by Nancy Warren
He smiled, revealing those wonderful teeth again. “No. Life intruded and I found myself married and living a very different life. But I never forgot Florence. And now, my wife has passed away, and I wondered if it was possible that Florence still remembered me as I remember her.”
It was a very romantic story and the man in front of me glanced quickly at my face as though checking that I, too, was swept away by stirring emotions. In fact, I was that most delightful British word, ‘gobsmacked.’ The Watt sisters were spinsters of indeterminate age. It was easy to imagine they’d sprung fully formed from tea balls and spent their entire lives serving up raisin scones and crustless sandwiches in our little corner of Oxford. To think of either of them having a date, never mind a man carrying the torch for them, was almost more than I could take in.
I said the only thing I could think of. “As far as I know, Florence Watt is next door at the tea shop now. Perhaps she’s the one you should ask?”
He nodded, looking relieved. “I thought I’d stop in here and see if her neighbors knew anything that might stop a man from making a fool of himself?”
My mind boggled at the possibilities. Miss Watt with a husband and five children? Not even Miss Watt anymore but Mrs. Somebody-or-other. “No. I imagine she’d be pleased to see an old friend.”
He glanced around my shop, crammed as it was with wools, knitting books and magazines, crochet cottons, needles and hooks and all the assorted notions, plus the completed sweaters, shawls and cardigans that hung on the walls or from racks. He looked toward my back room, though I kept that part of the shop curtained off. I used it to hold knitting classes, but in the floor was a trap door used by my downstairs roomies—a nest of knitting-mad vampires.
When I’d first met them, after I moved here from Boston, I was scared they’d eat me. Now that I understood them better, I’d become quite fond of them. Still, I kept that curtain shut during shop hours as my grandmother, the newest vampire and one who suffered from insomnia, had once or twice shown up in the shop during the day.
“This is such a cozy shop, it makes me want to take up knitting.”
“You should. It’s a very relaxing hobby.” I don’t know how I kept a straight face, saying things like that. Knitting was a diabolical exercise in frustration. Most everything I tried to knit ended up looking like something from the hedgehog family. Still, it wouldn’t look good to admit that the person running a knitting shop couldn’t knit, so I’d picked up a few pat phrases. He nodded, still looking around. “You weren’t even born when I was last here. Another woman used to run this shop.”
“Yes. My grandmother, Agnes Bartlett. She passed away a few months ago. I’m her granddaughter, Lucy.”
“I’m sure she’d be very proud to know you’re doing such a wonderful job.”
“Thank you.”
He pulled his shoulders back like a soldier about to go on parade. “Well, Lucy, wish me luck, won’t you?”
“Yes, of course. Good luck.” As he walked out I saw him glance at his own reflection in the windowpane of the door. I suspected it was insecurity rather than vanity that had him checking his appearance and I found the gesture rather charming.
Naturally, I was dying to discuss this very strange turn of events with my grandmother but, at this time of day, she’d be sound asleep. Fortunately, the Vampire Knitting Club was meeting that night.
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Also by Nancy Warren
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The Vampire Knitting Club
Stitches and Witches, Vampire Knitting Club Book 2
Crochet and Cauldrons, Vampire Knitting Club Book 3
Toni Diamond Mysteries
Toni is a successful saleswoman for Lady Bianca Cosmetics in this series of humorous cozy mysteries. Along with having an eye for beauty and a head for business, Toni's got a nose for trouble and she's never shy about following her instincts, even when they lead to murder.
Frosted Shadow Toni Diamond Mysteries, Book One
Ultimate Concealer Toni Diamond Mysteries, Book Two
Midnight Shimmer Toni Diamond Mysteries, Book Three
A Diamond Choker For Christmas A Toni Diamond Mysteries Novella
Take a Chance series
Meet the Chance family, a cobbled together family of eleven kids who are all grown up and finding their ways in life and love.
Kiss a Girl in the Rain Take a Chance, Book 1
Iris in Bloom Take a Chance, Book 2
Blueprint for a Kiss Take a Chance, Book 3
Every Rose Take a Chance, Book 4
Love to Go Take a Chance, Book 5
Chance Encounter Prequel
The Almost Wives Club
An enchanted wedding dress is a matchmaker in this series of romantic comedies where five runaway brides find out who the best men really are!
The Almost Wives Club: Kate
Second Hand Bride
Bridesmaid for Hire
The Wedding Flight
If the Dress Fits
For a complete list of books, check out Nancy’s website at nancywarren.net
Acknowledgments
I’m grateful to so many people in the writing of this book. First, I want to thank Elizabeth Edmondson, Anselm Audley and Elizabeth Jennings, with whom I first brainstormed this idea in Oxford. It was Anselm who christened the knitting shop Cardinal Woolsey’s.
Thanks to Karen Draisey, who owns and runs Oxford Yarn Store. If you’re in Oxford and you love to knit, you must go and say ‘hi.’ Karen helped me with my research and invited me to join her knitting circle at the shop.
I’m also grateful to The Drunken Knitwits of Oxford, a fun group who meet in pubs and knit. Special thanks to Jess for the behind the scenes tour of some of the colleges.
My assistant, Cindy Jackson, was an incredible help as I prepared this series. She saved my sanity more than once.
Thanks to Shelley Adina and Judy DeVries for help and advice.
Finally, a very special thank you to the readers who took the time and trouble to read this book before it was published and offer help and feedback. I’m so grateful.
About the Author
Nancy Warren is the USA Today Bestselling author of more than 70 novels. She’s originally from Vancouver, Canada, though she tends to wander and has lived in England, Italy and California at various times. While living in Oxford she dreamed up The Vampire Knitting Club. She’s currently in Bath, UK, where she often pretends she’s Jane Austen. Or at least a character in a Jane Austen novel. Favorite moments include being the answer to a crossword puzzle clue in Canada’s National Post newspaper, being featured on the front page of the New York Times when her book Speed Dating launched Harlequin’s NASCAR series, and being nominated three times for Romance Writers of America’s RITA award. She has an MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University. She’s an avid hiker, loves chocolate and most of all, loves to hear from readers! The best way to stay in touch is to sign up for Nancy’s newsletter at www.nancywarren.net.
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The Vampire Knitting Club Copyright © 2018 by Nancy Warren
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ISBN: 978-1-928145-48-6
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