In the Presence of Angels by Katherine Kingsley

Author:Katherine Kingsley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION/Romance/General
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2013-09-18T16:00:00+00:00

Will settled more firmly into his chair, determined that he would somehow find a way to bluff his way through negotiations on a book he hadn’t even known existed until a few minutes before, when he’d happened along to speak to Louisa and had overheard a good part of her conversation with Mr. Sandringham. He couldn’t believe he was in the situation at all, but what was another charade at this point? He was becoming an expert at dissembling.

Trust Louisa to drop another shock into his lap, although he wasn’t surprised that she’d managed to write a book that a publisher wanted to buy badly enough to come directly after it—he knew well enough how beautifully she put images and characters onto paper.

He thought he understood why she’d kept her book a secret until now, but what he didn’t understand was why she’d chosen a male nom de plume and refused to confess to it. He imagined he’d find that out soon enough. In the meantime, he needed to put all of his energy into negotiating a good contract for her.

“Now that we are alone, sir,” he said, folding his hands on the desktop, “why do we not proceed?”

He sent a silent prayer up to Michael, archangel of mercy and protection and Will’s personal favorite of the heavenly hierarchy. This was not the first time he’d made a desperate plea to Michael and probably wouldn’t be the last, although this was the first time Will had appealed to him outside the heat of battle. He’d not even asked Michael for mercy when Samantha Davenport showed up, but then that hadn’t required divine intervention. This did.

“As I said,” Mr. Sandringham said, “I wish to purchase your book, Mr. Peter. I found it a most compelling work and believe a wide audience will find it the same.”

“How much are you prepared to pay?” Will said, going straight to the heart of the matter. He guessed that Sandringham’s story about time constraints was no more than that—a story. If he wanted the novel badly enough, he would move heaven and earth to see that it was published. Will just wished he knew what the blasted thing was about, since he was masquerading as the author.

“How—er, how direct you are, Mr. Peter,” Sandringham replied, his fingers fluttering together.

“I see no point in wasting time. You wish to buy my book, I wish for you to buy it. We are in agreement on that matter. The only thing that stands in the way of each of us achieving our desire is your inability to offer me what I require.”

“Just what is it you require, Mr. Peters?” Sandringham asked, his eyes shuttering.

“Give me your offer and I will tell you whether it is what I require or not,” Will said.

“Fifty pounds,” Sandringham said. “I think it a highly generous offer for a new author.”

“Ludicrous,” Will shot back. “You will earn at least ten times that, if not more, and if your expressed confidence is any indication,

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