She huffed a breath. “Perhaps we ought to discuss your story instead? I believe it might prove more productive than our current conversation.”
“All right.” They entered the park and followed a path that would take them to the out of the way spot where his friends had agreed to meet them. The air was pleasant, not too warm nor too cold, though one might think it overly chilly judging from Miss Quinn’s attire.
Anthony frowned at her while doing his best to carry the unwieldy basket the last of the distance. At some point he’d have to encourage her to unravel that shawl.
“Good day, Your Grace,” someone said, drawing his attention to Baron Deerford who was strolling in the opposite direction with his wife.
Anthony greeted the couple while noting their curious gazes – most notably directed at Ada – and quickly steered her past them.
“Your story is much improved from the previous version I read,” she told him, seemingly oblivious to the brief bit of attention they’d garnered. “I enjoyed the opening chapters a great deal and look forward to learning what happens next.”
Her comment made it easy for him to ignore the curious glances the rest of the parkgoers sent their way. His chest expanded, allowing warmth to pour in and fill him with pleasure. “Truly?”
“Yes. The hero and heroine are both compelling and there’s now the question of how they’ll manage to breach the divide between them.”
Anthony’s lips quirked. “I’ll admit I’m not sure how we’ll do it just yet. Any advice you’d like to give would be most welcome.”
“Well, he is an earl with certain expectations attached to his status. Falling for an innkeeper’s daughter is inconvenient. I suppose he’ll have to make a difficult choice at some point toward the end. There’s his reputation on one hand and the woman he loves on the other.”
Anthony’s heart gave a quick little kick in response to that word. He slowed his pace, forcing her to slow hers as well. Love. The most complicated emotion of all.
“How will he know?” He voiced the question without even thinking.
She raised her chin just enough to let him glimpse the curious look in her lovely blue eyes. “That he loves her?”
His chest tightened. “Precisely.”
“I suppose you’ll want to have him missing her when they’re apart, wondering about her well-being, possibly even fretting over her if she falls ill, or wanting to move both heaven and earth to make her happy. As Darcy does by helping Elizabeth’s sister, Lydia, out of her bind with Wickham. Doing so went against his pride, but he did it for her, to save her family’s reputation. It was a grand gesture of love made all the more so because he did not seek to be recognized for it.”
“You truly love that book, don’t you?” When she grinned and turned her face upward, he told her, “There’s a glow about you whenever you speak of it. I find it extremely compelling.”
“If luck will have it, many readers will speak of your book in the same way one day. I’ve faith in you, Mr. Gibbs, and in your friends.”
Her enthusiasm was infectious. It made him feel as he’d done the first time he’d caught a young lady’s notice. Grinning, he steered Miss Quinn toward the spot where Brody and Callum sat. Relieved to set the picnic basket down, he proceeded to make the introductions.
“We’ve heard a great deal about you, Miss Quinn,” Brody said. The hint of amusement in his eyes caused heat to wash the back of Anthony’s neck. “Apparently you’re a wealth of information with regard to romantic novels.”
“I was personally shocked when Anthony suggested we write one,” Callum said, “but his reasoning – for which I gather he has you to thank – made sense. We’ve become quite invested, actually. Now that we’ve begun, the ideas keep coming.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Miss Quinn said, the hesitance in her voice reminding Anthony that she was not used to meeting strangers.
Seemingly unsure about what to say, she took a seat on one of the two blankets Callum and Brody had brought. Anthony lowered himself beside her while his friends sat opposite. A few nearby bushes and trees shielded them slightly from the footpath, adding a bit more privacy than if they’d chosen the more open space near the park entrance.
“We’re very eager to hear you opinion,” Brody told Ada.
She cleared her throat and sent Anthony a quick glance. When he gave an encouraging nod, she said, “As I was telling Mr. Gibbs on the way ov—”
“Mr. Gibbs?” Brody gaped at her, then at Anthony, before quickly collecting himself. “Sorry. Um… You were saying?”
“He was Mr. Gibbs when we met,” Miss Quinn explained, her voice faltering slightly as though with uncertainty. “Feels strange referring to him by a different name now.”
“Agreed,” Anthony said in an effort to make her feel more at ease.
“I’m intrigued,” Callum said with a smirk. “Do go on.”
“I’ll fill you in later,” Anthony told him when he saw the high color in Ada’s cheeks. He sent his friend a look of warning before gently addressing her. “Please continue.”
“Oh… Um…” She fidgeted with her skirt. “As I mentioned to him on our way over, I’m quite impressed by your latest attempt at a novel. It’s compelling and I want to know more. What happens next, for instance?”
