Aurelia led her to the table at the front, whereThe Moonstonesat with her other selections, but then hesitated, unsure whether she should remove the book from the table.There was another copy there, she told herself.Shouldn’t that be enough to bring Rachel and Sergeant Cuff into the shop again?Aurelia picked one up and handed it to Mrs.Smith but made a mental note to order a few more copies.
“I’m surprised Marigold never recommended this.It was one of her favorites.”
“She did recommend it.I was just never all that interested in reading it.”
Mrs.Smith peered down at the back cover.
“Yes, fine.I’ll take it,” she said, handing the book to Aurelia.“I’m tired of re-reading my Agatha Christies.I may as well try something new.”
Aurelia felt a burst of pride in having swayed Mrs.Smith with one of her recommendations but tried to keep from looking self-satisfied.She could just imagine her changing her mind if it seemed Aurelia was too pleased with herself.
Mrs.Smith began following Aurelia to the register before stopping as she caught sight of the other titles on the table.“Anna Karenina?I never bothered with that one since everyone seems to know how it ends.Not much of a mystery, is it?”
“It’s one of my favorites,” Aurelia said automatically.
She paused then, looking at the cover and struggling to keep in the burst of frustration that surfaced as she thought about Vronsky.
“You know, to be honest, I’ve been rethinking that.I mean, Count Vronsky is so pompous and set in his ways.Tolstoy describes him as loving all things new and modern, but his thinking is completely backward.”
“Sounds as if you’ve met a Vronsky or two yourself,” Mrs.Smith said, pursing her lips in a conspiratorial smile.
Aurelia’s eyes widened, almost believing that Mrs.Smith might have guessed her secret.
“Come to that,” Mrs.Smith continued, “throw a stick in this city and you’re bound to hit one.”
Aurelia let out a laugh of relief; clearly she was talking about real-life men, not the fictional one Aurelia had in mind.
“I’d best stop throwing sticks, then,” she said, still laughing as she led Mrs.Smith to the desk to ring up the sale.
Mrs.Smith paid for her copy and stuffed it into her handbag, then thanked Aurelia as she strode toward the door and pushed it open.Alfie dashed over and managed to squeeze himself through just before it closed behind her.
Aurelia shook her head, still smiling at the fact that she’d managed to break through Mrs.Smith’s cool exterior, all thanks to her argument with Count Vronsky.She watched Mrs.Smith and Alfie walk through the square, then her eyes fell to the displays in the front windows.It had felt good to have Mrs.Smith take her up on a book recommendation.Maybe it was finally time to update the window displays and give other customers something new to see as well.
When her father appeared at five o’clock, Aurelia gave him a puzzled look—what was Dad doing here?—before she remembered.
“Oh, dinner!”
“Forgotten me, then?”her father teased.
“I did for a minute—it’s been busy here.”
She put the book she was holding in the window display and turned to give him a hug.“How was the train?”
“Fine, fine.Same as ever.”
“All your errands in town done, then?”
“Yes, all ticked off the list.You don’t mind an early dinner, do you?”
“Not at all.”Aurelia spotted the overnight bag in his hand.“Should I make up the guest bed for you?”
Her heart sank a little, thinking that with her father visiting she might not have a chance to sneak away and see the characters.
“No, thanks, darling.I promised Edward I’d stay with him.I’ll leave my bag here, if I can, while we’re at dinner?”
Her father and Edward had taught at the same university.Edward was divorced and had been a good friend to him over the past year.
“Of course.”Aurelia took the bag and tucked it behind her desk.“Let me just run up to the flat and make myself presentable.”
