“I think I shall toss these in the trash heap,” he admitted.
For some reason, this caused Miss Rare-Foure to start laughing.At him!She laughed until she snorted. Her sister, noting his discomfort, did not join in, but simply stared at her sibling with quiet disapproval.
After a moment, she said, “Beatrice usually stays in the back,” as if by way of apology.
Beatrice?Beatrice Rare-Foure, a pretty name for a pretty female. She could probably get away with her tart tongue and rude comments, and even laughing at customers, because of her high cheekbones, brilliant blue eyes, and generous lips.
The aforementioned Beatrice eventually got hold of her rampant humor and asked him, “Are you back to buy more toffee already? If so, my sister will help you.”
With that, she turned on her heel and started to leave. He sent a glance to her sister, who offered him a small shrug along with a congenial smile.
“I will,” she said. “Help you, I mean.”
Greer nodded. Unfortunately, he felt driven to prod the serpent, compelled to speak further with the sharp-tongued Beatrice. That was why he had returned, after all.
“Miss Rare-Foure,” he said to her back, but she didn’t turn around, apparently thinking he was addressing her sister.
“You,” Greer tried again, “the toffee-maker one.”
At this, she whirled around to face him as her sister muttered something that might have been a warning. Returning to the counter, the formidable young woman leaned over it, looking up at him with a direct glare.
“I am working,” she said, biting out each word sharply. “What exactly do you wish?” Her words ended on a long hiss of annoyance.Serpent, indeed!
“I was hoping we could have a chat, perhaps over a cup of tea, if that’s your drink of choice.”
Her sister gasped. At the same time, the toffee-maker reared back, her eyes widened, and her mouth opened and closed. Finally, Miss Rare-Foure glanced over at her sister as if to ask her opinion. Neither spoke, then she turned back to him.
“I know you are from another country, so I must ask you this: Doyouunderstand I am an honest shopkeeper’s daughter?”
Greer wondered what she was getting at. “Yes, of course,andyou make delicious toffee. It is quite superior to what I’ve eaten at home.”
She nodded, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Do you also understand I do not provide any other services?”
Her sister gasped for the second time in under a minute.
Greer considered her words.Other services? What on earth...!
“I am asking,” the young woman continued, “because first you tried to give me a half-sovereign.”
“What?” exclaimed the other Miss Rare-Foure, and then she blinked her big brown eyes at him with interest.
“And because now you seem to think it proper to ask me to be alone with you. To chat. Over tea.”
The way she said the words almost made them sound lascivious. Greer couldn’t help himself. He started to laugh. Then he slapped the counter, right where she’d slapped it the day before over the infernal coin. Then he doubled over and continued to laugh. If she knew how far off the mark she was!
The two women were silent as he had his own fit of good humor. It felt good to laugh so hard. Obviously, he and the toffee-maker knew how to amuse one another. The notion he would be so brazen as to make a lascivious proposition over tea tickled him. If he were going to make any kind of untoward offer to a woman, it would be over a glass of wine!
Strangely, even though he’d been in London a mere few days, this was the second time someone assumed his thoughts were improper. A cabbie had told him where to find a strumpet if he needed one, and all he’d wanted to ask was where to get a good meal.
What was it with these Londoners? Was it because he was American and they thought him uncivilized?
When he straightened, he realized Miss Rare-Foure’s face had reddened, perhaps with embarrassment. He had probably committed all sorts of offences by laughing at her and her outrageous assumption.
“Not that I don’t think you are worth ...chattingwith ... over tea,” he said lamely, as his levity turned to chagrin. “You are pretty, and I’m certain any man would be lucky to ... to ... chat with you. However, I’m not interested in you in that way.”
Her mortification seemed to be growing along with his, and he looked to her sister for help, but that one simply smiled and shrugged. Then the bell behind him tinkled gently, and he turned to see three well-dressed women entering with a gentleman, making the store shrink in size.
The friendly sister moved away from the scene of humiliation to help the customers, and when he turned back, he saw only the swishing of the blue curtain.
