Lifting her hand, she removed the stamp and set it aside so she could brush the excess gold away. So far, so good. She expelled a slow breath and continued her work, imprinting the rest of the gold until she’d completed her task. A light dusting of French chalk was added to help remove the residue from the oil, and this was then wiped away with a clean cloth.
Ada took a slow breath and expelled it. Her lips quirked and she finally smiled.
Perfect.
The door to the shop opened and Uncle James popped his head into the room. “Are you almost finished?”
“Yes.” Ada stood and stepped back from the table so she could admire her work properly. “It’s all done.”
“Good.” He glanced at the books. “Those look beautiful, Ada. I dare say it’s some of your finest work yet. But I want you to eat. That’s why I came. To let you know it’s already noon.”
“Is it?” Ada glanced at the clock behind her. “Heavens, time certainly knows how to fly. Shall I bring some food down from upstairs so we can eat here?”
“How about we purchase a couple of mutton pies from next door instead?”
Ada grinned in response to the hopeful look in her uncle’s eyes. It was no secret that neither of them was a good cook, and whatever she offered to make would be boring at best, inedible at worst. She nodded. “An excellent suggestion. I’ll go and purchase them right away.”
It was convenient having a bakery next door, though possibly detrimental to one’s figure in the long term, Ada mused as she paid for the fresh pies. The paper in which they were packed was warm to the touch, and the scent filling her nostrils made her eager to taste the food.
She handed one to Uncle James as soon as she returned to the shop. Since they were the only two people present, they chose to eat at the counter instead of retreating to the back room. Ada bit into her pie and savored the hearty chunks of tender meat that spilled from beneath the flaky crust.
Delicious.
She ate the entire thing in less than ten minutes and was just dusting crumbs from her fingers when the front door opened and Mr. Gibbs entered to the bell’s happy chime. Ada took a sharp breath and slid off the stool on which she’d been sitting. Feeling incredibly stiff and awkward, she clutched her hands and tried to ignore the sudden onslaught of topsy-turviness in her stomach.
Impeccably dressed in a forest green jacket and slate gray trousers, Mr. Gibbs approached with a wide smile directed solely at her. “Good day, Miss Quinn. How delightful it is to see you again.”
“Welcome back, Mr. Gibbs.” Dear lord, she could feel her cheeks starting to burn. Sensing a need for stability, she reached for the stool.
Mr. Gibbs’s gaze slid toward her uncle. He tilted his head. “I say, aren’t you the same fellow I met in the street yesterday, in front of this very shop?”
Ada’s lips parted as she turned to stare at her uncle with no small amount of surprise.
He chuckled. “Afraid so. I hope you can forgive my cheekiness in recommending my own shop to you.”
“An easy feat since your advertisement was correct. As far as I can tell so far, the shop does indeed deliver quality goods, excellent service, and very competitive pricing.” Mr. Gibbs glanced at Ada and, holding her gaze, quietly added, “I’m certainly glad I decided to take a closer look.”
The heat in her cheeks worsened until she felt as though she’d been engulfed by flames. Lord help her, this man had the power to melt her completely.
“I’ll see about that box I started unpacking earlier.” Uncle James sent Ada a pointed look accompanied by a knowing smile before wandering off and disappearing between a couple of bookcases.
Ada stared after him. This was the first she’d heard of a new delivery.
“Our conversation yesterday has given me much to consider,” Mr. Gibbs said, drawing her attention back to him. “I’ve decided it would be unfair to judge something harshly without first examining it in greater detail.”
“Oh?”
“I refer to Miss Austen’s novels of course. You spoke of them with such fondness. Having never read one myself, I’ll allow that my opinion of such books may have been overly rash.”
Ada blinked. His ability to set aside his own preconceived notions was admirable. She smiled. “Thank you. I’ve always believed it important to keep an open mind in all matters.”
The edge of his lips quirked with undeniable charm. “Quite. Which is why I thought to ask if the shop has a copy of your favorite book of hers. Pride and something or other, I believe you said.”
“Pride and Prejudice,” Ada informed him with a chuckle. “Unfortunately, Miss Austen’s books are so successful they sell out almost at once. If I’m not mistaken, there’s still a copy of Persuasion left, but it’s not as good. A bit too distressing for my own personal taste and lacking much of the clever wit that’s prevalent in Austen’s earlier works.”
Biting her lip, she briefly considered lending Mr. Gibbs her personal copy of Pride and Prejudice, but quickly dismissed the idea. Such an offer was far too forward and would surely be viewed as an impropriety.
“Is it possible to place an order?” Mr. Gibbs asked. “For the novels you think are among Miss Austen’s best?”
