Free "A Murder In Milburn", Book 3: Death In The Library by Nancy McGovern Page A

sorry!” He said, steadying Nora. “Are you all right?”
    She was a little out of breath as he smiled down at her. She’d seen men this handsome on movie screens before, but it was a different thing to see one in real life. He was tall, almost a head taller than the man next to him, and a good foot taller than her. Equally, he was broad, with muscles clearly outlined beneath his white oxford shirt. His long blond hair was done up in a man bun, with one strand dangling in front of his ocean blue eyes.
    “My name’s Petyr,” he said, with a big smile. “You must be Nora? Katya told me all about you.”
    “Um…”  
    Nora found herself unable to reply, as the dog leapt up again and began kissing her.
    “Boy, Monty’s got some crush on you,” the second man said, yanking him down. “I’m Petyr’s brother. Johann Von Kyburg.”  
    His eyes were on her, and a vague smirk on his handsome face, as if he expected her to immediately be interested in him. He looked very similar to his brother, though his jawline was weaker, and his hairline definitely receding. Still, he carried himself with the air of someone used to women falling all over themselves to get to him.
    “Um…” Nora attempted again, only to be interrupted this time by the crash of trees, as a woman sped towards her.
    “Nora!! Omygodomygod!”  
    Katya hadn’t changed a bit, Nora thought, feeling a big smile erupt on her face. The same cute pixie nose, the same big black doe eyes, and that slight innocence…   Although… what was it? There was something haunted about her. Something not quite right.
    “I missed you so much!” Katya said, enveloping her in a hug. “I’ve been waiting forever to see you again! I’m so sorry I forgot what time you were coming. We went mushroom hunting and completely lost track of the time.” She chattered on non-stop, opening the door as she spoke. “Oh, we’ll get you to your room and then maybe we can all go for a swim. You do swim, don’t you? I didn’t think to tell you to get your suit along, but I have extra of course. Though I think you’re a little too tall to fit into mine.”
    “Let her breathe, Katherine,” a deep voice said.  
    There was humor in that voice, and just a vague hint of sarcasm. Immediately, Katherine reacted much as the dog had, stepping back as if she’d been pulled off Nora.
    Two women and a man had emerged from the thicket. The man had a shark-like smile, covering most of his face, and never reaching his eyes. His eyes, which were now on Nora, were the same blue as his son’s. But while Petyr had warmth in them, these eyes were cold as ice.
    “Let me introduce you around, since Katherine’s forgotten,” he said. “I’m her soon-to-be father. Reynold Von Kyburg. Pleased to meet you. This is my lovely wife Maria, and my daughter-in-law Lila.”
    “Pleased to meet you.”  
    Nora smiled awkwardly at everyone, wondering what they thought of her. Was she there as the chef, and so below their notice, or as a guest of Katya’s? Lila’s eyes flicked up and down, over Nora’s frayed Adidas sneakers, her simple grey t-shirt and blue jeans outfit, and the inexpensive leather purse that flopped at her feet.  
    The mother Maria walked up to Johann and handed him the basket in her hand.
    “You forgot this when you came running,” she said.
    “Oh, yes, of course. Thank you, mother.”  
    He smiled as he took it from her, but his eyes lingered a second longer on Nora.
    “Let’s go inside, I can show you to your room,”   Katya said. “We’ve got so much catching up to do.”
    “You should both change for dinner. We should all change, actually. We’re filthy, the lot of us.”
    “I’m fine.” Petyr smiled.
    “That was an order, not a request,” Reynold said. “Of course, Nora’s cooking, isn’t she?”
    “She is, yes,” Katya said, still sounding wary.  
    “We were going to have a Michelin rated chef come over,” Reynold said with a smile. “But Katya