Her book was going to be published. It was a dizzying thought she had difficulty accepting.
Finally, they were done, rising at the same time from their respective chairs.
“Dove grey it is, then, Miss Smith. With the gold imprint. Stunning, elegant yet not overt in its declaration of interest to either gentlemen and ladies, but appealing to both. I think you’ve hit on the ideal combination.”
“With your assistance, sir.” She smiled at him. “What should I do now?”
He pushed a piece of paper across his desk and removed a pen from the inkwell. “Sign here.”
She looked, and sucked in air. It was hercontract, already signed by Mr. Lesley.
She scribbled her name, aware that she would reveal her identity by doing so. There was no way she could sign a legal document in any other way.
She passed the pen back to him, glancing at him nervously as he sanded the ink, blew it clean and looked at her signature. He nodded. “Thank you, Miss Smith. That’s all you need do for now.”
He gave her a kindly smile. “We will send a message when your book has been printed. At that time, you can tell us where you’d like your personal copies sent and then…it’s up to the reading public, bless them.”
“And no one will know any details about the author…?”
He shook his head. “Absolutely not. In fact, you and I are the only two people aware of that information. Not even my assistants will know.”
Reassured, Letitia heaved a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
Unable to believe the events of the last hour, Letitia made her farewells, then aped Kitty by practically dancing to the carriage waiting outside. “I can’t believe it,” she called, waving and seeing Hecate’s head through the window.
She gathered her skirts. “Great news, girls. I did it. I’m an author.” She did another little jig across the street and dashed around to the side of the carriage.
Which put her straight into the arms of James FitzArden who was waiting by the open door to help her inside.
He caught her, laughed, said “Well done, Letitia, love. Congratulations…” and kissed her.
Right there, in the daylight, outside her publisher’s offices.
It was shocking, outrageous, unexpected—and completelywonderful.
