Page 18 of Tattered Edges

I paused, my fork halfway to my mouth as I stared at her. “What do you mean?”

“Well, you’re his first born. His mother left the store to him—her first born—and I think he wanted to continue that tradition. He might not have known you, but it’s obvious he wanted to claim you in some way. Not to mention, he wasn’t stupid. I think he knew, if he left Tattered Edges toArchibald, his mother’s legacy would have been gone at the soonest opportunity.”

A humorless laugh forced its way out of me. “He would have been right,” I muttered before finally taking my bite.

Victoria’s dark brown eyes widened, her intrigue on full display.

“Have you met him?”

“Mmmhmm. This morning,” I mumbled around my food. Victoria continued to stare at me, obviously more interested in gossip than food, and I was happy to oblige as soon as my mouth was empty. “To be honest, it wasn’t entirely pleasant. Maybe it was unrealistic to think it could have been, but it was pretty bad. Archie was particularly peeved. Apparently, he was hoping to sell the shop to the pub next door.”

“Iknewit,” she practically hissed. “That entitled bastard.” She cut into her butter chicken curry as she continued, “Granted, there are worse businesses he could have sold to. I do like The King’s Steed, and the man who owns it. Though, good looking as he may be, the idea of him turning the bookstore into anything other than what it is—well, it turns me inside out, is what it does.”

“Tell me how you really feel,” I teased.

She quirked an eyebrow at me, abandoning her dinner once more as she admitted, “Archie and Eloise Blackstone act as though they’ve never been toldnoin their entire lives. Eloise at leastworksfor a living. I know one day she hopes to be at the helm of Blackstone Publishing House. For now, I suppose, it’s in Juliet’s hands.

“Eloise will get her wish, of course. If nothing else, her name will be all the credentials she’ll need. Archie, on the other hand, is nothing more than a mooch, if you ask me. I don’t know how he spends his days. I wouldn’t be surprised if his mother still pays him an allowance.”

I swallowed another bite, then confided, “She offered to buy me out. Juliet did. She said I could keep the flat, if it meant that much to me, but that I didn’t have any real right to the bookstore.”

“What rubbish. I’m sorry. I know they’re your family, but the gall!”

I was laughing again. I couldn’t help it. To see her so worked up was as amusing as it was validating.

“Obviously, to everyone’s disappointment, I’m not going anywhere.”

“Cheers to that.”

We both took a moment to consume a bite before she changed the subject.

“Speaking of the flat, do you have everything you need?”

I shook my head and confessed, “Not by a long shot. It’s great, and I love it, but I definitely need some furniture and a few odds and ends.”

“Makes sense. It hasn’t been lived in for years. Sawyer renovated it about four years ago, but he didn’t use it as a residence so much as a workspace. If you’d like a shopping buddy, I’d be glad to help you out. I’ve got a car. I don’t usually drive in the city, but I’d be more than happy to. Maybe Sunday?”

I shook my head, in awe of the gem who sat across from me.

“Victoria, you areseriouslymy favorite person in all of England.”

She grinned and replied, “Just remember that come Christmas time.”

Itwasnearlyninewhen Victoria and I said goodbye at the restaurant, and I caught a cab ride home. Even though the evening had been relatively dry, I’d already been caught in the rain once that day. I didn’t feel up to taking any chances. It was also cold enough to make the fare worth it.

I thanked my driver at the end of my ride, then hurried for my door, digging in my purse for my keys as I went.

“Good evening,Sawyer.”

I practically shrieked, completely caught off guard as Archie stepped into the light illuminating the step of my front-porch stoop.

“What the hell? You can’t just jump out at a person like that! It’s freaking creepy,” I cried.

He had the audacity to look perturbed before he sighed and replied, “My apologies. I’ve been waiting on your return for nearly an hour. Can I come in?”

I frowned. “You’ve been standing out here foran hour?”

“What? Of course, not,” he scoffed. “When I realized you weren’t home, I went next door for a pint. But now you’re here, and I would like a chat.”

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