Anne shivered from more than the cold. “I’m sorry,” she said softly. “How long were you down here?”
“This room was used as a wine cellar in those days, so thankfully Buxton found me before dinner. There were times I was tempted to return the favor—to lock Jude in the same cell and throw away the key.” A disturbing fierceness contorted Jasper’s usually pleasant features.
Again Anne shivered, and this time Jasper noticed and seemed to return to himself. “All right. Let’s get you out of here, back into the warmth and light, where you belong.”
Going upstairs, Anne said, “Thank you for showing me.”
Although truthfully she almost wished she had not seen those cells. She very much feared she would be the one plagued by bad dreams after that.
Anne had failed to find a book to interest her patient in the Painswick Court library, so that afternoon, Lady Celia suggested Anne visit the local circulating library for something new. She wrote and signed a brief note so the proprietor would allow Anne to charge the book to the account she shared with her daughter.
She added, “Katherine is a great reader. Spends many hours in her room reading romances. Something different for me, if you please. My days of romance are long gone.”
Note in hand, Anne left Painswick Court and walked through the town’s narrow streets to the shop of Sarah Brezill. Its sign readLinen Draper andCirculating Library.
The proprietor, Miss Brezill, greeted her. “How may I help you?”
“I am looking for something to read to Lady Celia Fitzjohn.” Anne handed over the note.
“Ah. Miss Loveday? You must be new at the Court.”
“Yes. Filling in as nurse for a few weeks. I understand Katherine Fitzjohn is a regular customer of yours and a great reader of romances. Her mother would like something different.”
The woman’s eyes narrowed in thought. “Actually, Miss Fitzjohn has not been here in months. It’s good someone can make use of their languishing account.”
“Oh?” That was odd. Anne wondered what had kept Katherine from the library.
Miss Brezill pointed to a row of shelves. “Newspapers and other periodicals are there. A selection of popular novels here. And if nothing you see suits, here’s our listing of other books I have in the back.”
“Thank you. All right if I look through this?”
“Help yourself.”
Anne perused the listing of collected sermons, poetry, travel writing, histories, and more.
Then she went to the shelf displaying popular novels. She looked atFrankenstein;or,The Modern Prometheus, then picked up the first volume of a four-volume set that contained the novelNorthanger Abbey. She read with interest the opening pages, which contained a biographical notice of the author, honoring the life and death of a woman named Jane Austen while acknowledging her previous novels published anonymously, among themPride and Prejudice, one of Anne’s favorites.
She turned to chapter one and began reading.No onewho had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy,wouldhave supposed her born to be an heroine....
The shop bell jingled behind her, and she glanced over and saw Ernest Finch enter the library, removing his hat. Her heart gave an illogical flutter.
Seeing her, he walked over and bowed. “Miss Loveday, how do you do?”
She curtsied. “Good day, Dr. Finch. I am well, thank you.”
“Not to ask the obvious, but it appears you have found a new book to read?”
She glanced down at the novel. “Oh. Well, I would love to read this one sometime, but today I am here to find something to read to Lady Celia in the evenings. I doubt she would appreciate a Gothic romance.”
“Are you certain? My sister and her daughter both lovedNorthanger AbbeyandPersuasion, as well as the other novels by the same author. Maybe Lady Celia would too.”
“Maybe.”
“What else are you considering?” he asked.
Anne turned back to the shop counter and ran her finger along the listing once more. “Perhaps something more serious likeView of the State of Europe during theMiddle AgesorOn the Principles of Political Economy andTaxation.”
“Good night!” He pulled a face. “If the goal is to lull her to sleep, I imagine either of those would be far more effective than chamomile tea or lavender water.” He softened the words with a grin.
