Chapter 27
Twenty-Seven
“Ow!” Mira withdrew her hand from the box with the thumb tacks and stuck her finger in her mouth. “Stupid, useless…”
“Hey, don’t blame the pointy things, they’re just doing their job.”
Mira glared at Rue. “So am I.”
“Right. So stop sulking, we’re almost done.”
So they were. A stall in the square, right outside More by Moore, courtesy of Cassia and Eren.
When Mira had asked, they’d been dubious at first, but when she’d drawn water from their well and shown them the results, they’d eventually agreed to swapping places with her.
She’d come late signing up for the fair, so her spot was one of the smaller ones down a street.
It was less than ideal, but with what they were trying to do, Mira wanted to take no chances.
From this spot, she could see the Golden River stall, and she wanted to keep an eye on them as much as possible.
Their setup was rather modest, which had been a surprise.
Mostly information about their operations in the area, and a lot of bragging about all the good things they were doing for the region, which was largely hot air packaged in the exact kind of say-nothing language someone at Golden River was paid a lot to produce on a daily basis.
Although there was the back of their stall, hidden behind movable wooden walls and a large bit of yellow fabric, perfectly matched to the logo.
Mira had a good idea what was under there, but she hadn’t been able to get close and take a look.
She’d know soon enough though; the sign announced an ‘exciting reveal’ for the early afternoon, the busiest time of the fair according to Harper.
Which was both good and terrifying. No matter what, there’d be no sweeping under the rug what would happen.
“Where do you want the sign?”
Mira turned to find Gemma holding up the painted slab of wood.
It looked nice and rustic, just the style Mira loved for the shop.
That was the case for most of the décor she’d put together, all flowers and bottles full of little twigs and leaves, strung up between two poles to frame the stall.
Today, she found it hard to be enthusiastic about any of it.
She’d woken up with bubbles in her stomach, and even now was feeling a little ill.
So much was riding on this working, on catching Golden River in a way that would be impossible to ignore.
What if they failed miserably?
“Right side,” Mira finally said. “The basket goes on the left, so people don’t trip over it.”
While Gemma and Rue finished decorating, Mira set up her display.
Which was something of a challenge, seeing as it was mostly bottles with different-coloured liquids inside.
It took all her experience decorating displays at the emporium, but she made it work.
The irony of it made her smile grimly. At least she’d finally be able to use that skill for something better.
“Right.” Hands on her hips, Rue took a step back. “Oh, this looks good. You’ll sell out in no time!”
“Wouldn’t that be nice.” Mira blew out a breath and checked her pocket watch. “Ten minutes until official opening. Thanks, I can take it from here.”
“Are you sure?” Gemma eyed the square, and the scattered visitors already milling about between locals putting the finishing touches on their own stalls. “We can stay and help.”
“Yes, I am very sure.”
“You always say that.” Rue looped her arm through Gemma’s. “But I’m sure she’ll holler if she needs us. Come on, let’s take a look around. I want to look at the honey.”
“You just think the beekeeper is cute.”
“So? Is that a crime?”
Mira watched them amble away as she got comfortable behind her stall.
Well, as comfortable as she was going to get on a wooden stool, waiting for her shot at saving her shop and her home.
Slowly, the square filled with people, the drone of their voices eventually drowning out the gentle bubbling of the fountain.
It had been turned on just for the occasion, and Mira wondered how they’d made sure it wouldn’t sputter and die at random intervals, like everyone else’s water.
It did add to the atmosphere though, Mira had to admit. Between the late summer weather, the décor, and the smell of the flowers that had been put up at every corner, one could almost believe that nothing was wrong. That this was a fair like any other.
And for a little while, Mira almost could make herself believe that.
People were mostly browsing, but every now and again, someone bought something.
Soon enough, with an influx of people arriving on the late morning carriages, Mira was so busy that she hardly had time to think about the task ahead.
Her reminder sat firmly in her view though – Mr. Sheffield, who was chatting up any passer-by he could get to pay attention, distributing high-quality leaflets, and occasionally leaving the stall to an employee to make the rounds in an attempt to converse with the local shop owners.
With a petty little flare of glee, Mira noticed that most of them blew him off.
When he finished his circling and ambled up to her stall, she greeted him with the same smile she’d always reserved for the most aggravating of customers.
