Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 126850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
His smile was so contagious that I couldn’t help but crack my lips into one, too.
“So, Grace the Cambridge graduate with an interest in obscure historical facts,” William said after a moment, still smiling, eyes still twinkling. “Since we’re both at fault for our collision outside and I’ve replaced your coffee, what are the chances of you giving me your number?”
“You’re really shooting your shot here, aren’t you?”
He held up his hands like he had when I’d pointed out the real mugs on the table. “Can you blame me?”
I stared at him for a second, fighting back a smile. The muscles in my cheek twitched as I desperately tried to keep it under control, and William retrieved his phone from his coat pocket, unlocked it, tapped a few times on the screen, and held it out to me.
It was a new contact entry on the screen.
I managed to keep my smile to myself for a second longer before I could no longer fight the urge. “Oh, all right.” I took the phone from him and entered both my name and number, then saved it and handed it back. “I suppose that’s fair.”
He grinned, then tapped his thumb on the screen and turned it to face me. He was calling me. “Now you’ve got mine.”
“Have I? Or are you just making sure I gave you the correct number?”
“Making sure you typed it in correctly, of course. Typos do happen.”
“Of course.” I pulled my phone from my bag and, ignoring Amber’s string of text messages, opened the missed call notification and showed it to him. “There. Proof of number.”
His eyes crinkled when he smiled. “I do have to run. I have a meeting. I’ll talk to you soon?” He stood up, looking at me hopefully.
“We’ll see,” I replied, picking my mug up to take another sip of coffee.
“I’ll take it.” William chuckled and walked through the coffee shop towards the front door, and I couldn’t help but watch him as he left.
When he reached the door, he tugged it open and stepped aside to let two older teens through, and they both giggled and squeaked out a, “Thank you,” to him as they rushed inside.
He caught my gaze over the coffee shop, flashed me a half-smile, and disappeared into the pedestrians on the pavement outside.
I drew in a deep breath and slowly let it back out, staring into the dregs of the coffee cup.
Well.
That was quite the start to my day, wasn’t it?
CHAPTER FOUR – WILLIAM
Questionable Decisions
“William? Where are you?” Mum’s voice echoed through the hall, and I looked up from my book just in time to see her shuffling into the living room in her slippers.
“Right here,” I replied nonchalantly. “What are you shouting about?”
She pressed her hands together in the praying position in front of her chest and met my gaze. “Please tell me you’ve found a plus one for your sister’s wedding.”
“Nope. I’m not bringing one.”
Mum closed her eyes. “You are. But it’s your choice or your grandmother’s.”
I sat back and returned my attention to my book. “Then Grandma will find herself terribly disappointed, won’t she?”
“No, William, you do not understand. You are having a plus one. When you’re at the wedding, your grandmother will have no choice but to force you together with a girl your grandfather has approved of.”
That made me stop.
“He’s done what now?”
“Morag called me.”
“Grandma called you?”
“Don’t sound so surprised. She and I talk.” Mum paused. “Once or twice a year. When we have to.”
I picked up my bookmark and set it between the pages of my book, then closed it. “Mum.”
“Your sister gave you a plus one to the wedding just in case you met someone. Your grandfather has decided that we are now past the time for ‘just in case’ and that it’s inappropriate for you to attend without a date.”
“I know those two are stuck in the eighteen-fifties, but why the hell can’t I come alone? What if I don’t want a date?”
“Then your grandfather is going to take the chance he’s been given to set you up with the daughter of an acquaintance of his.”
“And let me guess. That acquaintance of his is a duke or an earl or someone equally as noble.”
Mum nodded slowly. “The Earl of Thornwick. Nice chap, but his daughter is—”
“A raging spoilt brat?” I replied, letting my eyebrows raise.
“You’ve met, then?”
“Uh-huh. I played tennis with Tom last summer. Caitlin lasted an hour before he left to take her back to their rented place.”
Mum’s eyebrows shot up. “Well, that’s your plus one if you don’t find one.”
“The wedding is in a little under three weeks. Where am I supposed to find a plus one in that time?”
“I don’t know, darling, but I’m just warning you what’s going to happen if you don’t find one.”
“Did you try telling her no?”