Ada’s lips parted as she turned to stare at her uncle with no small amount of surprise.
He chuckled. “Afraid so. I hope you can forgive my cheekiness in recommending my own shop to you.”
“An easy feat since your advertisement was correct. As far as I can tell so far, the shop does indeed deliver quality goods, excellent service, and very competitive pricing.” Mr. Gibbs glanced at Ada and, holding her gaze, quietly added, “I’m certainly glad I decided to take a closer look.”
The heat in her cheeks worsened until she felt as though she’d been engulfed by flames. Lord help her, this man had the power to melt her completely.
“I’ll see about that box I started unpacking earlier.” Uncle James sent Ada a pointed look accompanied by a knowing smile before wandering off and disappearing between a couple of bookcases.
Ada stared after him. This was the first she’d heard of a new delivery.
“Our conversation yesterday has given me much to consider,” Mr. Gibbs said, drawing her attention back to him. “I’ve decided it would be unfair to judge something harshly without first examining it in greater detail.”
“Oh?”
“I refer to Miss Austen’s novels of course. You spoke of them with such fondness. Having never read one myself, I’ll allow that my opinion of such books may have been overly rash.”
Ada blinked. His ability to set aside his own preconceived notions was admirable. She smiled. “Thank you. I’ve always believed it important to keep an open mind in all matters.”
The edge of his lips quirked with undeniable charm. “Quite. Which is why I thought to ask if the shop has a copy of your favorite book of hers. Pride and something or other, I believe you said.”
“Pride and Prejudice,” Ada informed him with a chuckle. “Unfortunately, Miss Austen’s books are so successful they sell out almost at once. If I’m not mistaken, there’s still a copy of Persuasion left, but it’s not as good. A bit too distressing for my own personal taste and lacking much of the clever wit that’s prevalent in Austen’s earlier works.”
Biting her lip, she briefly considered lending Mr. Gibbs her personal copy of Pride and Prejudice, but quickly dismissed the idea. Such an offer was far too forward and would surely be viewed as an impropriety.
“Is it possible to place an order?” Mr. Gibbs asked. “For the novels you think are among Miss Austen’s best?”
Ada picked up a pencil and tapped the end of it lightly against the counter. “That would be four books in total. Pride and Prejudice, which you simply must read first, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, and Mansfield Park. If I recall correctly, you mentioned your sister having a copy of Mansfield Park, so maybe you don’t need to purchase that one?”
“True.” He was silent a moment before remarking, “Nevertheless, I’d like to have my own copy.”
Anthony waited quietly while Miss Quinn made a note of the titles. A light pink hue colored her cheeks, and despite displaying some shyness, she seemed more comfortable with him today. He was glad. Nervousness had never been a concern of his, yet there was no denying the worry holding his heart in a vice as he’d set out to fetch his order. He’d been afraid, truth was, that the strong connection he’d felt upon meeting Miss Quinn had been imagined.
But no. His concerns had been completely unfounded. The moment he’d entered the shop and his gaze had met hers, he’d known he was in the right place. The sparkle in her lovely blue eyes and her welcoming smile were proof that she had looked forward to seeing him just as much as he’d looked forward to seeing her.
“That will come to four pounds for the Austen books. We’ll require a two-pound deposit, to be returned to you if we’re unable to procure the books. And then there’s Rob Roy. I’ll fetch it for you straight away.”
The total exceeded five pounds. More than what a skilled craftsman earned in a month. Enough to buy a cow. It was, without doubt, an enormous sum to spend on what most would consider an extravagant purchase. Especially for a man in his position.
Frivolous, Mama would say, but she wasn’t here and besides, these weren’t just books. They were research intended to help him make money.
Anthony watched Miss Quinn disappear into a back room. He wasn’t ready to finish his dealings with her just yet, so when she returned, he casually said, “I hope you don’t find this too intrusive, but I’m curious to know how you came to live here, above a bookshop.”
She set his order on the counter. “My uncle used the money he inherited from his parents to open the place some twenty years ago. Considering how much books sell for, one might imagine him to be very well off. But after setting income aside for new books, paying the rent and other expenses, his own salary is modest. So he sold his townhouse ten years ago and moved into the space above the shop. When Papa died, Uncle James took me in.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“It’s all right. I could have refused to answer.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I don’t know, but there’s something about you, I…” She shrugged and shook her head. “Confiding in you felt natural.”
The warmth in his chest expanded. “I’m glad.”
She chuckled, ducking her head with a hint of shyness. “I used to have my sisters to talk to, but they’re older than I. Dorothy was already wed with Bethany just about to get married when our father died. She lives in Northumbria now and I… Heavens, why am I telling you all of this?”
He grinned. “Because I’m happy to hear what you have to say? My father died too a few years ago and Mama has since re-married. She and her new husband are currently traveling the world together.”
“Sounds like you miss her.”
“Yes. It’s my fault she’s gone. I pushed her away with my foolhardiness.” He winced, a little embarrassed by the unplanned confession. Choosing to move on quickly, he said, “But I do have two younger sisters, both on the cusp of making debuts.”
“How exciting.”
Anthony managed a tight smile. Thankfully, both were provided with handsome dowries which he’d had no access to. But other expenses would be required if they were to make the desirable matches one might expect from a duke’s sisters. There were, after all, reputations to uphold.
“I’m sure it is for them,” he said as he gave his attention to the books she’d brought from the back room. He picked one up and turned it over, admiring the gold imprints upon the cover and along the length of the spine. “This is exquisite. The craftsmanship is extraordinary and this…this little ornamental symbol right here. I’m guessing it’s a signature?”
“Yes…um…my uncle…” She waved her hand. “He’s always believed in adding a binder’s mark in order to–”
The shop door swung open behind him, and before Anthony had a chance to figure out what was occurring, Miss Quinn vanished behind a bookcase. Two older women entered and Miss Quinn’s uncle came to assist them.
They also commented on the lovely editions he’d come to collect, and to Anthony’s surprise, one of them said, “I did not think your rheumatism allowed you to keep on binding, Mr. Quinn. I’m relieved to see that’s not the case. Indeed, this is some of your finest work to date.”