“As would I,” Clement hurried to say. “I’d also be willing to help you shelve any books you may acquire. You’ll just need to send a note around to my office, and I’ll be here at my earliest convenience.”
“Of course you will,” William drawled before Adelaide could respond. “Shelving new additions would allow you the opportunity of the right of first perusal.”
Adelaide held up her hand, stopping the argument she knew was about to commence. “While I appreciate your offers, gentlemen, I’m intending on hiring a full staff, complete with a manager who will be given the responsibility of procuring new books for the shop. However, since I only recently took over ownership, I’m still in the infant stages, although I will welcome any suggestions you may wish to make. For now, though, I still have a few details left to attend to before we can begin our first meeting.”
“Do you need any help with those?” William asked.
She laughed. “Thank you, but no. You’re here to enjoy yourselves this evening, so I suggest you begin doing exactly that by looking around the store at your leisure.” She grinned. “I’ll be more than happy to relieve you of your money if you happen to find any books you simply can’t live without.”
“Can we look through your collection?” Clement asked.
“And start a war once other agents arrive and learn you’ve gotten the jump on them? I think not. You’ll need to wait until everyone is here.”
“It’s hardly our fault we arrived on time,” William grumbled before he clapped Clement on the shoulder. “Nevertheless, since Miss Duveen is probably right about the war, and a book salon shouldn’t turn into a contentious affair before it even starts, I saw Leopold Pendleton head up to the second floor. What say we go and see if we can assist him with finding some excellent books to add to his collection?”
“Should I expect you to remind him you’re a book agent?” Clement asked.
“Undoubtedly,” William said, earning a chuckle from Clement before the two men strolled off across the room, disappearing up the stairs a moment later.
Shaking her head, Adelaide returned to emptying the crate she’d brought with her, glancing Gideon’s way a second later to find him in conversation with Jeromy Hopkins.
“My dear, you look positively radiant this evening,” Edna said, drawing Adelaide’s attention as she glided up to join her. “Camilla certainly knew what she was about dressing you in jewel tones because that emerald green suits you to perfection, although...” She lowered her voice. “I have a feeling you’re looking luminous because a certain gentleman is present.”
Adelaide shot another glance to Gideon, who was, unfortunately, watching her as he continued speaking with Jeromy, the smile he immediately sent her causing heat to crawl up herneck and settle on her cheeks. She sent him a small smile in return before turning back to Edna. “I’m sure if I’m glowing, it’s merely because this is my first official event as the proprietress of this shop and my nerves are somewhat jittery.”
“You keep telling yourself that, dear, but I don’t believe it for a moment.” Edna’s eyes took to sparkling. “As a woman who’s recently become enamored of my own gentleman, I recognize the expression residing on your face, one you sport often of late. You, my darling, hold Gideon in great affection, and if I’m not mistaken, which I assure you I’m not, that sentiment is returned.”
Adelaide’s pulse, unsurprisingly, began racing madly about, but before she could press Edna for more details, the door to the shop opened again and Lottie breezed through it in the company of a handful of other book agents, none of whom Adelaide was overly familiar with. They were followed by two dapperly dressed men Adelaide had never seen before, both of them hesitating just inside the doorway, as if they weren’t certain where they should go from there.
Gideon was moving across the store a second later, the two men in his sights.
Telling Edna she’d be right back because she wanted to greet the new arrivals, to which Edna told her not to hurry because she was off to speak with Vernon, Adelaide made it halfway through the store before Lottie intercepted her.
“Miss Duveen,” Lottie exclaimed. “How delightful to see you again.”
Adelaide summoned up a smile. “Miss ... Smith. It’s wonderful to see you as well. I’m so pleased you were able to attend our very first book salon.”
“I rearranged my schedule as soon as I saw the notice posted on the door, but tell me this.” Lottie moved closer. “Are the rumors true? Are you really the new owner of this shop, and if so, I must admit I’m dying of curiosity to learn how society reacted to that scandalous development.”
“I’m afraid they’ve yet to become apprised of what I’m sure they’ll consider an outrage, so I must beg your discretion in this matter. However...” She caught Lottie’s eye. “I don’t recall telling you that I was involved with society the last time we spoke.”
“William Osborne mentioned it while we were rummaging around that crate, searching for treasures.”
“And did you find any treasures that day?”
“Alas, I went home empty-handed,” Lottie said before she glanced around the room, her gaze lingering on Gideon and the men he was speaking with. Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly, but then she blinked and returned her attention to Adelaide. “I hope I don’t come across as too forward, but wasn’t that gentleman standing over there the same one you were with when I first made your acquaintance?”
Unable to help but wonder why Lottie would be interested in Gideon, or if she might have somehow learned he was not simply a gentleman of leisure, Adelaide forced herself to keep her smile firmly in place. “He is indeed. He’s an avid collector and simply couldn’t resist attending tonight.”
“I thought I overheard him telling the book agents he collected art and ancient weaponry.”
“What a wonderful memory you have, Miss Smith, as well as a talent, if I’m not mistaken, for overhearing conversations.”
“And what a wonderful talent you seem to possess for distraction, Miss Duveen,” Lottie said before she dipped into a curtsy, shot another glance to Gideon, although it seemed her gaze darted ever so briefly to the two men Gideon was still speaking with, then said something about perusing some books and ambled away.
Blowing out a breath while hoping she hadn’t drawn Lottie’s suspicions or put her on high alert regarding the evening ahead, Adelaide checked her watch just as Gideon strode up to join her.
“Everything alright?” he asked.
