Page 40 of Saving a Scoundrel
The carriage pulled to a stop. “Ah, here we are.” He stepped out first and turned to help Ellie down. She stumbled on the step and fell against his chest. Banding his arms around her waist to steady her, he couldn’t help but smile at what a delicious armful of soft curves Ellie was. He set her down on her feet. “All right?”
She nodded but not without a crimson blush staining her cheeks. “Um, yes, fine.” She straightened her askew bonnet. “I’ve brought the list of books that were also in the lot sold to the store by this family. It is extensive, but I thought perhaps we could look through for more letters while we are here?”
He nodded and escorted her into the London Book Emporium. The store was certainly larger than Buxley’s place in Marbury, but it would be hard not to be larger than the cramped tiny bookshop that old goat ran. He didn’t understand why his sister liked the place so much. Lucius couldn’t stand Mr. Buxley. The man simply refused to be charmed.
An older gentleman sat behind the long counter at the center of the store. Sunlight streamed down through a large skylight, highlighting the man’s shock of white hair.
Ellie gripped his arm. “That’s Mr. Knight, the proprietor,” she said out of the side of her mouth.
Lucius strode forward, keeping Ellie at his side. “Mr. Knight, my friend here told me that you would be the right person to help me procure a particular book I’m looking for.”
Mr. Knight smiled graciously. “I’m sure that I can help you. What is the title of the book?”
“I don’t know the title. But the volume is a travelogue of Italy. The author was quite entertaining. I read it many years ago. I am planning a trip to Italy and would love to own a copy.” Hopefully, that was vague enough to have them searching for a bit.
Mr. Knight frowned. “Without the title or author, it would be hard to track down.”
He sighed dramatically and looked over at Ellie. “You see, I will never find the book.”
“Well, perhaps we could try Hatchard’s.” Ellie patted his arm.
Mr. Knight looked between them. “No. I’m sure if we looked through the travel section, we might find what you are looking for, or something similar. Please follow me.”
Lucius gave Ellie a wink. “Happy scouting, kitten.”
*
Ellie waited severalminutes before edging over to the counter. She glanced around. If there were other patrons in the shop, they must be browsing the shelves, as she was alone at the front. She reached out and turned the heavy ledger to face her. Then she glanced over her shoulder once again—a knot of anxiety formed in her stomach. Then Lucius’s voice carried across the store. “No, it’s not this one. Far too dry and boring. I believe it had a green cloth cover.”
Now is the time, you ninny. Hurry and look in the ledger.Ellie flipped to the section she had observed Mr. Knight turn to the other day. It took a few minutes of scrolling down columns before she finally saw Mr. Buxley’s name. In the column next to it was a date24/02/1824the next column was an address in Marbury, the bookshop, no doubt. She ran her finger across the page. The last column was another name,Derek Edwards, Lord Babson. She followed the column up to the top, and the header said, Seller. This was definitely it!Derek Edwards, Lord Babson,Ellie committed it to memory.
Lucius’s voice echoed. “Oh, that is a shame that we couldn’t find the book. But perhaps something about Spain?”
“I’ll leave you to browse, sir.” The voice grew closer. Then a cheerful whistle trilled. Ellie shut the ledger and quickly slid it back into place. She just made it down to the other end of the counter as Mr. Knight emerged, shaking his head.
Lucius came out next at top speed from behind the shelves and pulled to an abrupt halt when he spotted her. He shot her a questioning look, and she nodded her head. Ellie moved toward him. “Mr. Grisham. Let’s go peruse the fiction section instead, shall we?”
They both glanced over at Mr. Knight. He sat in his chair behind the counter with a huff, not giving the ledger even a glance. The knot in Ellie’s belly dissolved. She’d done it! She tucked her arm through Lucius’s and led him down half a dozen rows before turning left into the aisle.
“Did you get my signal?” he whispered.
“Yes, thanks.” She made an effort not to roll her eyes. “I got the name. Derek Edwards, Lord Babson. The books were donated nearly fifteen years ago. I don’t know why he would be so persnickety about revealing the donor’s name.” She kept her voice low.
“Great job!” He frowned. “Babson sounds familiar, but I don’t believe I know him.”
“Let’s look for some letters.” She slid two fingers into the neckline of her bodice and pulled out the folded piece of parchment she’d tucked into the side of her stays. Unfolding it, she glanced down the list. “You should take the botany section, and I will continue through the fiction section. I think it’s easy enough to categorize most of the titles, but there are a few where it’s not clear what kind of book it is by the name. I suppose we will save those for last.” She glanced up and found Lucius staring at her bosom.
He raised an eyebrow. “Do you always keep things tucked down there?”
“It seemed silly to carry around a reticule just for this one piece of parchment.” She shrugged. “Let’s get started.” She carefully ripped the list in half handing him one section. He dutifully left to go find the botany shelves. Ellie turned and located the first book on her list. Using her thumb, she fanned the pages. Finding nothing, she consulted her list again. A half an hour later, with nothing to show for her efforts, she felt defeated.
She moved to the next aisle and began her search in the back end of the alphabet. The first half dozen books contained no letters hiding within their pages. The seventh book, a thick volume of poetry, she turned upside down and shook. Two folded letters fluttered to the floor. Huzzah!
Ellie bent to scoop them up. She recognized the handwriting immediately.To my love… “Yes!” Ellie smacked a hand over her mouth. She glanced down the aisle but did not see Mr. Knight appear. Her heart raced as she checked the next few books on her list.
“Ellie!” a loud whisper came from the end of the aisle.
She looked up and Lucius strode toward her down the aisle. He clutched letters in his hand. When he stood right in front of her, he said in a low voice, “I found three in a large volume of garden design!”
