Page 19 of Ravishing Camille
“And if you could skip this event to go dine, you would.”
“And you,” Camille said and arched both brows at her tall, regal friend, “would join me. But one must keep up appearances and earn one’s daily bread. And today—” she said as she swung wide the front door to Winslow’s Book Shop, “—I also promise to read a shorter passage of my newest.”
“Thank heavens.” Brianna swept in behind her and kept the little bell over the door ding-aling-ing. Ivy scurried in behind her. “I’m tired of this new man.”
Camille tugged off her gloves, eager to talk with the proprietor and get her event underway. “‘The Recluse of Harrowgate Aerie’ is quite a fellow. I loved him. So did my publisher and he says, to date, so do more than six thousand British women.”
“Ah, yes. The Earl of Harrowgate may be a silent, brooding beast who marries the heroine for her fortune, but better yet, he is profitable.”
“He is quite delicious.” Camille craned her neck to see if Mister Winslow or his wife were perhaps in the back storage room. “Once he reforms.”
“I’d marry him before that.” Brianna fluttered her long red lashes at Camille. “Tall, swarthy, a world traveler who understands how a woman must be made to feel…shall we say…welcome in his home as well as his bed?”
“Indeed. After she is half scared to death by his majordomo.”
“Who looks rather like a ghost. I say, my dear, you frightened me with him. I’d give him his notice.”
“Ah! The butler and his master! The stuff of exciting literature.” Camille meandered back through two bookshelves. “Let’s go over here and see if they’ve set up…yes, they have my desk.”
“Only two rows of chairs,” Brianna worried.
“If more arrive, they’ll stand but many simply buy the book and hurry on home.”
“Of course, they do. To devour your words,” said Brianna with knowing eyes.
Camille grinned, then put down her reticule to the chair and fished inside for her favorite ink pen while Brianna perused the far shelves. She set to work to remove the pins from her hat and shake the contraption loose from the hair that Pierce had nailed to her head.
“There you are! Miss Bereston!” Mister Winslow was a short roly-poly fellow with huge blue eyes, a few wisps of white hair and a sing-song voice. He was, in spirit, as soothing and pleasant as the mellifluous sound of his family name. Someday soon, Camille would have to create a character as dulcet and euphonious as he was. A striking contrast to her usual characterizations of her mysterious heroes, he would be a secondary actor, sorry to say.
“Good afternoon, Mister Winslow.” She stepped forward to greet him and shake his hand. “How well you look.”
“I am, Miss. As is my wife.” He turned aside to allow his shorter, even rounder spouse to approach and welcome her. “We are so pleased to have you.”
The trilling of the tiny bell above his front door announced the arrival of others and his pudgy gremlin’s face lit up with joy. “You hear that! We will have a large gathering today. So happy, we are, to welcome one of our own from our own town.”
Camille thanked him as Brianna made her way toward them. “And I’m sure you remember Lady Brianna Price?”
“Indeed I do, my lady. Welcome.”
“Thank you, sir.” She indicated the four books in her arms. “As you can see, I simply cannot leave without a bit of light reading for the evening.”
Camille leaned over to read one spine. “‘A Vindication of the Rights of Woman’?” The diatribe by Mary Wollstonecraft was a favorite of her friend’s. “Another copy?”
Brianna looked pained. “My cat shredded mine.”
Camille choked on laughter. “Is your cat still alive?”
She narrowed her dark eyes in menace. “In hiding.”
“Smart feline.”
Winslow grinned, ever happy to see customers who loved his wares. “And I hope you will avail yourself of a copy of your friend’s book today, too.”
“I will but I can speak certainly to its worth to any and all potential customers.”
“Lady Brianna, “Camille put in, “reads my drafts before I send them to my typist. I’m hideous at missing words and she is my first and most necessary editor.”
“Never fear, though, Mister Winslow!” Brianna had a finger in the air, all drama at the ready. “I shall buy not just one but four copies today.”
