Secret Valentine Read Free Page B

counter to the
proprietor.
    He unwrapped the parcel she had just handed
him and spread the contents across his counter. Cecelia winced
hoping Devin couldn't see the display of her wares.
    "These are smashing. Can you bring me more by
Tuesday next?"
    Cecelia nodded. "Are the big ones selling
well then?"
    The man smiled. "Not yet, but they will.
There 'ave been a lot of govs looking at 'em. Like the cove out
there looking at 'em now."
    Cecelia winced, knowing he must be talking
about Devin, who hadn't even realized Valentine's Day was
approaching and considered her cards silly. "Looking isn't
buying."
    "They'll be back. The Ladies are the one's
buying 'em now. I 'ave orders for a dozen more like this." He
tapped one of the smaller cards. "Ladies seem to like to give the
simple ones, but expect to get the fancy ones."
    He reached to the bottom of the stack in the
display case and handed her a card with the lace dangling off the
edge. "Could you repair this?"
    Her heart sank as she saw the damaged edge
where the glue had come away with a chunk of pasteboard. "I don't
know." She tucked it in her satchel. "I'll try."
    The proprietor knelt down and removed a lock
box from under the case. He opened it and handed her a small bag
and a handwritten list. Cecelia's eyes swam as she stared at
it.
    "Is it all in order, miss?"
    She peeked into the heavy bag and gasped at
the sparkle of gold guineas and silver crowns winking back at her.
"So much?"
    "Raised the price when the first lot sold so
fast, I did," said the shopkeeper proudly.
    "Thank you." She scrambled to get the shock
out of her voice. "Quite astute of you to do so. I knew it should
be to my advantage to work with you."
    He touched his forehead. "To both our
gain."
    He gathered up her work, handling them like
they were made of the most delicate china. She didn't handle them
so nicely.
    She folded the list and pulled the purse
closed and tucked both in her satchel. Who would have thought?
Well, she had hoped, but this kind of success she hadn't
expected.
    Now she needed to go outside and pretend
nothing was out of the ordinary with her unsolicited companion.
    "Where now?" Devin asked, as she stepped on
the sidewalk.
    She pulled on her gloves. "I'm done."
    "Should you like to go to Gunter's for a
shaved ice?"
    "It's rather cold for frozen treats."
    "They serve tea and cakes too."
    "Do we have to?" She was appalled that those
words had slipped out of her mouth.
    "No, of course not." A frown marred his
forehead.
    Perhaps the walking had worn him out and he
wanted to rest on their trip home. Anxious to get back to her
workroom and count the money in her bag, she had allowed her
overset nerves to overrule her civility. "We can stop if you'd
like."
    He gestured toward the maid and footman,
sending them on home with her purchases. He turned toward her, and
his blue eyes searched hers.
    Heat rose in her face. Perhaps shaved ice was
in order. "I'm sure I should enjoy a cup of tea."
    That was as long as he didn't ask her what
she did upstairs in the attic. She would tell him eventually. After
all, when she'd raised enough money to strike out on her own, she
would have to tell him. But her fledgling business venture needed
dry wings before she would risk flapping them about. He would
probably think she was all wet anyway.
    "Good, because I have something I wish to ask
you."
    "I quite think you shouldn't."
    "I shouldn't?"
    "Well, yes, you have asked too much
today."
    "Really?"
    He looked adorably puzzled. Had he forgotten
he had asked to marry earlier in the day? Or actually, he hadn't
asked. He had suggested that marriage to him was the only
reasonable solution. Although since she knew it wasn't, Cecelia
didn't know why she was fretting about it. It had probably slipped
his mind, which was a good thing.
    She turned toward his home and began walking.
He fell into an easy step beside her.
    "Isn't it time you left off the mourning? Is
that why you were buying the ribbons and lace? To trim new