“The books will be ruined!” she exclaimed in horror.
They crouched at the same time, softly bumping their heads into one another as they did so.
“I’m so sorry,” he said, knowing that it must have hurt her much more than it ever would him with his thick skull.
“Not at all,” she said somewhat shyly, raising a hand to re-adjust her bonnet and he realized she was the woman who had been watching him in the bookshop. “Between my hat and the layers of hair beneath, I barely felt it.”
“It’s not just that,” he said gruffly as he placed the books into her outstretched arms and the two of them stood. “It was my fault you were in such a predicament in the first place. I—”
“Nearly had my friend killed!” said a glowering woman he hadn’t noticed until now. She was as thin as the first woman was buxom, the nose she held in the air as she looked at him somewhat hooked. “I saw the entire thing.”
“Yes, you are correct, Miss,” he said, dipping his head. “It was my fault. I hope you are well and I am so sorry again.” Suddenly church bells began to chime in the distance, and he cursed, remembering the time. “I must go. Farewell.”
Before he could spend another moment as caught in this woman’s spell as he had been in his book, he turned and began to run down the street.
* * *
“Well, I never,” Lydia said, crossing her arms as the two of them watched the mystery man run down the street with surprising quickness for a man of his size. “Who does he think he is?”
“I don’t know,” Grace mused, unable to tear her eyes from him. “But I’d rather like to find out.”
“Grace Mulberry!” Lydia said, placing her hands on her hips now as she turned to look at her, and it was now Grace’s turn to roll her eyes. She might not have a friend better than Lydia, but she had also never met anyone quite so judgemental. “That man came rushing out of the bookshop with such little regard for everyone around him that he nearly killed you in the process.”
“But he saved me,” Grace protested as they began down the street toward Grace’s home on the outskirts of Holborn.
“Because he had no choice,” Lydia insisted. “I do hope you aren’t getting any romantic notions into your head, Grace. You don’t even know the man’s name or have any idea who he is.”
“No,” she agreed. “But nor did I earlier today, before I met him.”
“You didn’t meet him.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Grace said, but her earlier hesitancy had fled, to be replaced by something else — determination. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t discover who he is.”
“And just how are you going to do that?” Lydia asked.
“I have my ways.”
“You’re going to wait at that bookshop until he returns, aren’t you?”
“Something like that.”
“Oh, Grace,” Lydia said, raising her face heavenward as though God would have the answer for her. “Just what am I going to do with you?”
* * *
For more, download A Prize Worth Fighting For!
Also by Ellie St. Clair
Thieves of Desire
The Art of Stealing a Duke’s Heart
A Jewel for the Taking
A Prize Worth Fighting For
For a full list of all of Ellie’s books, please see
www.elliestclair.com/books.
About the Author
Ellie has always loved reading, writing, and history. For many years she has written short stories, non-fiction, and has worked on her true love and passion -- romance novels.
In every era there is the chance for romance, and Ellie enjoys exploring many different time periods, cultures, and geographic locations. No matter when or where, love can always prevail. She has a particular soft spot for the bad boys of history, and loves a strong heroine in her stories.
Ellie and her husband love nothing more than spending time at home with their children and Husky cross. Ellie can typically be found at the lake in the summer, pushing the stroller all year round, and, of course, with her computer in her lap or a book in hand.
She also loves corresponding with readers, so be sure to contact her!
www.elliestclair.com
[email protected]
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A Jewel for the Taking: Thieves of Desire Book 2 Page 19