Ada shifted her gaze in the direction they looked and took a sharp breath when she spotted Miss Starling. The lady had, it appeared, just alit from her very own carriage, which was parked a bit farther along. She now hurried toward the others.
Upon reaching them, she gave her back to the shop as she spoke. It seemed like they knew each other quite well, judging from the way the young lady smiled and laughed in response to what Miss Starling said. The young lady nodded and pulled something from her reticule which she handed over to Miss Starling before returning to her carriage.
Her chaperone followed her back into the conveyance, which took off soon after, rolling along the street before disappearing from Ada’s view. She pressed her lips together and chastised herself for missing her chance to invite them into the shop. But Miss Starling’s arrival had put her off balance. She’d no desire to meet with her.
Yet as Miss Starling turned to glance at the shop directly, Ada realized she had no choice in the matter. Unfortunately, the lady appeared to have seen her watching, and the determination on her face now was unmistakable. She shoved whatever her friend had handed to her inside her reticule and started toward the door.
With a heavy sigh, Ada prepared herself for their inevitable encounter and went to unlock it. Intent on being polite, she forced a smile into place and tried as best as she could to ignore the discomfort she felt at having to deal with the woman alone.
Just think of Anthony. He’ll likely arrive at any moment.
Or maybe Uncle James will.
No need for alarm.
Emboldened by this reminder, she turned the key, took a step back, and waited.
The door opened.
“Miss Quinn,” Miss Starling exclaimed as though shocked to encounter her here, “I’m so relieved to have found you, you’ve no idea.”
Ada clasped her hands together in front of herself. “What a pleasure it is to see you again, Miss Starling.”
“Isn’t it just?” Miss Starling’s gaze swept the bookshop’s interior. “What a delightful place this is. As an avid reader myself, I rather envy you living above a bookshop and having the latest releases available to you.”
Ada frowned. “I’m not sure I understand. How do you know I live here?”
“Well, I assume you do since you cannot possibly be employed.” Miss Starling tilted her head while studying Ada until she felt like squirming. “In case you’re unaware, proper young ladies do not engage in this line of work. Or any work for that matter unless they’re truly desperate or born into the working class. And even then, they must limit themselves to what’s appropriate, like selling flowers or becoming a seamstress. Feminine things, Miss Quinn, that won’t risk polluting their fragile minds.”
How Ada managed to keep her mouth shut and refrain from giving Miss Starling the boot was beyond her. Nevertheless, she smiled broadly. “You’re probably right. And indeed, I do live here.”
“Then you’ve no need to live in fear of a scandal.”
A scandal Ada was sure Miss Starling would happily put into motion if it served to keep Anthony from her. Clearly the woman wanted him for herself and considered Ada her rival.
Eager to send her on her way as swiftly as possible, Ada asked, “Did you wish to purchase a book? If so, you’ll have to wait for my uncle, who ought to return in about half an hour.”
“No, no. I didn’t come here as a customer but rather as a friend.”
Highly unlikely.
Ada steeled herself for whatever came next. “Really?”
“I know Westcliffe holds you in the highest regard, Miss Quinn, which is why I am hoping the two of us might get along. For his sake, that is. You see, I very much want to see him happy, and as his future wife, I’d like to make sure there’s no cause for resentment between us.”
“I beg your pardon?” Ada wasn’t sure how she managed to get the words past the sudden dryness in her throat. She stared at Miss Starling. “You’re marrying Anth…Westcliffe?”
“Of course.” Miss Starling batted her eyelashes. “He and I have had a long-standing agreement. One which we cemented last week.”
Ada shook her head. “I’m sorry to say this, but I fear you may have misunderstood whatever he might have told you. According to my conversation with him last night, he merely voiced the possibility with your father but has made no commitment to you.”
Miss Starling chuckled. “Men will often say one thing and do the exact opposite, Miss Quinn. I’ll make no pretense regarding our reason for marrying. Westcliffe needs my dowry and I want his title. It’s as simple as that really. But that doesn’t mean we can’t have an amicable arrangement. I saw the way he looked at you last night, which is why I thought to simplify things by reaching out to you myself.”
“I’m not sure I follow,” Ada muttered, making a mental note to check all these facts with Anthony himself. She certainly wasn’t about to trust anything this woman told her.
“This marriage of ours will be a convenience, not a love match, which has the added benefit of preventing troublesome feelings of jealousy. Indeed, I welcome your continued association with my future husband, Miss Quinn, provided you take care to be discreet.”
Ada gaped at her. Surely she wasn’t suggesting what Ada believed she might be. “To be clear, you’ve come here to…”
