Wicked Path (The Daath Chronicles Book 2) (17 page)

“May I help you?”

“Ahh, good morrow, miss. I’m looking for a gift for my mother.”

“Of course, please, come in.” She reached for the door, juggling her armload of vegetables, but I opened it for her.

“Thank you.”

I gave a slight bow and followed her inside. Her hips swayed as she walked, reminding me of her feminine nature. She placed the bundle on the counter, and the sunlight shining in from the window touched her face, highlighting the soft freckles on the bridge of her nose. I had forgotten how captivating her light blue eyes were, and how sensual her rosy cheeks became when she smiled.

I must remember my purpose.

“You’ve a lovely store.” I walked about the different cases filled with an absurd amount of jewelry.

“Please, look around. I’ll be right back,” she said, before disappearing through a back door.

Look around? Has she no sense? How does she know I’m not a thief?

I browsed the wares of bracelets, feigning interest. I had yet to decide how to reveal myself or if I even would.

“Have you found anything you like?” she said upon returning.

“Not sure, miss. I don’t have much.” I pushed the words out in a gritty accent, disguising my fine voice.

She smiled, with no recognition of my true self. If she had, she would be a bit angry—I did try to kill her brother. She placed her hand on my back, escorting me to one of the smaller cases. Her touch brought back the memory of our kiss and I stepped away from her.

“These lupa bracelets are my favorite.” She lifted a pinkish white shell bracelet and held it out on her palm.

“It’s very nice.”

“And inexpensive. The shells are common around the harbor.”

I ran a finger across the delicate bracelet. “I think my mother would like this.”

“Wonderful. I have the perfect little bag.”

She rummaged through boxes, then pulled out a white pouch with gold threading, and put the bracelet inside.

“That’s nice of you.” I dug in my pocket for a few coins.

She came around the case, and I gave her the coins in exchange for the pouch. Our bodies were an arm’s length away. My gaze wandered down her slender neck where the gold chain of the locket disappeared beneath her dress.

“Will that be all?”

“Yes.” I raised my gaze to meet hers. “Thank you, my lady.” I took the pouch and gave a slight bow before turning and leaving the store.

randfather was terrible at keeping the house supplied with food. I often wondered how he’d survived so long on his own after Grandmother passed. It was dawn and I had just enough time to hurry to Ms. Gen to purchase morning bread, maybe even stop by the fruit merchant for a basket of strawberries.

I tied a scarf around my head to keep my hair from blowing in my face. The wind whipped the long waves around, making me wish for shorter hair.

No one walked the street, but the boats sailed out, shops opened and carts rolled to the market by the docks. When I passed the inn, I glanced at the large red wooden structure. Quiet, mostly because the drunkards were done for the night. I was about to continue my walk when the dark-haired boy from yesterday left the inn.

Only customers would leave an inn this early.

I wrapped the scarf tighter around my head, keeping my eye on the boy as he walked, but he headed in the opposite direction. I needed to go to Ms. Gen and be back in time to help Grandfather open, but I had just enough time for a slight detour.

Hiding behind a woman walking with her two children, I watched the boy zigzag around villagers, his pace impossible to match, especially with a family of three moving slowly in front of me.

“Excuse me.” I stepped around the family, only to realize I’d lost him. His brown hat was nowhere in sight.

I’m being silly.
I turned around, sighing, and bustled onward.

Ms. Gen lived a few shops down. The scent of fresh bread mingled with the fresh breeze of the morning sea, a fragrance that reminded me of warmth and comfort, and had quickly become one of my favorites.

The wooden shop sign read ‘closed’. I knocked on the door, peeking through the front window.

Ms. Gen smiled and came over.

“Morning, love.” She opened the door for me. Flour covered her apron, and dusted a few spots of her hair.

“Morning. We’re out of bread again, sorry.” I shuffled inside and she closed the door behind me.

She flicked her hand. “That Harold needs to learn how to shop. I have a perfect pumpernickel you’ll love.” She moved to the large stone hearth and pulled a loaf out of it.

It smelled divine.

“I wish he would let me go to the market and buy what we need. It’s silly for him to keep treating me like a guest.”

She wrapped a cloth around the bread and placed it in my basket. “Your grandfather is a stubborn old man.”

“Thank you.”

She smiled, and I hurried out, racing back to the shop. The wooden plaque that read ‘Open’ hung on the door. When I arrived inside, the dark-haired boy stood by the counter.

“There you are,” Grandfather said. “I need to meet with a new client. Watch the store.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

“Hello.” The boy held his hat in his hands. His hair ruffled at the ends, and he had a few freckles around his nose just like me.

“Hello.” I placed the basket on the counter. “Is there something else you needed?”

“Oh, no, I wanted to thank you for the bracelet.”

“Your mother liked it?”

His hands twisted the hat.

“My mother isn’t here. I’m just passing through on business.”

So that’s why he’s staying at the inn. Of course
. Relaxing a bit, I took the loaf from the basket. “Are you hungry?”

He watched me in silence as I placed the bread on the table. “I don’t want to bother you.”

“It’s no bother.” I smiled and held out my hand. “I’m Jeslyn.”

He slid the hat between his arm and chest, then grabbed my hand with his, kissing it like a gentleman. “Pleased to meet you, my lady.”

When his gaze met mine, my heart stuttered. His eyes were deep blue and piercing.

“Name’s Edward.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Edward.”

He dropped my hand and I reached for the loaf. “What kind of business brought you to the harbor?” I ripped off a piece of the bread and handed it to him. “Oh, I think I have some apple butter in the back that would go perfect with this. Wait here.” I ran to the pantry and grabbed a knife and a mason jar full of apple butter, then walked back out to Edward.

“This is delicious. Have you ever had apple butter?” I lathered my piece of bread, then handed him the jar and knife.

“No. They make it here?”

He spread the butter across the bread in smooth, easy strokes.

“Yes, the orchard farmer. He makes the most wonderful pie too. I’ll have to show you while you’re here.”

“I’d like that.”

We ate the bread in silence. I wanted to ask him again about his business, but decided to wait. It could be personal, and I didn’t want to seem too nosy.

“Where are you staying?”

“At the inn.”

“I heard the cook there is terrible,” I whispered, then nibbled on the bread.

He smiled, a crooked smile. “It ain’t the best meal I ever had, but it’s good.”

The bell above the door rang as a customer walked in.

“Thanks for the bread, Jeslyn. I should be going.”

“Of course. Why don’t you come back at sundown? You can have a warm meal with us.”

His intense blue gaze held mine just long enough that my palms began to sweat. I cleared my throat.

“That would be nice.” He placed his hat back on his head and tipped it to me. “You have a good day.”

Edward left the store, his steps graceful and head held high, almost regally so.
Hmm.
Not what I would expect from a simple merchant boy.