Page 28 of A Bloom for a Blacksmith

Iris nodded. “Mr. Miller was able to secure the last plot in the churchyard.” She shrugged. “So… that’s that.”

Stella dipped her head and allowed a soft sigh. “Well, I cannot begin to think what I would do should I find myself suddenly alone in this world,” she murmured.

“Pardon me for saying so, but when we first met at the bank, I thought perhaps you were a widow,” Iris said. “Since you didn’t come to the bank with a male relative. Then you mentioned your husband’s partnership with my employer, and here you have your own business.” She waved her hands as if to encompass the interior of the bookshop.

Stella’s eyes rounded. “I’ve never been a widow.” She angled her head to one side as she seemed to reconsider. “Well, there was a brief time when I thought I was, but he came back to me,” she said, waving a hand. “I think he is relieved to have me sell off these books. He’s had to help pack and haul them…” She paused, as if she thought better of what she was about to say. “Well, I’m sure he’d rather not do it again should we ever leave London, and I can’t say I blame him.”

“I don’t know how you can bear to part with any of them,” Iris said. “I would love having this large a library.”

Tittering, Stella said, “I have at least this many in my library at home,” she claimed. She grinned at hearing Iris’s gasp. “Now, I really must see to some papers in my office. You’re welcome to peruse the shelves until someone comes in. Familiarize yourself with the arrangement. If you have any questions, do come ask.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Iris watched Stella make her way to the back of the shop before she hurried to the first set of shelves closest to the front door. She craned her neck to read the foiled titles on the spines of the leather-bound volumes on the top shelf, struck by the variety of subjects and authors. She was about to move to the second set of shelves when the door opened, the bell above it tinkling softly. Turning, she inhaled sharply at seeing a rather large man carrying a huge bouquet of flowers.

Flowers she recognized.

She had put the bouquet together earlier that morning at the behest of a customer she hadn’t sold flowers to in the past. She was certain she would remember the gentleman with shoulders too wide to be fashionable and hands sporting long fingers. A quick glance as he removed his top hat, and she knew he was the same man.

For a moment, she panicked. Had he decided he didn’t like the flowers and tracked her down to complain? Surely not!

“Good afternoon, sir,” she managed, dipping a curtsy. “May I be of assistance?”

“Hello again,” he said, a grin lighting his face. “Might the proprietress be here?”

Iris hesitated. “Are… are you asking for Mrs. Agremon?”

“She would be the one,” he replied, his grin widening into a smile.

She was struck by the sight of his teeth—not only did it look as if he was in possession of all of them, they were white. The dental gods had certainly blessed him. “I’ll be but a moment,” she said, before hurrying to the office.

Stella glanced up from her desk before Iris made it into the office. “Yes?”

“There’s a rather large man asking for you,” Iris said. “With flowers. That I sold to him earlier today,” she added in a conspiratorial whisper.

Furrowing a brow, Stella stood and made her way past Iris. When she spied the gentleman, her steps quickened and her arms stretched wide. The two collided—that’s how it appeared to Iris—and Stella’s arms wrapped around his shoulders as the man used only one arm to lift her and twirl her around, her skirts billowing out as she shrieked in delight. Once Stella’s feet were back on the floorboards, the two began a kiss that had Iris stunned with disbelief.

She had never paid witness to such a display of affection in her entire life. Stella was leaning backwards as he bent over her, their lips at an angle that seemed to have them locked together. Sure she heard a groan from him and a moan from her, Iris knew she should look away.

She couldn’t.

Thoughts of what it might feel like to be held in a man’s arms, to have his lips pressed against hers, to cause her to make such sounds of satisfaction, had tingles shooting about beneath her skin. She had never thought that by simply witnessing a kiss, she could experience such sensations.

Then, as suddenly as it had begun, it was over, the two pulled away from each other as Stella straightened in his arms.

“Mr. Agremon, you are scandalizing the help,” Stella scolded, giving him a shove on one of his broad shoulders. Of course it had no effect on the man—he looked as if it would take a good deal of force to have him stepping back. The force of several large men.

Or a horse.

Despite her scold, Stella was grinning in delight. “Are those for me?” she asked, waving to the flowers.

The gentleman, obviously Stella’s husband now that Iris had heard his name, held out the bouquet. “Why, indeed they are,” he replied, handing them over. “I bought them from this young lady earlier today. Thought I’d surprise you.”

Iris felt embarrassment when she realized she had been caught staring. She knew she was blushing—she could feel the heat on her cheeks.

“You have certainly done that,” Stella said. “Come. Let me introduce you.”

Iris performed another curtsy as Stella said her name. “It’s very good to meet you, Mr. Agremon,” she said, suddenly nervous when Stella left the two of them alone as she took the flowers to her office.