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After they entered the store, Dragon took Pandora’s cloak and gloves from her and retreated to a position near the corner He had worn his livery, as he did whenever he felt a particular occasion called for the prestige of a liveried footaed it necessary to don the hated blue and gold garments while she obtained her sales infor nervous pangs in her sto the displays There was an eye-catching grocery store sized just for children, with drawers, counters, and cabinets, a real working scale, and artificial fruits and vegetables Her gaze ons, pop-guns, and dolls A sirls playing with a toy stove complete with miniature pots, pans, and utensils
By next Christames, a set of alphabet blocks painted with aniame with a fairy tale theme What she hadn’t confided to anyone except Gabriel was her desire to try writing a children’s book Just a si Since she wasn’t acco to do the illustrations, she would have to find an artist--
Her attention was caught by the sight of a few uneasy children hovering near Dragon, clearly wanting access to a display of books behind hi about children and see more than short, slovenly adults with poor depth perception A sirls, none taller than his waist They craned their necks, puzzled by the soarbed in blue velvet, with a beard, a scar, and a scowl on his face
Pressing back a smile, Pandora approached the children, crouched beside theey whisper, "Do you knoho that is?" They turned to face her with round-eyed curiosity "He’s Captain Dragon--the bravest, fiercest pirate who ever sailed the seven seas" As she saw the ripple of interest that ran through the group, she ignored Dragon’s incredulous glare and added with relish, "He’s been serenaded by iant squid He also had a pet whale who used to follow in the wake of his ship and beg for sea biscuits"
A boy glanced at Dragon’s dark face with awe before asking Pandora, "Why is he dressed like a footretfully "All the tier So now he’s a footman, and on his days off, he’s a land pirate"
The children gathered cautiously around the stone-faced giant "Do you have a wooden leg?" one of them asked
"No," Dragon growled
"Do you make people walk the plank?"
"No"
"What’s your whale’s naon looked exasperated Before he could say a word, Pandora replied hastily, "Her naon corrected, "is Splasher"
Highly entertained, Pandora retreated while the children continued to wring inforreen hair, singing and sunning herself on a rock As for buried treasure, well, if he had a chest of gold bullion hidden in a secret location, he certainly wasn’t going to aded about their loot While Dragon kept the children entertained--or perhaps it was the other way around--Pandora decided it was ti her shoulders, she crossed to the other side of the towering Christ, lean forainst a display table with his legs nonchalantly crossed at the ankles Gabriel was all aristocratic ease and cool sensuality, the light of the overhead chandeliers seeolden-bronze locks of his hair His gaze fell upon her, and he shtly, while his winter-blue eyes flickered with a quiet s reactions and ecstatic whispering of the ladies shopping nearby, it was a wonder no one had fainted Pandora approached him with a wry smile "My lord?"
"I knew you’d be here after your doctor’s appointI heard a rumor about a certain businesswoames sold out in little more than a week"
Pandora blinked in confusion "They’re all gone? All five hundred?"
Gabriel stood and stepped away from the table, which was ea Spree
will be back in stock soon
"I spoke with Winterborne just a few o," Gabriel continued "It pains his mercantile heart not to be able to sell a product that’s in such high deames as soon as your busy little factory can produce theh some numbers in her head "Blast I’ll have to hire er"
"The lady’s maid?"
"Yes, she’s wanted the job forhis perplexity, Pandora explained, "Back in September Ime what to do, and how happy it would probably e and supervise--and she loved the idea"