“Then maybe you can fetch us someone who is.”
“Like the owner and editor-in-chief, Mr. Loughton,” Papa suggested
The clerk’s face reddened. “He’s an incredibly busy man, sir.”
“That’s, my lord, to you.” Papa raised his chin.
Callum leaned forward. “I’m sure Mr. Loughton can make time for three dukes and an earl. Wouldn’t you say?”
“I…um…ah…Of course.” The clerk took a step back. “I’ll let him know you’re here at once.”
He nearly tripped over his feet in his sudden haste to get the job done.
“This is nonsense,” Westcliffe muttered.
Corwin nodded. “I’ll be ending my subscription before we leave.”
“I’m so sorry,” Emily told them. “I’m sure Callum has briefed you on what happened.”
“He did,” Westcliffe said without adding anything further.
Corwin said nothing. He didn’t even look at her, which almost made her feel worse than Westcliffe’s scowl.
“I’ll find a way out of this mess one way or the other,” she promised, even though she had no idea how or where to begin. Hopefully speaking with Mr. Loughton would be a good start.
The man arrived within the next minute. His expression, unlike the clerk’s, was warm and hospitable. Emily’s heart gave a hopeful beat.
“Welcome gentlemen.” Mr. Loughton extended his hand to everyone in turn and introductions were hastily made. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”
“I believe I’ll let my daughter explain,” Papa told him.
Although Emily technically worked for Mr. Loughton, she’d never actually met him. All of her communication with the newspaper had taken place by letter. It was time for him to find out who she truly was.
“Mr. Loughton. My name is Emily Brooke, otherwise known as The Lady Librarian.”
Mr. Loughton’s eyes widened. He grinned. “How positively marvelous! My wife and I are both admirers of your writing. We read all your reviews and purchase our books accordingly.”
“Thank you.” Emily gave him a tight smile. “As I explained to your clerk, one of the reviews I wrote was delivered to you in error. It’s scheduled to appear in tomorrow’s paper, but if it does, it will discredit what I truly believe to be a wonderful novel.”
Mr. Loughton frowned. “If that’s your position, then why would you write a review to the contrary?”
“The reason is irrelevant in this instance. All that matters is that the review gets retracted with no damage done to the book’s potential.”
“I’ve got to tell you this is a bit last minute.” Mr. Loughton scratched his head. “I’m not sure there’s much to be done. The Lady Librarian’s column is in the middle of the paper. It’s placed in a spot where no changes are ever expected. Those pages get printed first, beginning at eight in the morning the day before publication. This allows us the extra time we need to work on the first few pages, where all the headlines appear, at the last minute.”
“So what you’re saying,” Emily asked, just to be clear, “is that the page with The Lady Librarian’s review has already been printed?”
“Probably.”
“Can we check?” she asked, her panic from earlier returning in full force.
Mr. Loughton nodded. “Come with me.”
They followed him into the back office area where a group of roughly twenty men were either busy at their desks or bustling about as though pressed for time.
Mr. Loughton approached a slim man with thinning blond hair. “Mr. Conrad. I need an update on tomorrow’s edition. Has the page featuring The Lady Librarian been printed yet?”
“It was completed about an hour ago,” Mr. Conrad informed his employer.
