It probably wasn’t very good business etiquette to look like an anxious mess outside one’s shop.Lilian moved herself back inside and rearranged the shelves for the hundredth time.
She was focused on deciding if a Viking vampire novel deserved a place on the shelf when heavy bootsteps shook the cottage’s wooden frame.
“Welcome to Bodice and Brawn,” she greeted automatically.
She turned to find two men dressed in animal furs.They both looked to be about her age, though it was difficult to tell with their long beards.She didn’t recognize them as actors.The smart watches and metal-tipped boots were dead giveaways that they were guests at the faire.
She offered a polite smile and stepped out from behind the counter.“Looking for something, gentlemen?”
“Gentlemen?”One laughed.“I’m not a gentleman.Can’t you see?”He pointed at his chest, where he had a necklace made from small animal bones.“I’m a barbarian.”
“Viking,” Lilian corrected, “or Norseman might be more appropriate.We don’t use that kind of language at the faire.”
Years ago, the Viking Camp had been known as the Barbarian Encampment.But a local group of historians had advocated for the change, pointing out that the term barbarian was dehumanizing to a group that had been advanced in their warfare and culture.It was one of the few times Lilian and the other actors approved of King Rothbury’s push for historical accuracy.
“Where?”the friend asked, looking around the shop like he honestly had no idea where they were.“Wait?Are those lady porn books?”
Lilian bit the inside of her cheek to keep herself from a snarky correction.In one fluid motion, she put herself between the bone wearer and the merchandise.“They areromancenovels, yes.”
As soon as she got close, the heavy smell of alcohol was obvious.These men were drunk.And it wasn’t even noon yet.God, she remembered dealing with men like this all the time when she’d worked as a bar wench.Back then, she’d usually had Margo beside her as backup.Now she was alone.
“My granny used to call them bodice rippers.”The first man laughed, pushing past her to get to the shelf.
Lilian fought down the urge to pull him back.In cases like this, it was best to let them have their look.They would quickly get bored and move on to the next shop.It would be uncomfortable for a few minutes, and they would no doubt ruin the careful way she’d alphabetized the books.But she could handle that.
As the man began to thumb through a book, Lilian moved back behind the counter.
Suddenly, the second man stepped in front of her, blocking the path.“You read that stuff?”he asked.The tone aimed for casual conversation, but the stench of beer made her skin crawl.
Lilian did her best to hide her grimace.“Yeah.”
“Ya ever wanna try out the stuff you read about in those books?”
It was a common question, unfortunately.But she’d received it enough that a curt reply came out automatically.“Not with strangers from the faire.”
He leered at her.“Aw, come on.We don’t have to be strangers.My name is Jackson and my friend is Brett.There, now we’re not strangers.”
“Nice to meet you.”Lilian did not offer her name in return.She moved toward the counter again, if for no other reason than to put a solid piece of wood between herself and the men.
But as she walked past Jackson, she heard him call out, “Hey, come on, there’s no reason to be like that…” He was still talking when something grabbed the back of her bodice.
Anger crackled through her, overpowering any discomfort.“What are you doing?”she snapped, reeling on him, but his grip stayed firm.The movement was too fast, too hard, and the asshole didnotlet go.Next thing she heard was a pop and tear before the support around her breasts fell away.
“Oh shit,” Brett whispered from the bookshelf.
The two men stared as her bodice fell to the ground.It wouldn’t have been so bad if it had just been the bodice, but Jackson had grabbed a hold of her underdress as well, the stitching of which had been torn.The elastic that held the gown up by her shoulders gave way before her arms snapped up to hold it in place.
“Oh, fuck.I’m sorry,” Jackson said, his face stricken in its own form of terror.
Lilian opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out.The mortification was bone deep.All she could do was stare at the bodice lying on the ground.
Something roared between her ears.Blood, she assumed, but then there was something else as well.It sounded like shouting.She blinked and realized they were no longer alone in the shop.Hawk was there, his body standing between her and the men.Hawk could normally command people with a dismissive arch of the brow or sardonic question, but she’d never seen him scream at someone before.
Margo and Russ were there, too, their touch gentle, as they coaxed her out of the shop, away from the noise.Away from the immediate danger.
“Come ‘ere,” Russ said softly, “let’s get you sorted.”
A small crowd had gathered, people staring the same way one did when an accident happened before their eyes.
