Page 59 of Embracing the Earl (The St. Clairs 3)

Caroline lifted the programme dangling from her wrist and skimmed over the names that remained. “I hate to disappoint anyone, Luke. Besides, I don’t want the Three B’s to feel victorious. If I left now, it would be as if they’d won. I’d rather stay and dance and enjoy myself until the last song has played.”

He gazed down at her, nodding his approval. “Very well then. I will see you tomorrow afternoon at Evie’s and then, tomorrow night, we’ll attend the theatre and supper afterward.”

A gentleman joined them and Luke greeted him. “Morefield. Your partner awaits you.”

The newcomer smiled and held out his hand. “I believe this is our dance, Lady Caroline.”

*

Caroline readied herselffor the day and then wrote a quick note to Higgins. In it, she asked her new solicitor to see about putting her father’s house on the market immediately. Very little furniture was left in it after she’d used what hadn’t been sold to populate her bookstore. What remained, she could take with her once she found rooms to let or even leave it for the next owners as she started anew.

As she went down to breakfast, three new books in hand for Davy, she gave the message to a footman and asked that it be delivered to Higgins at once. She entered the small breakfast room and found a mountain of mail beside her plate. Evan was the only one present, sipping tea and perusing the newspaper.

“What is this?” she asked, indicating the large stack.

“Invitations,” Evan replied. “It seems you made quite an impression on thetonlast night. The fact that Jeremy danced with you—when he doesn’t dance with anyone but Catherine—let thetonknow how favored you are with him and his wife. That one dance opened the door for you. The drawing room awaits you, as well. It’s filled with flowers from your many new admirers.”

She glanced at the invitations ruefully. “I’m afraid to respond to any of these. By week’s end, Evie’s will be opened. I doubt anyone will want me at their social gatherings once that news gets out.”

“Why?” he asked, clearly puzzled by her remark.

Gazing at him steadily, she said, “You’re a man of the world, Evan. You know what will be said of me once it’s known I’m a woman in business. I may have garnered some brief attention last night but I’ll be set aside just as quickly by the fickleton.”

Caroline saw understanding dawn in his face. He placed his hand atop hers. “It won’t change how your friends feel, Caroline. You are the same person to us.”

Tears misted her eyes. “Thank you.”

She pushed aside the stack and ate a little breakfast before excusing herself and going to the stables. Mr. Brimley told her that Davy was knee deep in mucking the stalls.

“I’ll be sure the boy gets the books,” he promised Caroline, and she left them in the groom’s safekeeping before heading to Evie’s. Just walking through the doors filled her with pride. The bookstore didn’t have the number of volumes that the Temple of Muses held but it was much larger than the average London bookstore, thanks in large part to Jeremy’s contributions. The duke had been overly generous with her and she wanted to make sure she paid him back, both monetarily and by showing him how his advice and her work ethic paid off in making Evie’s a success.

She went first to the tearoom to tell Mrs. Withers and Mrs. Baker of the afternoon visitors.

“Have every item on the menu available, even the sandwiches,” she advised. “This will be our last time to tinker with the items we’ll serve on opening day and throughout the first week of business.”

Caroline left through the open arch that connected the tearoom to the bookstore and saw that Stinch and all her clerks had already arrived.

Gathering them around, she said, “Today, I want to work on the display windows. They will be what passersby see and we want them to lure customers into our store. Tell me what you’ve seen around London.”

Yesterday, Caroline had given them all assignments, dividing up the number of bookstores between them and having her staff visit each one, paying particular interest to any displays in windows or within the shops themselves. They discussed what they’d viewed and then began trying out some of the ideas, coupled with ones of their own. The morning and into the afternoon passed pleasantly, ending with every window being arranged to perfection, as well as several display tables throughout the bookstore.

“I want to go outside to see our work from that angle,” she told Stinch. “Everyone’s worked so hard. Give them the rest of the day off, including yourself. We’ll all be working long hours soon. Might as well rest while we can.”

“Certainly, Lady Caroline. I’ll inform the others.” He hesitated a moment.

“Is something wrong, Mr. Stinch?”

He shook his head. “Not a thing, my lady. I hope you don’t think me too forward, but I must say that I feel it is a great honor working for you and being a part of Evie’s. To have seen you grow from a young, curious girl to a mature woman with a strong work ethic, one who has accomplished so much on her own, why—it’s remarkable.”

Warmth filled her hearing his compliments. “You have always been so kind to me, Mr. Stinch. I’m blessed to have you working for me in a new capacity. I see you flourishing in a way I’d never imagined. Evie’s will be a success, thanks in no small part to your contributions.”

The manager blushed. “Thank you, my lady. You’ve given me this unique opportunity. I’m very grateful and so pleased at all you’ve accomplished in such a short time. I admire you greatly.”

She placed a hand on his arm. “The feeling is mutual.”

Stinch blinked back tears. “You’ve risen above and overcome your father’s terrible reputation. He left you destitute but you have blossomed because of your intelligence and good character. Forgive me for saying so, Lady Caroline, but I feel like a proud papa watching the woman you have become.”

Caroline threw her arms around him, squeezing him tightly, then giving him a peck on the cheek. “Thank you.”

She went outside to admire their handiwork and saw her clerks and manager file from the building. She waved goodbye and walked from the window on the far right to the ones in the middle and finished at the far left, studying each carefully and making notes in her head of small details she wanted to change. Glancing up, she saw the sign that had been hung while they were at work today and smiled, pleased at how everything was coming together.

“So, this is Evie’s Bookstore,” a condescending voice said.

Caroline turned and saw Leland Netherby standing behind her.

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