The bell tinkled above the door at Adelia’s entrance.
“Good morning, Lady Adelia,” said the owner’s wife.
“Good morning, Mrs. Schnell.” She glanced around the shop. It was otherwise empty at that hour, which was precisely how Adelia preferred it.
“Are you out of paper already?” the round-cheeked woman asked, looking astonished.
“Almost. I shall buy a new tablet for when the inevitable occurs in a day or so. And I wondered if you had any new nibs.”
The shopkeeper pulled a tray out from behind the counter as the bell tinkled again. “Try out any you like, my lady.”
A loud family had entered the shop, causing Adelia to try to shrink in size as noise always did. Glancing over her shoulder, her gaze took in Penny, waiting patiently by the door. Her maid gave her an encouraging smile, and she relaxed. It was only a mother and three children, asking for colored pencils and drawing pads.
Keeping her back to the shop, Adelia indulged herself a few minutes by dipping pens into the testing ink and scrawling across the top sheet of a stack of low-quality paper. She didn’t really need another nib, but she loved the smooth feeling of a new one. Ultimately, she would wear out the metal tip on her Perry pen, but for now, it was akin to an old friend she couldn’t bear to part with.
Feeling a little guilty for using up so much of the stationer’s ink, she decided to buy another pot at the very least.
After the family had made their purchases and left, she turned to locate Mrs. Schnell just as the door opened again.
To the accompaniment of the tinkling bell, in strode Lord Owen Burnley.
Chapter Four
Adelia faltered whenthe tall, handsome viscount stopped in his tracks upon seeing her. His scowling face slowly softened into something resembling civility.
“Good day, Lady Adelia.”
She nodded, knowing if she tried to return his greeting, it would stick in her throat. She always needed a moment to gird herself for interaction with men. And this man, even more so. His blue eyes, which had scorched her the night before, were the loveliest she’d ever seen on a man. And she greatly admired the flaxen gold of his hair, curling out from beneath his top hat, so much prettier than her own dull brown.
“I shall be right with you, my lord,” Mrs. Schnell intoned to him. “Is there anything besides the tablet, my lady?”
Adelia wanted to ask for the ink, but her voice had deserted her, so she shook her head.
Lord Burnley approached and pulled something out of his pocket, slamming it atop the counter, making Adelia jump as the shopkeeper pulled out her accounts ledger.
While Mrs. Schnell recorded her purchase, which would be settled at the end of the month, Adelia couldn’t help glancing at what Lord Burnley had so violently set down—a scrap of paper, blank except for the lettersJandDand a crown sketched in pencil. The markings were familiar.
She glanced up at him to find his intense gaze upon her. Then, he raised an eyebrow.
“Do you come here often, Lady Adelia?”
Suddenly realizing he was quite close, not giving her the well-mannered amount of space to conduct her business, she took a step away from him.
What was his question? Oh, yes.
She nodded.
“Her ladyship is in here all the time,” Mrs. Schnell added, and Adelia felt her cheeks heat at the unexpected discussion of her personal habits.
“You are a devotee of paper and pens, I take it,” Lord Burnley said. “Thus, may I assume you write a lot of letters?”
It was none of his business, but he had her fixed with those piercing eyes, so she nodded again.
“There you are, my lady,” Mrs. Schnell said, sliding the new tablet toward her.
Glancing down, Adelia noted the watermark, not very noticeable but apparent when one knew of its existence.
Again, she glanced at Lord Burnley, who looked at the tablet, too. He visibly startled, apparently seeing the mark. Without warning, he reached out and took her tablet precisely as she was reaching for it. She was caught in the awkward situation of both of them holding an opposing edge.
