Capturing Emilia

By Brooke Adams

Emilia, 29, has left the suburbs and a dead-end job to make a fresh start in London. Recently qualified as an archivist, she is getting over her past relationships and freeing her mind from her obsession with New Age thinking. She soon finds the perfect job in a heritage library in Mayfair where she unexpectedly meets Charles. Emilia is initially repelled by him given their opposite personalities, while he falls for her from the very beginning. 
Charles, 38, is a Mayfair-based lettings agent to the rich and famous, not quite the kind of boyfriend Emilia had in mind. He is charming, worldly, adept, and wealthy and likes to enjoy the finer things in life. Charles realises that he has truly found a real love but will he be tempted to return to his old ways?
This love story unravels within the urbane and sophisticated setting of London’s Mayfair. Will Emilia have the courage to let herself fall? Even though she’s convinced that this isn’t the way it was meant to be.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Troubador Publishing Ltd
• Release date: Jul 10, 2020
• ISBN: 9781838596217

Book preview

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Copyright © 2020 Brooke Adams

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, this publication may only be reproduced, stored or transmitted, in any form or by any means, with the prior permission in writing of the publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside those terms should be sent to the publishers.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

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ISBN 978 1838596 217

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Contents

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1

It was a busy morning in the library. Sunlight poured into the oak-panelled reading room through the tall windows. Emilia was cataloguing some new acquisitions. Charles and Jake, both smartly dressed, were taking up an entire desk with three huge glossy-interior books and chatting away a little louder than they should, as if they owned the place. Emilia tried to ignore them, but couldn’t help noticing the other library users looking over at them every so often. Finally, she decided to approach them. She noticed that their books were about period homes in London.

Please can you keep the noise down? She whispered.

The younger of the two smiled and looked facetiously over to his colleague. Charles looked up at Emilia and sheepishly replied. Sorry.

Emilia immediately noticed his bright blue eyes as he drew his finger to his lips like an obedient child. She was aware of his lingering gaze as he looked into her face. Charles paused and for a second felt as if he were short-circuiting.

That evening, Emilia left work with her head filled with Dewey decimal numbers. As she stepped out of the lift, she looked up to see Charles seated on one of the sofas by the reception desk. He spotted her stepping out of the lift and their eyes locked momentarily. She caught her breath but carried on walking as Charles approached.

Hi.

Hi. Emilia replied politely.

Sorry for disturbing the peace earlier. My name’s Charles. He put out his hand.

Emilia smiled and they shook hands. Emilia.

We work for Wickham Jones, the letting agents next door.

Oh yes, I’ve seen your agency. You rent luxury properties to the rich and famous, don’t you?

Charles nodded and smiled smugly. We were just in the middle of researching Georgian interiors.

Sounds interesting. Emilia felt shy. Charles struck her as very dashing to say the least; his suit looked tailor-made and his bright pink and light grey tie was perfectly puffed up. He swept back his short, dark hair and there was an awkward silence; he noticed a sensitivity behind her green eyes, her nervous smile and long, dark hair effortlessly swept to the side.

I’d better get home. Emilia slowly stepped away.

Yes, of course. Charles stepped back and let her go, continuing to subtly look her up and down. As Emilia turned around to go, she could feel his eyes burning into her and found it rather flattering.

Throughout that week, Charles and Jake continued with their research on Georgian interiors. Their international clients had millions at their disposal, so they had to know what they were talking about. One faux pas and they could literally lose a client for good; there was no shortage of lettings agents in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

Soon, it was time for lunch.

Come on, Charles, let’s go, my head’s spinning with these colour schemes! Jake looked up at the tall grandfather clock. It’s already gone one. He noticed. Charles was distracted and looking over at Emilia. She was wearing a cream blouse and navy skirt. Charles, are you coming?

Yes, yes, of course. I err…

Jake was quite surprised that he liked the librarian, as she wasn’t his usual type: glamorous, fake-tanned, blonde and curvy. I’ll see you downstairs in the café. He said impatiently and left.

Charles nodded silently as he worked out what he was going to say to Emilia. He’d been thinking about her constantly and he just had to make a move. As he approached her desk, he grew hot and tense.

Hi. Emilia, isn’t it? He paused. We met a couple of days ago.

Emilia, sitting at her desk piled high with huge hardbacks, looked up at him. Oh, yes, hi. She smiled warmly.

Her smile had disorientated him, and he lost his confidence for a second. Jake and I will be researching for the rest of the week.

Great. She replied, his broad shoulders and square jawline catching her eye.

Is it okay if we leave our books out on that desk?

I’ll check with my colleague, as it’s time for my break now.

Charles couldn’t believe it.

Are you… err… going downstairs? He asked casually, with a hopeful smile, his heart skipping a beat.

Well, I was going to pop out. I need to run an errand, She replied shyly.

Do you want to grab some lunch? Charles’s smile broadened. Emilia hesitated.

Oh, I… I can’t.

Charles didn’t want to seem too pushy.

Maybe next time. He stared into her beautiful face, then looked at her delicate hand on the mouse. He gave her one of his killer smiles as he walked away, which made Emilia quiver with delight.

Once Emilia had gathered her things, she went downstairs. As she walked past the café in the lobby, Charles was about to sit down at a table close to the doorway when he spotted her.

Emilia, we got you a coffee. He declared in a loud voice. Emilia was surprised but had to admit that she was quite taken with him. His charm coupled with his tenacity was winning her over.

She stopped and thought for a moment, then told him she’d be back in five minutes. On her return, she smiled and stepped into the café. Jake almost choked on his cappuccino when he looked up from his newspaper and saw her standing there, amazed that such a decent-looking woman had accepted Charles’s invitation. He smiled up at her and stood up to offer his chair. Please, I just need to collect something. Back in ten.

Oh… okay. She said softly.

Charles looked over at Jake gratefully.

Emilia noticed his muscular arms under his shirt sleeves as he gave her a cup of coffee. A feeling of excitement swept over her and she was flattered by his attention.

As soon as she sat down, Charles was eager to get to know her, so he didn’t waste time and asked her lots of questions. So, you haven’t been here long, then?

No, not at all, but I love it so far. I’ve never seen such beautiful books, and what a building!

Yes, it’s pretty amazing. Charles noticed that she had a beautifully clear complexion even though she wasn’t wearing much make-up. A delicate silver bracelet caught his eye as it sparkled on her slender wrist. In fact, every part of her was exquisitely delicate. He realised close-up that she was younger than he had thought.

So, you’re a trained librarian? He asked with interest.

Archivist, actually, Emilia corrected, raising her eyebrows with authority.

I’m impressed. Charles smiled, his eyes glistening with delight as he gazed into hers. His mouth was wide