A Wedding In Springtime(84)

The ladies walked from Lord Bremerton’s study with shared low spirits.

“Thank you for trying,” sighed Genie.

“And thank you as well,” said Louisa in a soft voice. “Genie, your mother eloped with your father. Is she happy?”

“Yes, quite happy I believe.”

“That is all I needed to know.” Louisa gave her a warm embrace. “I am glad I got to know you.”

“And I, you.” A question hung on Genie’s lips, unasked. She already knew the answer.

***

“Did you give the Talbot chit the information about the moneylender?” asked the Candyman.

“Aye, sir,” said Jem.

“I do wish we’d been able to collect her dowry before walking away, but those damn emeralds tipped our hand. No matter, I shall more than make up for that disappointment. Follow her wherever she goes. Make sure she gets here.”

“Maybe she’ll go somewheres else?” Jem had to jump fast to avoid the Candyman’s backhand.

“Just see that she gets here. I’ll know what to do with her when she arrives.”





Twenty-eight





None of the options before Genie were acceptable. The only thing that mattered now was saving her brother. If her family could not or would not help her, it was going to be up to her. A moneylender was an unpleasant idea, particularly since she had no way to pay the money back. But if she left her brother to face his own fate, she would lose him.

She could go to this moneylender and at least discover his terms. Perhaps there might be some way? Genie could not think of any but felt it was worth attempting. She would hate to think of her brother being lost if there was anything she could have done to prevent it.

Genie told her aunt she needed to rest, an idea that met with stony approval. After a few minutes, Genie slipped out the back way and asked Sammy the groom if he would call her a hack. He insisted he take her in the town coach, and she graciously accepted. When she arrived at the address in Piccadilly, she paused at the storefront. It was not what she expected.

“Got yourself a sweet tooth, Miss Talbot?” asked the groom with a smile.

“I suppose I do.” Genie mentally reviewed the address given her by the urchin. She thought this was what he said.

The storefront was little more than a door squished between two other shops. The door was painted dark brown with the words Chocolate Shoppe painted in gold above it. When Jem had said the moneylender was called the Candyman, she thought this was another one of his odd street euphemisms she could not understand. She had not expected an actual chocolate shop.

“I just have a few purchases to make. I won’t be but a trice!” Genie kept her tone lighter than she felt.

Genie marched to the door and opened it before she could lose what little courage she had left. The shop was dark, with two small, round tables and chairs but no customers. The walls were lined with dark wooden shelves. On one side were boxes of cocoa to make hot chocolate. On the other were candy sweets displayed on platters. There were sweetmeats, bonbons, toffee, humbugs, fondant sculpted into animals, and boxes of marzipan. It was every child’s dream, yet it was eerily quiet in the store.

“Good afternoon, miss,” said a young boy at the counter who could not have been more than ten years old. He wore a dirty apron over his thin frame.

“Good afternoon,” said Genie, walking toward him. “I am looking for the Candyman.”

“You be Miss Talbot?”

“Yes,” said Genie, startled the child knew her name.

“Come this way, miss. The Candyman has been expecting you.”

A chill ran down her spine, but she would not allow herself to be easily cowed.

The lad led her to a side door concealed in the paneling. It opened to a dim room, even darker than the store.

“Come in,” said a man with a low, gravelly voice. He was sitting at a table, almost entirely in the dark. Resembling an undertaker in appearance, he wore all black with a hat pulled low, concealing his face.

“Did a young boy tell you I was coming?” asked Genie.

“Indeed he did. Helpful lad, Jem,” said the man in an oddly low tone, almost as if he was concealing his true voice.

“Then can I surmise that he informed you why I am here?”

“Yes, yes. You are to be commended to take such care of your brother. Come, sit. I am sure we can come to some sort of arrangement.”