Chapter Two
Present Day, America
Rachel heard the bell over the door ring as someone entered the shop. Her assistant, Sally Carr, greeted the customer.
“Hello. Welcome! Can I help you find something specific, or are you just browsing?”
“Just browsing, my dear.” The accent was English and quaint. Rachel looked around the corner where she had been shelving some books that Sally had purchased at an estate sale.
A tiny figure with silvery-blue hair twisted up into a bun at the crown of her head stood in the middle of the shop, looking around. She seemed more interested in studying the shop than she did the bookshelves.
Sally, behind the counter, had returned her attention to a book she had been reading, one that she had picked up from the estate sale.
The little woman, sporting a purple ankle-length filmy dress festooned with large pink peonies, nodded at Rachel but turned her attention to Sally.
“What is that you have there?”
Sally, twenty-five, with short black no-nonsense hair, looked up.
“This? Oh, this is an old book of fairy tales. Hickstrom’s Book of Fairy Tales. Would you like to look at it?”
“Yes, please,” the woman said. She crossed over to the counter and took the faded cranberry-colored hardback book.
Rachel hadn’t looked at the book yet, as Sally had pulled it out of the box to study it before they placed it on the shelf. From that distance, Rachel could see the binding was well preserved, the lettering gold stamped.
The customer opened the book, leafed through it and stopped on a particular page. She ran her fingers down the page in a rather oddly affectionate gesture. To Rachel’s surprise, she started reading aloud.
“‘A very long time ago in a land far, far away there lived a fairy godmother with little to do but concern herself overly much with notions of love and lonely hearts and the lives of others. No solitary heart was safe where she was concerned. She must do everything within her power to ensure that love conquered all.
“‘What follows is the tale of two such lonely hearts.’”
Rachel moved over to stand beside her. Sally leaned forward over the counter, as if to read the page with the little lady, albeit upside down.
The book was in remarkably good shape given that the binding appeared old. Rachel saw no evidence of fraying or cracking. The pages were thick but not ripped or marred.
The woman looked up at Rachel.
“Hello,” she said. “I wonder if you are the one I am looking for.”
“Hi! My name is Rachel Lee. I’m the owner here. How can I help you?”
“Yes, I think it must be you, for it is not this lovely young lady.” She smiled at Sally, which took the sting out of her words.
“And you are?” Rachel asked.
“Miss Hermione Hickstrom,” she said. “I am delighted to meet you.”
She offered her hand in a rather regal gesture, and Rachel took it.
“It’s nice to meet you as well.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Rachel saw Sally blink and then slide the book toward her. Slipping a finger inside the book to mark the page, Sally partially closed the front cover, as if to read the title. She shot Rachel a quick glance and tapped on the lettering.
Rachel shook her head quickly in Sally’s direction.
“Are you interested in buying this book?” Rachel asked Miss Hickstrom.
“Buy it?” Miss Hickstrom tittered. “Oh, no, dear! I wrote it! I have no need to purchase it.”
Rachel shook her head, this time in confusion.
“That’s her name,” Sally said, pointing to the gold lettering.
Rachel looked at the cover again.
“I was trying to tell you!” Sally said.
“‘Hickstrom’s Book of Fairy Tales,’” Rachel read aloud. “Ohhhh! I see! Your family though, right? You couldn’t have written it yourself. The book looks quite old!”
“How sweet of you! I am quite old, my dear, but how kind of you!”
Rachel supposed the woman could have been fabricating a tale. She hated to use a term so harsh as lie. Miss Hickstrom seemed sincere though, as if she believed herself.
“Well, it’s a beautiful book! Fairy tales,” Rachel murmured, trying to be pleasant but unsure of what the woman wanted in particular. “What inspired you to write a book of fairy tales? How long ago did you publish it?”
“Many, many years ago,” Miss Hickstrom said, reaching for the book and opening it to a page. She lifted her head and met Rachel’s eyes. “Why? Perhaps I am a fairy godmother with little to do but concern myself overly much with notions of love and lonely hearts and the lives of others.”
Rachel glanced at the book. Miss Hickstrom had recited the words on the page, as if she had them memorized. Rachel supposed that was possible. She smiled at the blue-haired woman in polite bewilderment.
“You have not read the book then?” Miss Hickstrom directed her question to Rachel, but Sally answered.
“I picked this up yesterday in a bunch of books at an estate sale. I was just reading it when you came in.”
Miss Hickstrom nodded politely in Sally’s direction but turned back to Rachel.
“And you, Miss Lee? Did you read the book?”
“No, not yet, though it sounds wonderful. I was working on some other things. I certainly will read it before we sell it.”
“No, you must not sell it! Certainly not before you read it!”
“I’m sorry, Miss Hickstrom. I do need to sell it. That’s my business. Used books.” Rachel waved her hand toward the shop in general.
“Used,” she said with a sigh. “What a vulgar word.”
“I’m sorry. Gently read if you prefer.”
Miss Hickstrom looked down at the book once again. Rachel made a decision.
“Look—I could gift it to you,” she said. “I should, if you’re the author.”
“Oh, my dear, again how very kind of you. But it is my gift to you!”
Rachel privately disagreed since Sally had paid for the book out of store funds, but she nodded.
“Thank you then.”
“I wonder...” Miss Hickstrom began, giving Rachel an impish look that she managed to carry off even given her uncertain though advanced age.
“Yes?”
“Would you read the next passage in this story? My eyes are not what they used to be.”
Rachel hesitated, and Sally jumped in. “I will.”
“Thank you, dear, but I really need to hear Miss Rachel Lee read.”
Sally’s face colored, and she folded her arms across her chest and sat back on her stool.
“Sure,” Rachel said patiently. She clasped her hands behind her back and bent over the book.
“‘The Viscount Finds Love
“‘Viscount Halwell opened his eyes to yet another dreary day at Alton House. He should have removed to London some time ago but could not face the onslaught of invitations and social activities that no doubt awaited him at his town house.
“‘A crack in the curtains revealed that the gray skies matched his mood. He drew in a deep breath and released it slowly, the tightness in his chest unrelieved by the motion.
“‘The wedding had come and gone over a month ago. The happy couple had traveled to the continent and returned yesterday. Despite Halwell’s melancholy, his mother, Lady Georgianna, insisted they call upon the newlyweds as a courtesy. He had protested but had known his mother was correct. Had he gone to London, he could have avoided seeing Lady Mary St. John so soon. Yet...had he gone to London, he would have missed seeing her upon her return.
“‘Such a dilemma. She was lost to him. The better man had won. He had no moral right to long for her, yet he did. Though he had met many fine young misses and potential brides, none had stirred his imagination, his heart, as had Mary. Something about her had been particularly unique, refreshing, perhaps even mysterious, and she had no equal.
“‘He had offered her his heart and name, and she had rejected him.’” Rachel stopped reading, her throat suddenly tight. She looked at Miss Hickstrom.
“Aww, she married someone else,” Rachel said. “That’s so sad.”
“I am so happy to hear you say so, dear,” Miss Hickstrom said. “As I suspected, you are the one.”
“The one?” Rachel repeated.
“Do not be afraid, Miss Lee. I have chosen you, and I am never wrong. Safe journey! I will see you very soon.”
“What are you talking about?” Rachel asked with growing concern. She wondered if the lady was wandering around with a bit of dementia.
Miss Hickstrom took Rachel’s hand and placed it flat on the book. As if sleep had suddenly overtaken her, Rachel’s eyes drooped. She heard Sally call out.
“She’s falling! Catch her!”