Harlequin Historical May 2017, Box Set 1 of 2 by Bronwyn Scott

Author:Bronwyn Scott
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781488021398
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

‘Are you certain this is where the auction is being held?’ Jasper asked as they ascended the stone stairs into the building in Somers Town.

‘The paper was quite clear on the matter.’ To Jane’s amazement, he’d been incredibly solicitous in accompanying her here, despite her having woken him from a deep sleep this morning. Over the last two weeks, Jane and Jasper’s lives had settled into a quiet routine. They spent afternoons and evenings in preparation for the opening of the club, then dined together before retiring upstairs for more intimate discussions. Afterwards, Jasper would go to the gaming room and remain there until dawn when he returned home to sleep while Jane rose.

‘From what I remember of London, this seems an odd place for a lady of, what did the advert say?’

‘Fine breeding fallen on hard times.’ Jane read from the cut-out advertisement for the auction to sell the goods of a genteel lady who’d recently died without heirs. Despite the very questionable neighbourhood, the quality things being sold to clear the deceased woman’s debts included a fine set of china Jane hoped to purchase for the club. As a married woman with her husband by her side, she was free to travel here and to bid on anything she liked. It was a welcome change from the last auction she’d attended.

From an open upstairs window, the knock of the gavel against the wood and the auctioneer’s booming voice announcing ‘Sold’ carried out over the noise of the street.

‘Hurry, before we miss the best items.’ She took Jasper’s arm and pulled him inside, eager to reach the auction and get him away from the gaudily dressed woman across the street trying to catch his attention.

‘I’m coming.’ He bounded up the stairs past her, pulling her along. At the top, he tugged hard enough to make her skip over the last tread and land with a bounce in front of him on the landing. He caught her other hand and pulled her against him and away from the drop. The rumble of his laughter rose up to meet hers, the joy they’d taken in one another over the last weeks increasing. Whatever doubts she’d entertained about Jasper before the ceremony had long been destroyed by his constant humour and the hours they’d spent together. He wanted to be with her and they were revelling in their newfound freedom.

A balding businessman in a light coat mumbled his apologies while he passed them on his way out. His presence forced Jasper and Jane to assume a more professional air before they entered the room. It was a large one in the old house, a ballroom maybe, converted like the rest into a private apartment. True to its past it was embellished with chipped wainscoting, scrolled doors, tall windows hung with thick curtains and an abundance of gilt furnishings and knick-knacks.

‘It looks like your office,’ Jane whispered as they slipped behind the gathered crowd and gawked at the massive amount of baroque mirrors.

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