“We pray for Her Majesty, Lady Royal.”
“Thank you.It means so much.”
The deeper they traveled within the faire, the more they left the modern world and entered ancient Lauchtenland, where thatched roof row shops, replacing the portable wooden and canvas stalls, lined the winding and even more narrow avenue.Scottie could almost hear the old-time merchants calling to one another early in the morning.
“Oh, a bookshop.”Scottie turned inside, sensing all eyes on her.She perused several book tables, then turned to the man behind the sales counter.“Any suggestions of local authors?”
“Yes, um, yes, Lady Royal.”The man in neat, creased trousers, white shirt and waist coat slipped a book from a shelf.“A local chap wrote this one.I suppose he’d be akin to your American Jett Wilder.”
“Then I’ll take it.”Scottie had only read one Jett Wilder book, a memoir-like tale about a group of strangers who unraveled their lives while meeting in what remained of a Gilded Age New York mansion, and she intended to read more of his work.
As the man rang up her purchase, he motioned to a woman with long flowing hair and a long flowing skirt who’d just entered.“Love, look, Lady Royal.Might we snag a photo with you?”
Michael stepped forward.“Lady Royal, we should be moving on.”
“I think we have time for a photo, Officer Cross.”
His eyes narrowed with that fiery look a parent gave to an errant child.She’d hear about this later.
Back out to the street, where the crowd had grown significantly, Michael gripped her arm.“Stay close.Where to next?”
“Eloise Ltd.I promised Eloise Bright I’d visit her shop.”She stopped to face him, ignoring the raised phones surrounding them.“Are we good?Everything okay?”
Michael spoke into his com, then motioned for Lennox, whispered a few things to her before tapping Scottie’s arm.“Eloise Ltd.is down the lane on the left.Stay close, please.”
She stayed close as they passed relatively unnoticed toward Eloise Ltd.Inside the shop, Eloise, with her tamed red hair and fitted slacks and top, greeted Scottie with wide-smile enthusiasm.
“You came, Lady Royal.I wasn’t sure you could make it this far.”
“I wasn’t going to miss your place.”Scottie glanced about, her eye falling on one beautiful outfit after another, all displayed like art.She recognized some of the materials she’d been using for lightweight men’s slacks.“I love this wool and cotton blend.We find it wears well.And you make these in the Midlands?Have you had any trouble with the sewing process?”
Talking to a designer and clothier transported Scottie emotionally to her home field.
“This is our retail location,” Eloise said.“Our production is in The Haskells.You know our story of losing the manufacturing plant of our choice.But we must move on.The kind of space we need is rare and expensive in the Midlands.Yet this is the best place to be for materials, fabrics, labor.”
“Do you do bespoke work?”Scottie inspected a display of women’s blouses and tops.“I’ve been pushing for a small women’s line to complement our men’s fashion.I’d love an option for tailoring skirts, dresses, tops, slacks for women.”
“Really, Lady Royal?”Eloise moved in close.“We do a great deal of bespoke work.I’d love to explore this idea.Wh-when would you be available?”Eloise pulled out her phone, tapping the screen, searching her calendar.
Michael stepped up.“Lady Royal’s diary is set for the duration.”He glanced at Scottie.“Take her card.Contact her at your leisure.”
“Yes, of course, of course.I’m terribly sorry—” Eloise scurried to the counter and reached in a drawer for her card.“Thank you, Lady Royal, for thinking of us.I’ll look forward to hearing from you.”
“I’ll be in touch.”Scottie slipped the card into her clutch as Michael steered her toward the door.“I can speak for myself, Michael.”
“Just doing my job as your equerry as well as protection officer.You can ring Eloise Bright whenever you like but for now, we must keep moving.”
It was then the shop door burst open, giving way to a horde of photographers jockeying to catch Scottie’s eye first.
“Lady Royal, over here.”
“Lady Royal, Lady Royal.”
Around her cameras clicked, flashed, and recorded.She heard voices but could not discern from where.With each second, more and more people crammed into the shop, shoving and pushing, calling for her.
“Let’s go.”Michael.His broad, thick hand that had held hers so tenderly now pressed on her back, moving her forward.Lennox and Schueler collapsed around her.“To the back door.”
“Poor Eloise, they’ll destroy her—” The back exit was blocked with more photographers and gawkers.The fervor was too much.They were surrounded.
