Page 66 of A Duke’s Lesson in Charm
“And to think we’re ten minutes early,” Emily said as she scanned the full space.
“We were actually hoping there might be time for a toast before getting started,” Ada said. “Anthony brought champagne.”
“I think that will have to wait,” Harriet said while glancing toward the front of the shop. “We’ll celebrate later.”
“Perhaps with the rest of the family,” Anthony suggested.
Brody raised an eyebrow. “Everyone included?”
“Perhaps not everyone,” Anthony said as he drew Ada into a sideways embrace. “Our youngest will have to stay home. But, we could ask Finn and Penny to join us.”
Brody’s troublemaker of a brother, Finnegan Evans, Marquess of Losturn, had fallen madly in love with Anthony’s sister, Penelope, after dancing with her at her debut. She’d welcomed his courtship, but had turned down his offers of marriage until he’d convinced her that he’d reformed and had what it took to support a family. Desperate to prove himself worthy, he’d followed his older brother’s example by selling off several possessions and investing his funds.
The returns had been used to open a winery, which had since become a lucrative business.
“It can’t be tonight I’m afraid,” said Callum. “Margaret is being presented at court at four o’clock, after which she’s due to attend her debutant ball.”
“Do you think Peter will make it home in time?” Margaret asked Emily with a hint of anxiousness in her voice.
“He said he would, so I’m certain he shall,” Emily assured her. After acquiring a law degree from Oxford University, Peter had become an exceptionally good solicitor. The only trouble was, he’d chosen to work in Manchester, so Emily and Callum rarely saw him.
Emily studied Margaret, noted the relief in her eyes, and wondered if she might have developed a tendre for the young man. Emily’s lips twitched with amusement. Wouldn’t that be something?
“What is it?” Callum asked.
She caught his gaze. “Nothing. I’ll tell you later.”
“If you’re ready,” Ada said, “I would suggest we get started. If there’s time once we finish, we’ll pop the champagne for a quick toast before Callum and Emily have to leave. We can have a bigger celebration tomorrow.”
The three men took their positions at the counter, their quills at the ready. Emily gestured for the first customer to step forward, then watched with delight as Callum signed his name to the title page of his latest release.
Her gaze met Ada’s and Harriet’s, and their answering smiles informed her that no matter how much time passed or how many books their husbands released, they would always be equally proud. These were the men they’d fallen in love with. Some might say the matches, which required overcoming class differences, mistaken identities, and misunderstandings, were most unlikely.
In Emily’s opinion, they were perfect in their uniqueness. She, for one, was immensely happy, and when she caught Callum’s gaze moments later and he smiled at her with love in his eyes, she had no doubt he felt the same way.
* * *
