Page 72 of The Midnight Book Club
“Not in mine!You pushed me to write this, you cajoled me and now we have to change our story to suit this self-important—”
“Alexei—”
“No!I will not have it,” he said, standing.“I am tired of rules, what I can and cannot do, who I can and cannot love, who will or will not allow it.”His voice cracked and Aurelia knew he wasn’t thinking about a new relationship now, but about his relationship with Anna, and everyone and everything that had conspired against them.
“But we could write whatever you want—we could create a woman that you love.You can decide what you want to say to her.You can decide that society adores her and welcomes you both.”
Vronsky barely seemed to register what she was saying as he paced in front of her.
“Write what you like.With any luck, the experiment will work and I shall be free of this Oliver and this… this shop!”
Aurelia flinched at his words.
“Do you know, you went on and on about women having choices, yet you seem all too eager to write whateverOlivertells you.”
“That’s not fair!”she said, leaping to her feet.“I’m not blindly following his orders.I’ve thought about what he has to say and I think he’s right.He’s a very talented editor.I’ve been impressed with his work and his suggestions—and so have you, for that matter!”
Vronsky’s face fell.
“I see,” he said softly.“This has nothing to do with me and my story.You have taken an interest in this Oliver.”
“What?What do you mean?”
She felt her face shaping itself into a guilty expression against her will.
He looked at her incredulously but said nothing.Aurelia felt as if she were fighting with David, only David would have used any hint that she liked Oliver to try and force them together.
“There’s nothing between me and Oliver.He made a suggestion and I agree with him, that’s all.You have to know I would never push something on you just to please someone else.”
“You promised me a new ending, my own ending, and now I have to watch as you allow this Oliver to warp my story to suit his own ends,” Vronsky said, his voice quietly seething with anger.
He turned away from her to face the window just as Aurelia caught sight of Elinor, who was slowly making her way toward them.
“We heard your voices downstairs,” she said cautiously.“I see you are in the grips of powerful emotions and wonder if there is anything we might do to ease your distress?”
“I’m alright.We’re alright, thank you, Elinor.”Aurelia tried to collect herself.“I’m sorry for making such a scene.”
She looked down to the shop below and saw everyone quickly turn away.
Just as quickly, Vronsky stalked to the spiral staircase, barreled down it, and disappeared into a far corner of the shop.Aurelia opened her mouth to speak to him as he passed, but nothing came out.She sat back on the seat and stared out across the mezzanine.
Elinor sat next to her, a gentle presence at her side.
“I take it you raised Oliver’s suggestion with Count Vronsky.”
“I did.”
“It seems it did not go well.”
“It did not,” Aurelia agreed.
“We knew it would be a painful subject to raise, but it is nonetheless difficult seeing him so very angry.”
“Especially when I’m the one that’s done it,” Aurelia said.“I’ve brought back awful memories and here we were trying to help him move on from all that.”
“He will remember your good efforts, I have no doubt.But for tonight, he must recover himself.I do believe he, too, has thought about finding love again, despite his protestations.”
“Maybe… But now I’m afraid he’ll refuse to consider it ever again.”
