The entire shop fell silent, and every eye and head turned toward her, including her mother’s. Felicity positively hated the sound.
In a flash, the duke, Beatrice, and Amity appeared from the back room, since they knew the sound of her forbidden whistle when customers were in the shop could only mean trouble.
Charlotte ignored everyone except the woman, now gawking at her, and the boy, who cringed against the shelves of shiny, empty tins awaiting to be filled by a customer’s selection.
“I am speaking to you,” Charlotte said into the silence.
The woman frowned, turned from the boy and took a step toward the counter although she couldn’t get any closer through the crowd. “I already have my purchases.”
“I know,” Charlotte said, her tone as kind as ever but firm. “And now, I must ask you to leave as you are disturbing our other customers.”
A collective gasp occurred at the intent of her words.
“Can you mean...? Are you saying...? Well, I never!” And the woman pushed her way toward the door.
Lord Jeffcoat beat her to it and held it open.
“She left more easily than I hoped,” Charlotte said to her mother who regarded her silently.
Then Felicity sighed audibly, shook her head slightly, and returned her attention to the customers. “Who is next, please?” The hurly-burly recommenced in seconds.
The boy was about to leave, as well, but he darted a glance Charlotte’s way. She smiled, crooked her finger at him, and held up the bag. He bit his lip but approached the counter, having to squeeze between other customers.
“There you go, poppet, one marzipan pig.”
“I wasn’t asking for nothing free, miss. I’ve saved up. It’s for my mum.” And he dug into his pocket and pulled out three farthings, and her heart clenched in her chest. Not even a whole penny.
Sensing the lad didn’t want to be given a handout, Charlotte told him a small white lie, “You have quite a bit of change coming, unless you’d like to pick out something more. Also, every customer gets a sample at no charge.” She avoided using the wordfree.
“Truly, miss?” His brown eyes looked delighted but doubtful.
“Truly. What do you fancy?”
“Well, I’d like a piece of toffee, miss, for my brother and sister. We can cut it in half. They’d be ever so pleased.”
“Very well, but since the toffee might squish the pig, let me put it in a separate bag.” Without him noticing, she shoveled in two pieces each of the plain, the one with nuts, and the chocolate-covered toffee.”The unnatural selections!
“And for your sample, young sir?”
His cheeks turned pink at her form of address. “Will you put it in the bag, too, miss?”
She shook her head, knowing the boy intended to give it away. “Samples must be eaten here, so I can see if you like it.”
“If that’s the rule, miss,” he said, again looking happy at her rules. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had to convince a child to take a sweet for himself.
“How about a chocolate?” she offered.
“Thank you, miss. Whatever you think best.”
She managed to keep a straight face at his serious tone. Choosing a large bonbon of pure creamy chocolate fondant coated in plain chocolate, she decided to use one of their china saucer-sized plates instead of the paper and handed it to him.
When he saw the size of the confection, he swallowed, glanced at her, then back at the chocolate. She could practically see his mouth watering. Raising the bonbon, he examined it before biting into it.
Ah, she thought, a boy who knows how to make something last. By his broad smile as he savored it, she’d chosen well.
“What do you think?”
“I think it’s the best thing I’ve ever tasted in my whole life, miss.” He popped the rest between his lips.
