I have a direction I am going in but I'm shifting styles a little from the first chapter just to get my eye into writing again - this one is much more dialogue heavy, still short but my motivation comes in waves. Hope you enjoy!
Mr Gold had been poring over some what he hoped were early edition Grimm's at the counter and he had not confirmed their authenticity as of yet – at least not the level of his particular satisfaction, and had briefly mentioned the possibility of her coming round at some point that week to discuss them, but at the time she had appeared so harried he had been unwilling to press the issue, allowing her to return to prising a little boy off her skirt and attempting to herd the younger group into a reading circle. He had certainly not expected a visit only a few hours later, so soon after closing, and swallowed and suppressed the urge to grin as he set down the book and straightened his tie.
"Just a second Miss French," he called as he reached for his cane and went to unlock the door.
"Hi, I know it's still early but I didn't want to risk missing you – that is, I really wanted to see these books and I know what sort of time pressures you are under when you find buyers so -"
"Come in before we talk about anything, the chill isn't good for my old bones," he quipped, guiding her through the door, closing it and reaching to take her coat as she shrugged it off.
"It's barely even cold, and you don't have old bones," Belle admonished affectionately, smiling gratefully. She wore a unseasonably short skirt and her hair was clipped back and ringlets framed her face in a distinctly distracting way.
"Well if not then I will soon if I have to sit through your chatter for the next hour," Gold said smoothly, throwing down the gauntlet and meeting her eyes as she smiled mischievously.
"Then buckle up Scottie cos you are in for an unpleasant afternoon – I fully intend to bore you silly with exactly why and how you are wrong about the dates of these books."
"You clearly have no reason to suspect that, you haven't even seen them."
"Yes, but some of us don't earn a living being a miser I feel it is my duty to be superior you in every matter involving books."
"I appear to recall you said the same about all global politics."
"Don't get me started with you again, a single payer healthcare system is so much more efficient! It's so obvious, not all of us can afford to have specialist orthopaedic surgeons flown in, we need a centralised and fair -"
"Okay now I confess myself lost."
"For your old bones…? Seriously maybe your memory is going too, you are lucky you can afford – "
"Alright, okay," conceded Gold with amusement, holding his hands up in supplication and gesturing for her to join him in the back room as he picked up the books, "I see you are not for turning."
Belle raised her eyebrow in victory and joined him as he placed one of the tomes on the table in front of them. Their banter delighted him, and she was so unafraid of him it was charming and alarming in equal measure, but he did in all honesty want to see what she thought of these books – he knew she loved fairy tales for their influence on modern storytelling and had impulsively selected these at an auction knowing they would excite her.
"So, Mr Gold, fearsome stranger from the highlands, when do you think these were published – I bet you a dinner that you are over 100 years out," she said quickly, leaned over the first page and facing away from him.
"Well you've just given me a hint there Miss French – "
"Belle," she said habitually.
"Apologies, you've just given me a hint Miss Belle French – "
He felt her eye roll through the back of her head.
"In that you have revealed that the publication date must be wrong – it would be a tough double bluff otherwise."
"We should play poker sometime then," she said quietly with amusement in her voice, still looking down at the book. Gold edged forward a little to better see the book and glanced toward her face, her eyes still transfixed on the page.
"So do we have a deal?"
"That's usually my line," he deflected, more than a little wrongfooted – was she serious about having dinner, with him? Or was he reading too much into one of their jokes, as he was prone to doing?
She released a short breathy laugh and shook her head a little, glancing towards him, only a small distance apart, with an expression that was something like resignation.
"Never mind, it'll be a waste of time anyway because you'd always have had to buy dinner for me, and we couldn't have that, now could we?" The slight edge to the last few words didn't escape him, and suddenly Gold felt something he had not felt from her before – a wave of genuine frustration.
"Is everything okay Miss French? I feel sure you have more competition than you think but if you really want to wave the bet well…" he trailed off, attempting to reclaim their easy humour, but she stilled, determination washing over her frame as she straightened and turned toward him.
I just love the Gold is utterly clueless trope.
Reviews would be brilliant if you have a minute more, hope you enjoyed. Next chapter coming very soon.