Master Montgomery gave Master Boatswain a knowing look then turned to me. “We’ll see to it, young Scarlette,” he said, giving me a soft smile.
“And how are the doll-making sisters this morning,” Archie asked me.
It hadn’t escaped my notice that Archie had changed the subject.
“Busy. Very busy. They really are in need of an apprentice.”
“Aren’t we all,” Master Boatswain said with a laugh, patting his grandson on the hand.
“Grandfather is always on the hunt for bright minds,” Archie explained.
“Is that so? Well, who doesn’t love a bright mind?” I said with a grin, mindful of Uncle Horace’s words.
“Only a fool,” Archie replied, passing me a wink.
I felt my cheeks redden.
A moment later, the footmen appeared with the morning meal. Lost to our breakfast, the conversation faltered. I cast a glance up at Archie who was still grinning at me. A mutual admiration. Was that what Archie had said? Well, it was true. I did admire him, particularly those green eyes. I grinned at him then dove into my breakfast. All around me, lively conversation broke out. From airships to King George to DaVinci to Socrates, the topics ranged far and wide. I hardly knew which conversation to join. Everyone was busy eating, drinking, and chatting. The table was abuzz. But there was one notable change. Mistress Quickly’s chair was empty.
Chapter 6: Of Clockwork Gnomes, Wind-Up Ducks, and Red Capes
As breakfast came to an end, I debated what to do. I really wanted to stay and talk to Archie, but every time I thought about Laura and Lizzie, I felt guilty. They were drowning in work. Shouldn’t I help them? But if I stayed, I could fan the flames under that mutual admiration. Wasn’t that important too? In the end, my sense of obligation to the sisters won out. As the others moved out of the dining room to the parlor, Uncle Horace surrounded by his friends and Archie busy with his grandfather’s associates, I sought my escape. I’d just go to town for a couple of hours and be back by afternoon tea. Afterward, I’d stay at Strawberry Hill for the night.
Avoiding even the servants, I slipped into the coatroom and donned my cape. Going unseen, I rushed from the house. Moving through the deep snow, trying with little success to follow the tracks cut into the snow by a sleigh, I headed back toward Twickenham. I’d barely stepped foot in the forest when I spotted the same merchant who’d been selling fruits and flowers waiting by the side of the road.
I sighed heavily.
“Miss Rossetti, come buy. Come buy.”
Not pausing, I moved quickly past him. “I’ve told you, I don’t want anything you have to sell. Please, leave me alone.”
“Oh, but I have it this time. I have it. You see, everyone has something they want to buy.”
The man held out a small chest. I didn’t want to look, but now I was curious. I slowed my stride long enough to see what was inside the case.
Hagstones.
“Come buy,” the little man coaxed. “We have everything a person wants. Don’t you want to buy?”
“I…” I paused. “How much?”
“One bronze.”
“One bronze?”
“One bronze curl, that is,” he said, pointing to my chocolate-brown hair with his gloved hand.
My skin rose in gooseflesh. One didn’t have to linger around Strawberry Hill too long to become superstitious. While I hadn’t studied fairy lore, I had grown up on folktales. The little man’s proposal set my teeth on edge.
“No. I’m no fool, and I know what mischief one curl can cause. Try again.”
He laughed, a hissing sound that was vaguely inhuman.
“Smart little mechanical. Well then, I’ll take all the coins in your pouch.”
“No.”
“Then I guess my master was wrong. I guess these are not for you,” he said then clapped the lid on the chest shut.
Frowning, I pulled my money pouch from my belt. I removed some coins, taking out the money I needed for the things I had planned to purchase in town, then jangled the coin purse at the little man. “This or nothing. And this is an outstanding sum for a box of stones.”
“Indeed, indeed. Of course, they are not just any stones, are they?” the little man said then reached out for the bag.
I pulled my hand back.
“The box first.”
He laughed again, his voice a slick hiss. “Very well.” He handed the box to me.
I tossed the coin pouch to him. “Don’t bother me again.”
“We all like to buy. Maybe we’ll have something new for you tomorrow.”
“No, you will not. You will leave me in peace. I have nothing left with which to barter. Now, good day to you,” I said and hurried on my way.
“Thank you, Miss Rossetti. Thank you,” he called.
I glanced over my shoulder, but the merchant was gone.
I frowned then opened the box. Sure enough, there were seven hagstones inside. Just enough for my gnomes. But how had he known what I would want? Where had he even found these stones?
My skin rose in gooseflesh.
It couldn’t be a coincidence. Had he seen the hagstone Master Boatswain had given me? How?
But then I remembered what I had seen from my room that night. Had it really been them standing outside the gate at the end of the lane? Even if it was, surely they couldn’t have seen me from the road. Or had they? But how?
One answer presented itself.
Magic.
That wasn’t possible.
No, this was just a coincidence.
But I didn’t believe in coincidence.
Serendipity, then.
That had a better ring to it.
It was just a matter of good luck, that was all. Nothing to fear. It was just…good luck.
But something about the exchange didn’t feel lucky.
Scowling, I tried to set the conundrum aside. First, I stopped by the bakery. Thomas was out on deliveries, but his father took my order and arranged for plum pudding to be delivered to both Annabeth and to Strawberry Hill.
“Tell your deliveryman to expect an earful at the castle,” I told the baker. “Missus Ronald will not be pleased. Just tell them it was a request from Miss Rossetti.”
“Indeed, Miss Rossetti. Thank you.”
“And watch for merchants in the woods between here and Strawberry Hill. They’re such a nuisance.”
“Merchants?”
“A wandering band.”
“Oh. I hadn’t heard of any trouble on the road. Thank you, Miss Rossetti.”
“Of course,” I said then headed back outside. I crossed the square to the tailor’s shop. There, I placed an order for jackets for both of Annabeth’s boys. I didn’t know their exact sizes, but I made my best guess. When I was done, I stopped by the seamstress where I ordered cloaks for mother and daughter. As I had done at the bakery and the tailor’s shop, I arranged for all the goods to be delivered to Annabeth directly. I hoped that she would be able to smuggle them into the house on behalf of Father Christmas without the children noticing.
When I was done shopping, I returned to Laura and Lizzie’s shop. The place was so full that both sisters were busy at the counter. I wasn’t sure they’d even noticed me come in. I headed back to the workshop. Setting the box of hagstones aside, I eyed over Laura’s work. She had her orders set out but hadn’t started work on the next batch just yet. I eyed the table, making sense of what she had set aside, then read over her orders.