“How long have you been married to thishusband, Aurelia?” Mrs. Jamieson asked suspiciously.
“Oh, well… I guess it’s been… it’s been about a year. We met a few years ago, just before we started working together, and then we got engaged, so… Yes, a year.”
“You worked together? What, were you the governess to his children?” Blanche’s ever-present sneer flared up at the idea.
“Was he a widower?” Harriet asked sympathetically.
“No, he was not a widower.”
There were gasps from Mrs. Jamieson and Blanche.
“Do you mean to tell us he was still married when you met him? You really never can trust a governess,” Blanche said scathingly.
“That’s not what happened,” Aurelia said, exasperated. “I wasn’t his children’s governess—he doesn’t have children—and he’s never been married. Before me, I mean. We worked together because I’m a writer and he’s a publisher. He is, or was, my editor.”
“But,” Kitty began, sounding confused, “you’re a writerandyou run this shop?”
“That cannot leave you much time for running a household for your husband,” Mrs. Jamieson said with a frown.
Julia snorted out a laugh, which Aurelia ignored.
“In our time, men and women usually divide up the housekeeping. Oliver and I both work, so we have to swap who’s going to cook or take care of the house.”
Mrs. Jamieson and Miss Clack looked doubtful.
“It’s true,” Julia piped up. “At home, my dad does all the cooking.”
“No cook,” Mrs. Jamieson said to Miss Clack in an undertone, drawing her aside. “Straitened circumstances, it seems.”
Watching them whisper to one another, Aurelia sighed. “We’ll never win those two over.”
“We could just put their books away,” Julia said hopefully. At a raised eyebrow from Cuff—who had somehow overheard them—she groaned and walked over to ask Blanche if she’d be willing to sit and talk about her novel.
26
Theyhadanothercallwith Antonia the following morning, during which Julia managed to keep her hints about who they’d been seeing at night to a minimum. Overall, Antonia seemed to be battling between jealousy and happiness over how cheerful Julia was as she talked on and on about loving the shop and London. But things took a turn when Julia asked if she could stay with Aurelia for an extra week.
“Not an option,” Antonia said firmly.
“But, Mum, things here are… busy. I want to stay and help Aunt Aurelia.”
Aurelia kept quiet. She hated to disappoint Julia but knew she’d want a full week on her own with Oliver before the wedding. Still, she couldn’t help but smile at Julia’s eagerness to spend time with the characters.
“I know you’re having fun, but the deal was one month,” Antonia reminded her, refusing to give in. “Enjoy your last two weeks together, but then Aurelia has a wedding to plan and things to do without you underfoot.”
“I’m notunderfoot. And I have things to do, things we have to do together, before I leave.”
Julia looked at Aurelia, silently begging her to intervene.
“I think we’ll get it all done, Julia,” Aurelia said, nodding for emphasis.
Julia put the phone to her hand and whispered insistently, “But I’m not getting anywhere with the characters, and I need to figure it out!”
“You will. There’s still time,” Aurelia whispered back.
“I said no, Julia, so stop pestering your aunt,” Antonia said loudly through the phone, trying to catch her daughter’s attention.
“Mum!” Julia whined.
