"There better be coffee..."

Excerpt from A Garden of Shadows

Taken from a Google of season memes. Undoubtedly one exists for your state/county.

If I felt more inclined to procrastinate in Canva, I would’ve created a version of this meme that is the stages of book editing. Fortunately, I spent that time working on A Garden of Shadows instead. But it might have helped explain why when an author is asked if they are closer to finishing their edits, they cringe. On the meme of seasons/editing, I am around False Fall with A Garden of Shadows. The revision (i.e. Summer) required deep immersion, in part because I have set myself the challenge of taking my characters to some difficult places in this book.

A Garden of Shadows isn’t dark though. Filled with the light of southern Spain, it takes us from Cádiz to Granada, into palaces and gardens, and introduces us to the people of the Albaicín. In this excerpt, Linnea and Matias have arrived in Cádiz for a reunion with a familiar character and an unexpected one.

Photo by José Luis Rodríguez Martínez on Unsplash

Excerpt from: A Garden of Shadows (coming Summer 2024)

“Hugh! Arise, you lazy man! I know you’re here.” 

The butler remained beside the open door, speechless at my audacity. Matias swept in behind, apologizing under his breath for my uncivilized ways. A barrage of footsteps proceeded a slam of a door down the hall. Hugh emerged, wrapped in his dressing gown, a piece of toast between his fingers.  

“Linnea! You arrived early!” 

He tossed the toast aside spreading his arms in welcome. Decorum abandoned at the door, I pelted across the entryway. His familiar bergamot scent filled my lungs, relaxing every muscle in my body.

“Let’s get a look at you.”

Holding me at arm’s length, I likewise cataloged the changes. He was slimmer, his chestnut hair threaded with more silver. But there was a lightness to his being; his facial muscles were relaxed, his movements loose. We both froze in our assessment when another man in a dressing gown entered the hallway. He was a few inches shorter than Hugh, and at least ten years younger. Broad of the shoulder, narrow-waisted, his muscular thighs accentuated by the dark grey breeches he wore beneath the dressing gown. He was barefoot. Was he—? Had Hugh—? 

Hugh flushed as my astonished expression shifted from the man to him, his mouth agape, absent of sound. The man spoke before Hugh composed himself, striding forward, hand outstretched. 

“You must be Linnea…er, uh, Lady Wren. I’m Antonio Navarro. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.” 

His handshake was firm, his chocolate brown eyes lambent with intelligence. Hugh cleared his throat as Mr. Navarro released my hand.  

“Antonio is an inquiry agent. Umm, that was recommended by acquaintances. To help find Felicity Ward.”

The men exchanged a ladened glance.

“And he is my…friend.” 

My concerted effort to mask my amusement at his awkwardness made the corners of my mouth dance. Mr. Navarro hid a grin behind his palm. Hugh glowered at us, which unleashed my suppressed laughter. It echoed off the walls of the hallway. Embarrassed by my outburst, I tried to shift the topic of conversation.   

“It’s lovely to meet you. Hugh, is there space for us to stay here? Our hired driver is waiting to unload the cart.” 

“Us?” Hugh peered over my shoulder, finally noticing who lingered in the entryway. “Ah, Mr. Ward, I didn’t see you. Welcome.” Matias approached our trio with a quizzical look in my direction before accepting Hugh’s handshake. 

I wrote Hugh from Valparaíso but neglected to mention that my relationship with Matias had become more than colleagues. Confessing such a monumental decision in a letter didn’t seem right. So, I delayed. And here we were. Given my previous communication, it shouldn’t be a total surprise. My expression had melted from delight into a sheepish grimace.

Hugh noticed, his glacial blue gaze promised a discussion of this turn of events later. With a nod, he addressed the butler. 

“Alberto, please have their trunks delivered to the green room at the rear of the house.”

The butler, mollified by Hugh’s acceptance of us, called for the footman. In a whirl of fabric, Hugh turned with a beckoning wave, Mr. Navarro on his heels. Matias came alongside and leaned close. 

“You didn’t tell him about us?” 

“There wasn’t time. He knew that I. We. No, I didn’t tell him.” 

Matias tugged at his cuffs. “Perhaps I should find somewhere else to stay. I don’t want this to be awkward. Or do you think he expects me to have proposed?” 

I interrupted him, clasping a restless hand. “Stop. All is well. And I don’t want or expect a proposal. Hugh won’t judge us. Obviously.” 

He tilted his head toward the two men. “Yes, another thing you kept secret.”

I stood on my toes to kiss his rough cheek before towing him toward the breakfast room. There better be coffee, a lot of coffee. 

Photo by JR Harris on Unsplash