Enchanted - The Dressing Room Affair [Time Travel Historical Romance Novella] (Entwined Together Forever) by Sierra Hunter Page B

worth a fortune,” Chloe said as she looked at the dates gold-leafed into the covers of the books.
    “Are these the actual original b ooks? Not reprints?” Katie asked as she looked at the rows and rows of beautiful books lined across the old antique bookshelf.
    “Yes, th ey are,” the Librarian grinned. “I found many of them in an old trunk that belonged to my great grandfather. He had it stowed away in his attic. His grandfather was the brother of James and Reid Walsh’s, great grandfather Lord Grayson Walsh who married Lady Bella Rose. Apparently Grayson Manor, where the artists paint and they hold functions on the other side of  Carrowbeg River, was named after him. Others, I acquired from relatives, antique stores, and people peddling them at garage sales and such. Most folks have no interest in or idea of their worth. Because it was part of my history, I decided to collect them myself.” The girls started to browse, perusing the impressive collection. “Sadly, I have never been able to find the original book, The Timeless Love Affair . It’s the only one I’m missing.” The Librarian bent down towards the bottom of the bookcase to grab a later edition of the original book.
    Chloe chanced a quick glance at Katie to see if she would mention that she had it, but Katie shook her head and Chloe thought better of telling her. There must be a reason she was keeping it to herself and she would ask her about that later. Right now, they were more interested in the Walsh family and the history of the bracelets and antiques, all eerily similar in their craftsmanship.
    As she bent over to grab a book, Chloe and Katie happened to glance down together. They both gasped. There, along the bottom of the antique bookcase, were the exact same carvings - jewels and words that they had found on both the mirror, the antique chair in the dressing room, and also on Katie’s jewelry box. ‘Entwined together forever’.
    “What’s the matter?” Abbey asked, snapping back up and pressing her hand over her heart. She quickly searched the floor, presumably for bugs. “You look like you’ve just seen a ghost!”
    “Where – Where did you get that bookcase, Mrs. McMullen?” Katie whispered.
    “Please. Call me Abbey,” t he Librarian replied.  “Oh, that. It’s beautiful isn’t it? This bookcase was also stowed away with the books in my great Grandfather’s attic. I fell in love with the rose wood carvings. The jewels, to my surprise, are actually real. I thought about selling it, but it’s such an irreplaceable heirloom… I’ve had it ever since. Why do you ask?” Abbey looked inquisitively at the girls as they bent down to inspect the jewels sparkling back at them from the handmade antique bookshelf.
    “No reason,” Katie scrambled to say, giving Chloe a gentle prod with her elbow to remind her to pick her jaw up from the floor. “I’ve never seen such a beautiful bookcase in all my life.” It was only half a lie, she decided. Quickly, “It reminded me of the antique nightstand my mother has. That’s all.”
    All of a sudden, someone rang the bell at the front of the library. “Oh, gracious. That will be a new customer. I have to get back to work, lassies. Feel free to stay in here as long as you like. Let me know if you have any questions. I’ve read most of these books several times over. Know them like the back of my hand, I do.”
    “Thank you,” the girls chimed in together. Abbey headed back to her desk. Katie and Chloe quickly grabbed a couple of books and started reading. With the amount of material to cover, it was quickly stacking up to be a long day.
    “There’s no way this could be a coincidence, Kate,” Chloe whispered.
    “I know,” Katie agreed, her brows knitting together. “But what does that mean?”
    ~*~

Chapter 9: The Missing Books
    ~*~
    After hours of fruitless scouring through page after page, Chloe looked up. “Katie, you know it could take you weeks to go through all these