinson Crusoe, what is the one book you would want to have with you?”
    An answer to his question sprang immediately into Marian’s mind, though she hesitated to reveal it. “There are many books I would like to take with me in such a case, but only one I could not do without—my Bible.”
    The captain rolled his eyes. “I should have guessed. A very pious choice, indeed. I hope you will pardon me if I do not take your recommendation as eagerly as you took mine.”
    “I did not recommend you read the Bible, sir. You asked what one book I would want to have with me if I was castaway on a deserted island. I did not mean to give you a pious answer, only a true one. If I were to endure such a trial, I would need the consolation I could only find in that particular book.”
    “Forgive me, Miss Murray.” The captain looked as if he might approach her, then changed his mind. “I did not mean to question either the sincerity or suitability of your choice.”
    Although she believed him, Marian felt compelled to defend her decision in a way he might understand. “Even if those writings did not hold such power for me, I still believe it would be a worthwhile book to possess if I had no others. It contains a whole library in a single compact volume. It has a great history of the Hebrew people and adventure stories of Daniel, Jonah and othersuch heroes. It has biography, law, romance as well as some of the most beautiful poetry ever written.”
    As she spoke, Captain Radcliffe nodded in earnest agreement. Then a quicksilver twinkle lit his eyes once more. “But, alas, no gothic fiction. Could you survive without that?”
    “Very easily, thank you.” She did not resent his good-natured teasing for it showed they could disagree without creating hard feelings. “You must admit, though, the story of Salome demanding the severed head of John the Baptist in return for her dance verges on the gothic.”
    “You have me there, Miss Murray. I see I may have to read the Bible again more carefully, if only so I can hold my own with you in conversation.”
    They continued to discuss their other favorite books until the pedestal clock beside the door chimed the hour of ten. Marian gave a start and fumbled the book she was holding. Where had the time gone? She’d only meant to stay here long enough to return one book and take another. But talking with the captain had made the evening fly by. Though she’d started out wanting only to talk about the girls, she had soon come to enjoy his company for its own sake.
    But realizing how long they had been talking together also made her aware of how long they’d been alone in this room. What if one of the servants came into the library to check the fire or deliver a message to the master? Their conversation had been perfectly innocent. She trusted Captain Radcliffe would never do anything improper, even if he thought of her as anything more than a servant—which she was quite certain he did not.
    Still, if they were discovered together, it might lead to gossip in the