“They have people watching, but they can’t see the door we left from.”
“In other words, we really did look like Adriane leaving.”
“Exactly.” He shifted gears and the car rumbled.
“Do you use this trick often?” I was trying to not be bothered by the fact that we were in one of his ex-girlfriend’s cars. I was trying really hard.
“Only when I need to, and I think you really needed a break.”
“Thank you.”
“Anytime.” He smiled at me. “Are you ready for your first real lesson?”
“Just don’t teach me to say something horrible and embarrassing, okay?”
“Never!” He smirked. “Well, not for this event.”
“Great.” I shook my head. He rattled off a song that sounded much like the alphabet song Americans learned in grade school. I tried to follow his lead but tripped up on some of the sounds.
“Do you know any French? That would help. Our languages are closely related.”
“I took a couple of classes in high school.” I frowned. I tried again, this time keeping in mind the French I had learned years ago. It went a little smoother.
“Much better.” He sang it again and then waited for me to follow suit. After the third time I was fighting the giggles. The prince of Lilaria was teaching me the alphabet. “What’s so funny?”
“Just this. You. Teaching me the alphabet.”
“You have to start somewhere.”
“True. Okay. How about some numbers and then key phrases? Like ‘where is the bathroom.’” Just in case I needed to puke before the ceremony.
“I’m the teacher here,” he protested. “And I think we should try some numbers and then key phrases.”
“By all means, teach on.”
We made the drive, him correcting my pronunciation and me laughing at his frustration. The drive came to an end all too soon.
Chapter Twenty-Two
An American-style Night on the Town?
—Paris Observateur
It didn’t take long to get to the little bookshop. Apparently Alex had found out from Chadwick which one I was talking about. He got out of the car and opened the door for me, which I was starting to get used to. A bell chimed when we entered the store and I took a deep breath, enjoying the smell of all the books. I might love my e-reader, but I’d never pass up the chance to browse real books.
The woman behind the counter greeted us in Lilarian before doing a double take. She dipped a quick curtsy and I tried to not be disappointed that even after our sneaky exit, I was still Duchess Rousseau.
“Your Highness. Duchess Rousseau.” She gave us a small smile. “Can I help you with something?”
“Samantha wanted to find some gifts for friends back home.”
“I saw your store while I was out earlier today and wanted to come back.” I looked around the open area we were standing in. There were rooms and hallways that appeared to go farther back into the building. “I’ve always had a difficult time turning away from a bookstore.”
“We’re happy to have you.” She motioned toward the bookshelves. “We have a large selection of books, new and used. Many are in English. There are rooms toward the back with older books. We also have an assortment of the more standard souvenirs, including some pottery my sister makes.”
“Thank you.” I smiled at her and headed for the books. I ran my hands over the spines. She had a lot of the most recent best sellers. I stopped on a copy that had a Signed sticker and pulled it off the shelf. It was the UK version of Fall Guy by Liz Reinhardt. I tucked it under my arm and kept looking. Jess would love this one. We’d read the American version months ago. I browsed the shelves a little more and found an interesting book titled Inhale, Exhale by Sarah Ross. I grabbed that one for myself. It was set in the States and looked like it would be pretty steamy.
I left that room and wandered down the little hall and peeked into some of the doorways. A room with old, leather-bound books drew me in like a moth to flame. I took a deep breath, enjoying the musty smell of the old pages. Alex followed me into the room and drifted down one of the aisles to the side. I stopped to stare at some of the names on the spines. I didn’t recognize all the authors, but I hesitated when I hit the A section. I scanned the books carefully, looking for one name in particular.
When my eyes landed on Austen I gulped and carefully pulled the volume off the shelf. Gently I opened the book and checked the publication date. Eighteen thirty-three. It wasn’t a first edition, but that was okay. There wasn’t a price tag, which was intimidating, but I couldn’t walk away from the book.
“What is it?” Alex looked over my shoulder.
“Pride and Prejudice.”
“What year?” He looked over my shoulder at the title page. “First edition?”
“No.” I closed the cover carefully. “But my mother always wanted an old copy of Pride and Prejudice. It was her favorite book.”
“We could keep looking. Maybe the owner has one, or knows of someone that does.”
“I need to ask how much this is—there isn’t a price tag.” I turned the book over and then checked over the binding. “I only checked out of habit. I’ve never seen one this old. Mom would have gone gaga.”
“Then get it.” Alex moved so he was leaning against the bookshelf.
“It’s probably very expensive.” I bit my lip.