Page 78 of A Bloom for a Blacksmith

Chapter Thirty-Four

Settling into a New Situation

Meanwhile, above the Antiquarian Quill

Although he had seen Iris only a few hours earlier—when he had driven her to the bookshop—Angus feared she might have changed her mind about their proposed living arrangement.

He really hoped not.

The thought of giving up his current lodgings in favor of one of the floors above the Antiquarian Quill had sustained him the entire day. Well, that and the thought he might be allowed to share a bed with Iris for the rest of his life.

The reminder of how she had fallen asleep in his arms very early that morning had his heart beating faster. Had him wishing he could pull her into his arms right now and kiss her senseless.

Surprised to discover the front door of the bookshop still unlocked—it was well past seven o’clock—he entered to find her behind the counter, frantically writing in the receipt book.

“Good evening, my sweet,” he said, grinning. “It appears you’ve made a sale or two today.”

She quickly came from around the counter. Despite his hands being full, she stepped up and kissed him on the cheek. “I have indeed. Good evening, Mr. Thompson.”

He inhaled and frowned. “What is that odd odor?” he asked.

“That would be paint,” she replied. “Positively gorgeous paint,” she added happily. “Applied by the most unusual Italian artists.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” he replied, her manner piquing his curiosity. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “I come bearing a pair of drapery rods and the assorted hardware to install them,” he said. “Mr. Agremon allowed me to borrow some tools.” He held up a canvas bag.

Her attention went to the lengths of wrought iron, and she inhaled softly at seeing the finials he had fashioned for the ends of the rods. “Roses?” she said in awe. “How… how did you do this?”

Chuckling, he set the solid iron rods on the counter. “They come off,” he said, pulling one of the fist-sized flowers from the end of one rod. A length of rolled wrought iron extended beyond the bottom of the rose, the diameter the exact size to fit snuggly over the end of the dowel rod. “You have to pull one off in order to thread the drapes onto the rod,” he explained. “If that’s the way they are being fashioned. Otherwise, they simply hang on pins that hook over the rod.” He used a crooked finger to demonstrate what he meant.

“Oh, I know how draperies work. I meant, how did you make the roses?” she pressed.

“Oh, well, I’m not sure I want to share that secret,” he said, grinning. “Suffice it to say I was very glad Mr. Agremon allowed me to borrow a rose from the bouquet on their hall table. So I had a model to use.”

“You’ve obviously made these before,” she commented, closely studying the hardware.

“I have. Before I started working for Mr. Agremon, I was an apprentice. I made a lot of horseshoes, so projects like this were a welcome challenge.”

“These will look stunning on the third-floor windows,” she said.

He glanced out the door, his attention going to his phaeton. “By the by, did Mrs. Agremon speak with you? About our… proposal?”

Iris nodded. “She did. I told her I was in agreement, so… I believe that means you’re allowed to move into the second floor.”

Relief settled over Angus all at once. “I cannot tell you how welcome this news is,” he said. “I wondered if I might… be welcome… to… to stay with you tonight?” he stammered.

He watched as she seemed to consider the query.

Had she changed her mind? Was she going to make him wait to move in?

“You had better,” she finally replied, displaying a brilliant smile.

“Oh, you minx,” he accused, pulling her into his arms again. When he saw her expression suddenly sober, he released his hold on her. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t have a real bed. Only a cot. And Jacob’s old cot,” she said.

“It will do,” he said. “For now. After what happened, I don’t want to leave you alone. I’ll sleep on the floor if I have to.” He took a breath and let it out. “I brought a valise with some clothes. It’s out in the phaeton.”

“Go get it, and I can show you what the Benedetto brothers did upstairs.”