The Bookseller's Secret by Michelle Gable

Author:Michelle Gable [Gable, Michelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Graydon House Books
Published: 2021-06-18T13:54:01+00:00

December 1942

G. Heywood Hill Ltd.

“Goodness, what happened here?” Nancy said, gaping at the Christmas cards strewn across the floor.

One of their longtime customers, Missus Falziel, simpered nearby. “I upset Anne again,” she said. “It seems to be a daily occurrence. My little enemy.”

“My deepest apologies,” Nancy said as she began scooping up the cards. “Anne is a perfect demon lately. I do hope this baby is worth all the angst.”

Anne Hill had at last gotten pregnant, and in the nick of time, as Heywood was due to ship out. He’d been called up months ago, but they’d granted him a deferral because one-third of the shop’s sales occurred in December, and he was a “one-man show.”

“One-man show?” Nancy balked when he delivered the news. “What am I, a ghost?”

“You are not a ghost, but you are also not a man,” Heywood had replied, sounding ever like Farve.

“Anne hates everyone and everything right now,” Nancy told Missus Falziel as she finished corralling the mess. “Don’t take it personally. The holiday madness has frayed all of our nerves.”

They were mere days from Christmas, which meant a constantly ringing phone and a line of customers snaked out the door. There was scarcely a gift left to be bought, and the shop was barren, downright bleak, without books and Victorian curiosities lying about. Nancy couldn’t wait for the season to end, especially with her small Christmas miracle still ahead. Heywood promised a two-week holiday for all the hours she’d put in. Finally, a chance to focus on her book.

Between work and the Colonel, and her newly implemented blackout salons, Nancy hadn’t come close to the thirty thousand words she’d hoped to have by now, but the upcoming mini holiday gave her a shot at a new goal, which was to finish before the release of any book written by Hester Griffin, or Angela Thirkell.

“Were you planning to buy these?” Nancy asked Missus Falziel, about the cards. “We only have a few packs left, and I suspect they’ll be gone by closing.”

“Yes!” She swiped them from Nancy’s hand. “That’s the whole problem! When I inquired about whether there might be a second box in the back, Anne threw these at my head.”

“Luckily for everyone, she does not have the best aim.”

Nor Heywood, Nancy thought, which was doubtless why it took Anne so long to get pigged.

“Thank you for stopping past.” Nancy leaned in to give Missus Falziel a hug. “Hester will be happy to ring you up. Have a very merry holiday!”

“You as well. By the way, when does that handsome husband of yours come home?” she asked. “I’m sure it will be such a relief to have him around, if only for a short time!”

“Oh, I don’t expect to see Peter,” Nancy said, and put on a smile. “He’s nowhere to be found these days! Wartime makes everything so messy and unpredictable!”

Missus Falziel cocked her head. “How odd,” she said. “I presumed all men were granted Christmas leave for a day or two, at least.

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