All black and brooding, leaning against a shelf, arms and ankles crossed, staring at them.
Stars, did the man have to look so intimidating?
And ruthlessly handsome?
“Who isthat?” Holly asked, the intrigue in her voice almost making Calliope laugh.
“That is my landlord.”
Holly fanned her face. “That doesn’t look like any landlord I’ve ever seen.”
Calliope arched a brow. “Your husband must be one, no?” He was a marquess, after all. He must own properties, have tenants.
Holly cast her A Look. “Yes, but he doesn’t count. He also doesn’t lurk in corners like a gothic novel hero waiting to pounce.” She gave a thoughtful pause. “Oh, no wait, he does do that, but he still doesn’t count.”
Calliope did laugh at that. “Ah, well,mylandlord is merely... tall.” And all the other things.
“An understatement,” Holly supplied.
“He’s also glowering,” Violet murmured.
“Another understatement.”
“That’s merely how he looks.” And Calliope found it hard to believe, given Maxen’s identity, Violet wasn’t leasing from him. “You’ve never met your landlord?”
Violet shook her head. “My lease was brokered through the man of affairs of the owner.”
Heh. Probably the same Fury “man of affairs” who brokered hers. Or another Fury. Then again, perhaps the almighty Furys did not own all the land.
“Is he always dressed like that?” Holly asked. “Like he’s in mourning?Ishe in mourning?”
Calliope paused. She never thought of that. “I don’t know, honestly.”
“Holly,” Violet chastised. “He’s standing right there.”
“I know,” the woman said sweetly. “He’s been standing there like a statue forsometime without uttering a word.” She smiled at Calliope, her voice dropping to a whisper. “And his gaze follows you like a shadow.”
Really? “I’m not moving.”
“But it would if you moved.”
Calliope shook her head, chuckling. “Ladies, may I remind you that my shop was broken into?”
Maxen, for his part, said absolutely nothing even though he must have heard most of their conversation, if not all. But she did feel his amusement, if that were at all possible from the man, in his silence.
“My shop is set to open in the next few days. Should I postpone?” Violet asked.
“No!” Holly said vehemently. “We should not let something like this stop you.”
Calliope nodded. “Just be a bit more vigilant.”
Violet reached out and squeezed her hand. “You don’t have to go through this alone, you know. If you need anything at all, supplies, extra hands, cake, you can always come to me.”
Something soft blossomed inside her.
“Oh!” Holly perked up. “And I’ve just received a fresh delivery of lemon tarts. You simply must come by for tea this afternoon. It will do wonders for your nerves.”
“I appreciate that, truly,” Calliope said, though she wasn’t quite sure she’d feel at ease anywhere just yet. Her shop was meant to be her sanctuary, and it had been violated. And she wouldn’t be at ease until they discovered why. “But I shall pass this time.”
