Who doesn’t love a trip to a library or bookstore? I know I do. And in the excerpt from For Peace of Mind below, the party from Gracechurch Street is going to indulge in such a pleasure. Unfortunately, this trip to the bookstore is not going to be a pleasure trip, and that meme that often shows up on social media about a lady who always has a book with her will always have a companion and a weapon is going to prove very true.
The excerpt below is from Chapter 5 and ends right before the use of a book as a weapon is put to the test. I cut it off right before that so that you can enjoy the discovery of how the book comes in handy.
Enjoy!
Please note: For Peace of Mind is currently only available at Amazon because it is enrolled in the Kindle Unlimited Program.
At the Gardiner house, the shock of the news concerning Wickham gradually wore off, and the awkwardness of the recently imposed safety precautions melted into a sort of routine. One week later, the entire household, save Mr. Gardiner, who was at work and Michael, who was too young, prepared for a gift buying excursion.
“John,” said Mrs. Gardiner, “We shall be ready to depart in half an hour.”
“Thank you, ma’am. I will be ready,” replied the burly footman.
Half an hour later, true to her word, Mrs. Gardiner had the entire party gathered at the front door, ready to depart. “It will be a bit of a squeeze getting us all in the carriage,” she said, “but we shan’t catch a chill being so cozy together, now shall we?” She let Charlotte, Maria, Elizabeth and Jane climb into the carriage first before handing in her three children and instructing them to sit on a lap or squish tighter. Then she climbed in, and John joined the driver on the box.
“Mama?” asked Andrew. “May we stop for Papa’s book first?”
“Yes, Andrew, I think we shall,” she told him. Then turning to Elizabeth, she added merrily, “I dare say if it is not the first stop, we shall hear of little else all morning.”
Elizabeth winked at her aunt and wrapped her arms more tightly around the youngster who sat on her lap. “It is the best shop, is it not, Andrew?”
Andrew scrunched up his face as he thought for a moment before giving a small shake of his head. “It is almost the best. The sweets shop is better.” A smile split his face at the thought of the treats contained within that shop.
Mrs. Gardiner chuckled. “I know of a lovely tea shop with chocolate and scones just down the street from the bookseller’s.”
“Oh, yes,” said Jane. “Their chocolate was delightful.”
“And the company may be just as pleasing.” Mrs. Gardiner’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “The gentlemen did say they frequent that shop, did they not?”
“They did,” answered Elizabeth.
Andrew peeked up at his favourite cousin and pulled his brows together which combined with his slight pout let everyone know he was not best pleased with this information. “Will Mr. Darcy be there?” he asked.
A faint blush coloured Elizabeth’s cheeks. She hoped he would be. At the end of each year, it was Gardiner tradition to give gifts that showed thankfulness for and gave blessing to the receiver. Although she enjoyed spending time searching for just the right gift, she had been disappointed she would not be home to receive a call from Darcy and Georgiana. “Perhaps.”
Andrew’s expression became more of a scowl. “Colonel Fitzwilliam, too?”
Elizabeth nodded.
Andrew’s face relaxed somewhat although he still did not look satisfied. “I like chocolate,” he said. He worried his bottom lip for a moment as he thought before he sighed. “But I think I still prefer the sweets shop.”
The carriage groaned to a stop outside the bookseller.
John jumped down from the box and went into the store. A short while later, he opened the carriage door and handed the ladies and children down. Then, after a quick word with Mrs. Gardiner, he took up his post at the front door, carefully watching each person who entered.
Margaret, Amelia, and Andrew followed their mother first to the section of books from which to choose a present for their father. After making their selection, they waited near the children’s books while Mrs. Gardiner picked up a few other books, carefully hiding them from Elizabeth’s view and paid for them. Elizabeth had already made her purchase and was wandering the shop admiring the row on row of books. She stopped at a shelf of poetry books and paged through a few.
“Lizzy,” said Andrew tugging at her coat, “it’s time to go.”
Elizabeth took his hand and walked to the front of the store. “Oh, dear,” she said.
“Is there a problem?” asked her aunt.
“I seem to have left my parcel back on the shelf by the poetry books. It will only take a moment to retrieve it.” She turned back into the store as the rest of the group, save Andrew, who was still holding her hand, chatted on the walkway out front.
“Excuse me, sir. I left my parcel on the shelf,” she said to a gentleman in great coat and top hat who was perusing the same volume of poetry that she had previously been enjoying.
“Ah, Miss Elizabeth,” said the man turning to face her. “It is a pleasure to see you again.”
Elizabeth gasped and jumped back, pushing Andrew behind her. “Mr. Wickham, are you on leave from the regiment?” She hoped her voice sounded steadier than she felt.
“You could say that,” he said with a smirk. “I am on a sort of mission, I guess.”
“It would be a pity to keep you from your purpose, and my party is waiting for me, so I will wish you a good day, Mr. Wickham.” She gave a quick curtsey and began backing away from him. “Miss Elizabeth, your leaving would keep me from my mission…”
