For all anyone knew, she was heading back to talk shopwith a man who was truly well-versed in metalsmithing and had the scars on his hands to prove it. If she happened to indulge her curiosity about medieval blades languishing in his back room, well, who could blame her?
It took her a couple of trips down streets she realized after the fact were the wrong ones before she found the right street and the right shop. She didn’t usually make that sort of mistake, but she had to admit she was a little distracted.
She put her hand on the door just as Mr. Campbell was reaching for his sign to turn it over to closed. He paused, then opened the door and smiled at her.
“’Tis you, lass,” he said pleasantly. “I was just going to lock up for an hour and take a late lunch, but you’re welcome to join me.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t want to interrupt,” she demurred.
“You wouldn’t be, of course.” He stepped back and held the door open, then nodded for her to come in. “Where’s your lad?”
“Off doing business,” she said politely.
“As long as your visit this morning didn’t put him in hospital, I suppose I won’t worry about him.” Mr. Campbell smiled. “Come keep me company whilst I have a wee bite. Care for something yourself?”
“I’m fine, thank you,” she said.
Mr. Campbell shut the door behind her, then nodded toward the back of his place. “Look around all you like, unless there’s something in particular you want to examine right off?”
She smiled. “I’m that obvious?”
“A fellow metalsmith,” he said with an answering smile. “Recognized that in you immediately, if you must know. We can’t stay away from the stuff, can we?”
“Oh, I don’t think I’d ever make anything of steel,” she admitted. “I’m happier with silver and gold.”
“Never say never, lass,” Mr. Campbell said with a smile. “You never know where the forge’s fire will lead you if you let it. Now, shall I just turn you loose, or is there something I can show you?”
She supposed plunging right in was the best plan. “I would like to have another look at that dagger, if you don’t mind.”
He only smiled. “I would have been surprised by anything else. Come along then, and have your look.”
Emma followed him through his collections, realizing how much she’d missed that morning. Not only did he have an enormous collection of museum-quality pieces, he had a substantial number of things for sale. She looked at him in surprise.
“Did you make those?”
“’Tis my passion, lass,” he said with a smile. “You’d be surprised how many people want a blade forged in the old-fashioned way.”
She imagined she wouldn’t be. For all she knew those reenactment guys in the woods were his best customers.
She couldn’t bring herself to ask.
“I’ll fetch my sandwich, if you don’t mind waiting,” he said.
“I’m happy to,” she said, accepting a seat across from the case that held that remarkable dagger.
It gave her the chills.
It was still giving her the chills fifteen minutes later after her host was finished with his lunch and relaxing with his tea.
“That blade there,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m not sure what to think about it.”
“Is it not fourteenth century?” she asked.
“Oh, it is,” he said. “The style is definitely common to the time. I deal in all manner of blades, as you can see, and most have a history of some sort behind them. That thing there, though...” He frowned thoughtfully. “There’s something odd about it.”
She considered, then decided that nothing ventured, nothing gained. “Would you mind if I touched it?”
“Not at all,” he said. “You might have an opinion on it.”
