“I'm just off to the café,” she said as she took another step back.
“You know, you're always welcome at the tavern,” he said.
“I know, thank you,” Beatrice said before scurrying off. “Have a good day,” she called over her shoulder as she made her way across the street.
Fortunately, she didn’t have to lie about her plans this time to spend less time in his company.
She hurried into the Cozy Cat Café and was immediately greeted by Thea smiling on the other side of the bar. The air was warm and smelled of spices and baked goods, and Beatrice relaxed instantly upon entering. There was something about being here that could make any day better, even one in which she dropped books and bumped—literally—into Roan.
“Good morning!” her friend called as Beatrice made her way to the counter. “What can I get for you?”
“I have to go out to Eldenwilde,” Beatrice said with a grimace. “So, something very hot.”
Thea frowned. “In this weather? Why is he having you go out now? That's unusual.”
Beatrice shrugged and dropped a few coins on the counter. “I'm not sure, but he sent a messenger this morning and asked me to come over at my earliest convenience, so I assumed I shouldn't make him wait too long.”
Thea nodded, already busy preparing a drink for her, and Beatrice wandered over to the fireplace to thoroughly warm herself before she went back out into the cold.
There was a gentle meow, and Beatrice looked over to see the resident café cat, Ginger, looking up at her.
“I'm sorry,” she said to the cat. “How could I forget you?”
The orange cat let out a grumble, clearly asking the same question as Beatrice hurried to rectify her wrong and pet the demanding feline.
“I don't suppose you and your long fur want to go to see Lord Dunham instead of me?” she asked Ginger, who didn't answer, because she was a cat.
“I didn’t think so,” Beatrice said with a grin.
A moment later, Thea came over with a mug of hot tea and handed it to Beatrice. “Stay warm and let me know when you're back safely. I'm surprised he didn't send a carriage for you with how cold it is. I didn’t think he was as cold and uncaring as the rumors would lead me to believe.”
Beatrice shrugged. “He’s not, and he knows I like to walk.”
“And yet, you aren’t usually walking all the way there in the snow,” Thea pointed out.
Beatrice shook her head. “I’d rather walk than ask for a carriage. I just needed something hot to warm myself before I leave.”
Thea frowned but didn’t say anything else as she bustled away to wait on another customer. Beatrice smiled at her friend’s retreating back. It was sweet of Thea to worry, but all would be well. It was a cold day, but it wasn’t currently snowing, and she would rather get it over with than wonder what Lord Dunham was so urgently asking to see her for. Because Thea was right—it was unusual for him to ask to see her outside of their usual times.
She sat in a cozy chair by the fire and enjoyed the ambience of the café while drinking her tea, Ginger purring at her feet. Taking a moment to breathe always helped—and so did visiting the café and spending time with Ginger. After finishing her drink, she brought her empty mug back to the counter, and with a cheerful wave at Thea, set off into the snow.
Whatever had Lord Dunham in such a rush to speak with her, she was ready to hear it.
Chapter two
Alexander
Lord Alexander Dunham ofEldenwilde paced his study as he waited for the librarian to arrive.
It was not unusual for him to see the librarian, but it was unusual for him to be this nervous.
His palms were sweating, and he had a hard time drawing enough air into his lungs. As he continued to pace, one foot in front of the other, back and forth across his study, his mind raced.
If she didn’t agree to his plan, he wasn’t sure what would happen.
He glanced out the window, hoping to see her arriving, but there was still no one in sight.
His message had requested that she come as soon as she could, and she usually came very promptly. But he’d never had something so important to tell her before, and he’d never been waiting for her to arrive like this.
