He selected a sapphire ring and held it up to the light, then close to her cheek. “That’s closer to the intriguing hue of your incredible eyes,” he whispered before he slid the ring on her finger.
Lucy had the strangest feeling of having lived that experience with him before and of enjoying it again someday in the future. Rather than being concerned by the feeling, it instead gave her comfort. Hope.
“You, Mr. Barton, are full to the brim of flattery and fawning today. Did you partake of something fermented earlier?” Lucy teased, offering Branch a coquettish look before she removed the ring and returned it to the box.
Branch slapped a hand to his chest and feigned affront. “I would never, dear Miss Carlson.”
She smiled and shook her head. “Never?” she questioned, raising an eyebrow.
“Almost never,” he said with a smile and caught her hand with his, kissing the backs of her fingers before he strode over to the workbench and retrieved his hat. “I believe your admirers have moved on, and so must I. Be careful, Lucy. You never know whom you can trust.”
Before she could say a word, Branch settled his hat on his head and left.
Half an hour had passed and she was still attempting to unravel the meaning of Branch’s words when a diminutive woman dressed in arobe à la Françoisemade of cream silk embroidered with blue and red flowers stepped into the shop.
Lucy had never seen the woman, but there was no question she was wealthy. The truth of it nearly oozed from her fashionable hat perched at a saucy angle on her powdered wig to the toes of her heeled shoes, embroidered to match her gown.
“Hello,” Lucy said, smiling in greeting, then politely bowing her head to the woman. “May I be of service?”
“I believe you may. I was seeking a cup of sassafras tea, but it seems I’ve entered a shop of glorious wonders.” The woman smiled at her and slowly walked around, looking at each display. She fingered a set of shoe buckles set with glittering diamonds. “I must have these.”
“Of course,” Lucy said, and took the buckles, setting them into a small leather box. The woman didn’t flinch when Lucy relayed the cost. She merely handed over coins and signed the ledger where Lucy indicated. The woman’s name was written with so many curls and flourishes, it was impossible to read, which was likely what she intended.
“Although we don’t carry sassafras tea in the shop, I have been known to enjoy a cup or two,” Lucy said, bringing the conversation back to what she hoped was the reason the woman had entered the shop. “I could make a cup for you, if you like.”
“That’s very kind of you, dear, but I mustn’t tarry. However, I would take whatever you might like to tuck into the box with my shoe buckles. It’s such a liberating experience to do business with a woman such as you. Such a freedom.”
The words the woman spoke assured Lucy she was, indeed, the courier.
“Of course,” Lucy said, reaching into her pocket and pulling out the locket. With the workbench to hide her movements from anyone who might be watching through the window, she tucked the locket beneath the velvet lining of the leather box, set the buckles back in place, then handed the box to the woman. “I am deeply grateful you came in today.”
“And we are deeply grateful for Miss Sassafras.” The woman grinned at her before she turned and left. Lucy leaned over the workbench to better see out the window and watched as the woman climbed into an expensive carriage pulled by two sleek, black horses.
“That’s fancy,” a voice said from beside her.
Lucy swallowed a yelp and swiveled so quickly, she nearly knocked Theo off the workbench, where he had climbed while she had been watching the woman depart. “Theo! What have I told you? You must learn to mind your mischief!”
Her little brother grinned and shrugged. “I can’t help it if you don’t pay attention.”
“One of these days, you are going to land in a heap of trouble sneaking around like that.”
“Probably,” Theo agreed and hopped down, racing over to the doorway to better watch the carriage as it rolled down the street. “Who was she?”
“I have no idea, Theo.”
“Did she ask for … your special tea?” Theo whispered when he returned to her side.
Lucy nodded. “She did.”
Drained from nerves, the discomfort she had experienced from the two ruffians staring at her earlier, and her encounter with Branch that had ended with him kissing her fingers, Lucy sank onto her stool. She could have gone to her room, climbed on her bed, and slept away the rest of the day, but that wasn’t an option.
Before she could gather the edges of her composure together, her father strolled into the shop, looking quite pleased with himself.
“Did I see Mrs. Reed’s carriage?” Ward asked as he ruffled Theo’s hair, then removed his hat and hung it on the peg behind the workbench.
“She didn’t state her name, Papa, but she purchased the diamond shoe buckles, and paid with gold coins.”
Both of her father’s eyebrows shot upward and he smiled widely. “Well, that’s a reason to celebrate. Theo, my boy, run down to the tavern and ask Solomon to prepare four meals for our dinner.”
