Page 66 of Regency Whispers: Scandalous Matches

‘For slightly older children, although I think younger children would enjoy the stories if read to them by someone else. I often read my stories to my younger sisters before bed and they enjoy them.’

He nodded, turning over the first page. Jane watched him carefully, seeing his eyes widen at the beautiful illustration she had chosen to be included on the title page. It showed the three field mice dashing through the cornfield with the owl swooping down behind them, wings spread wide.

‘Did you paint this?’

‘Yes.’

‘It is beautiful. With just one picture I feel I am already inside your story.’

A warm glow swept through Jane and she felt the first flickering of hope.

‘Are there more pictures like this?’

‘Yes, a lot more.’

‘Good.’

He settled back to read, turning the pages slowly and spending a long time scrutinising the pictures. It was the most agonising half hour of Jane’s life, watching him read and form a judgement on her manuscript. She struggled to sit still, having to lace her fingers together to stop them from tapping on the table or playing with the fabric of her dress.

Finally, Mr Hambly looked up, placing down the last of the sheets of paper in the pile. For a long moment he did not speak, as if formulating a response in his mind. Jane felt her hopes crashing down. Surely if he loved it he would come out and say so straight away?

‘Do you have more?’ he asked eventually.

‘Yes. Five completed manuscripts.’

‘All illustrated?’

‘Yes.’

‘All in a similar theme?’

‘Yes.’

‘You have talent, Miss Ashworth. When I first looked at the illustrations, I thought of inviting you to work as an illustrator for some of the other children’s books I am publishing, but your stories are charming and unlike anything I have come across before. Uniqueness is a good thing in our business.’

Jane couldn’t quite believe what she was hearing. She glanced across at Tom, and saw his encouraging smile, before turning back to Mr Hambly.

‘I would really like to see the rest of your work, but I think you have real promise, Miss Ashworth, and I would like to work with you.’

For a moment Jane couldn’t react. She felt stunned and realised she had never truly believed she might ever get to this point.

‘You want to publish my book?’

‘Send me the rest of your work, and if you would grant me a few days to think things over I will come back to you with an offer within the week.’

He stood and Jane scrambled to her feet as well.

‘I will send the manuscripts over later today.’

‘I will treat them with the utmost care. I am looking forward to working with you, Miss Ashworth.’

Unable to believe what was happening, Jane let Tom escort her out of the shop and a hundred feet down the road before stopping and turning to him.

‘Did that really just happen?’

‘That really just happened.’

‘He liked my work.’