The Unexpected Heiress. Kaitlin O'Riley

And again, I don’t know how to thank you,” Meredith murmured, a bit overwhelmed by the compliments. A successful businesswoman who reminded Meredith of her mother, believed that she was a talented writer and was proud of her. Meredith’s heart swelled with joy.

      “There’s no need to thank me at all. I’m happy to have you writing here. Now, a good writer must not spend all her time chatting with a nosey woman, but she simply must have a little sustenance to keep her going. So I shall bring you a cup of tea. Do you take cream and sugar?”

      “Just a little sugar, please, and thank you again.”

      Meredith couldn’t help but grin at her good fortune.

      Of all the shops in London, she had stumbled upon the perfect one. She knew the moment she’d set foot in Hamilton’s Book Shoppe that it was special. Now it would become her second home, a refuge where she could be supported to finish writing her mystery novel.

      A few minutes later, Colette Hamilton returned with a cup of hot tea and a freshly baked lemon scone.

      “Now I shall let you get back to your writing,” Colette said. “I’ve distracted you enough for the time being. If you need me, I shall be upstairs in my office. But all the staff have been made aware that you are a special guest and are to have anything you need.”

      “You’re too good to me. Thank you!”

      Meredith was in heaven and continued to write undisturbed for the next hour and a half, while sipping tea and enjoying the scone. But it was now time to go. She’d been gone too long already and needed to get back to Lavinia’s house. There was yet another ball she was required to attend that evening, and lengthy preparations would be necessary. Delilah would be frantic if Meredith didn’t return soon.

      After she had gathered her things, she ventured up the staircase to say goodbye to Colette Hamilton and to thank her again. When the door at the top of the steps opened, Meredith was surprised to discover that she wasn’t in an ordinary office, but what seemed like a lovely home.

      “I’m sorry to intrude, but I must be going, and I wanted to thank you again before I left,” she said to Colette.

      “You’re not intruding at all, my dear, and I’m so glad you came up to see me. How did your writing go? Did you get a lot accomplished this afternoon?”

      Meredith smiled. “More than I expected to. And definitely more than I would have if I had stayed at home with my aunts and my little cousins. It’s impossible to write anything there.”

      Colette nodded knowingly. “I’ve had the most splendid idea, Miss Remington.”

      Meredith gave her a questioning look. “What is it?”

      “I’d like you to look around this place.... This used to be our home.”

      Colette motioned for Meredith to follow her as they walked around the residence, looking through the three bedrooms and the dining room and kitchen area. The main room had been set up as an office, with two very large oak desks facing each other in front of the windows, as well as comfortable sofas near the fireplace.

      “My family and I used to live up here above the bookshop,” Colette explained as they walked around.

      “You lived up here?” Meredith asked, intrigued by the idea.

      “Yes, my four younger sisters, my mother, father, and I all lived here. I admit that it was rather crowded at times! We girls used to help our father run the bookshop and then we took over when he passed away. Since then, we’ve done rather well. We now have two more bookshops in London, the Hamilton Sisters’ Book Shoppe and Mara’s Book Shoppe, and another Hamilton’s in Dublin. My sisters and I have all married and have homes of our own, so now we just use this space for our office. Well, actually, just Paulette and I do, on the occasions that we’re here working in the original shop. Our main offices are in the newer, grander building, The Hamilton Sisters’ Book Shoppe. But this place still pulls at my heart, because it was our home for my entire childhood.”

      “It’s truly lovely.” Meredith glanced around, setting down her manuscript on a polished oak table.

      “Thank you. I’ve just redecorated it recently. It was time for a fresh coat of paint and some new furnishings and curtains. It’s rather a lovely hideaway now.”

      The private residence was decorated in serene shades of blue. Gleaming hardwood floors were covered with dark blue area rugs and the walls were the palest baby blue, trimmed with white molding and white wainscoting. Sheer white curtains adorned the windows, allowing in plenty of light. It was elegant and simple and inviting, devoid of any clutter.

      A gilt-framed oil painting hung above the fireplace, depicting five beautiful young girls. They all smiled, looking happy and wearing pretty white dresses. They had to be the Hamilton sisters.

      “Which one is you?” Meredith questioned, peering closely at the painting, trying to discern which one of the sisters would be Colette Hamilton. All five girls looked remarkably alike, with varying shades of hair and eye colors, yet with the same delicate facial features.

      “I’m the one with my arm around the smallest girl, my sister Yvette. She’s the baby of the family. I’m the oldest of the lot. And the one with the dark hair is Juliette, the one in the middle is Lisette, and the other blonde is Paulette.” Colette beamed with pride. “I was probably eighteen when that was painted as a gift for our mother. This painting is actually a copy I had made, and my sisters each have one also. The original is in my drawing room at home.”