“Hello! Can I interest you in a potion? A little something for your flowers, or maybe a hair growth serum?”
“I-” Scowling, he cleared his throat. “No, thank you.” It seemed to take him a little bit of effort to smooth over his frown and plaster a jovial expression on his face.
“Simply making conversation with a fellow businesswoman, is all.” He glanced briefly at her display, and Mira was sure that he didn’t pay attention to any of it. “How’s the fair going? Well, I hope?”
“I can’t complain,” Mire replied sweetly. “Going through more stock than I expected.” She nodded at the Golden River stall, trying to seem casual. “Are you not selling anything?”
“Us? Oh, no!” He puffed up like a peacock. “We’re here to show our support for the local economy. Golden River is very invested in making this region thrive.”
“I see. Is that what the reveal is about?”
“Ah-ah-ah!” He chuckled. “You’ll see in due time.”
“Of course.” When a young couple stepped up to browse, Mira ducked her head. “Ah, please excuse me. I have customers to serve.”
He seemed to be just as glad for this excuse as Mira was, because he was gone in a moment, and Mira was relieved to see him go.
Support for the local businesses, my behind.
If they were truly supportive, they wouldn’t be drying up their spring.
Around noon, Rue and Gemma came back. The sugar stuck to Rue’s chin told Mira that they had visited the inn, where whatever Matteo was producing in truly ridiculous quantities smelled absolutely divine.
They shooed her away, promising to take good care of the stall while Mira went to have some much-needed lunch.
Mira took the opportunity to wolf down a spicy sausage in a crispy bun from the butcher’s grill, and then went to take a little tour of the fair herself.
Eventually, she made it to Yoni’s stall, who had brought a selection of essences and dried herbs, which were popular with visitors, according to her.
“They put them in the bath,” she said, frowning after a woman in an expensive coat who had just purchased one of everything. “Why would you want your bathwater smelling like mint?”
“Because it’s nice?” Mira leaned against the table. “At least they’re buying. Could be worse.”
“I suppose.” Mira glanced down the street towards the square. “Have they shown their arse yet?”
Mira snorted. “Absolutely nothing. They’re saving that for their grand reveal, I guess.”
“Mhm.” Yoni squared her jaw. “I’ll make sure to be there.”
“You don’t have to close your stall for that. I can manage.”
Yoni rolled her eyes. “Can you? Yes. Will I let you? Absolutely not. We came up with this together, we’ll pull it off together.”
Mira managed a shaky smile. “You have no idea how reassuring that is.”
“Are you…” Yoni narrowed her eyes at her. “Oh. You are serious.” She cleared her throat. “Well. It can’t hurt to have someone backing you up. I suppose I am sufficiently intimidating at least.”
“You’re not-” Mira shut her mouth when Yoni have her a pointed look down that hawkish nose. “…just a little bit.”
“And that is quite enough for our purposes.” For a moment, there was a flash of uncertainty on Yoni’s face. “I want this to work just as much as you. They can’t just keep taking what’s ours. If this is what it takes to stop that, then I’ll look big and intimidating all day long if I have to.”
Mira winked at her. “I don’t think it’ll come to that, but I appreciate the willingness.” With a sigh, she pushed herself away. “I should get back to my stall. See you later.”
There was a touch of pink in Yoni’s cheeks when she nodded. “Later.”
When Mira returned to her stall, she found it manned by Gemma, with Rue nowhere in sight. Mira joined her behind the table.
“Where did Rue go?”
“To chat up that beekeeper again.” Gemma tapped one of the boxes under the table. “I had to restock the stuff for shiny hair. You’re almost out.”
“Oh! Well, that’s good.” Mira scanned the crowd near Kian’s stall, but there were too many people to see. “Does Rue know he has a child?”
“She didn’t seem to mind.”
Chuckling, Mira shrugged. “None of my business then.”
After a while, Gemma left again to explore the games set up on the village green, around the large pile of wood for the bonfire.
Meanwhile, the clock was ticking ever closer to this mysterious reveal.
At the Golden River stall, things were picking up, too, with people disappearing behind the screens, and Mr. Sheffield silently rehearsing something from a set of cards.
When Rue finally returned, holding three jars of honey and a loopy smile on her face, Mira felt both relief and dread when she stood up from her spot.
“There you are. I thought you forgot all about me over Kian’s dreamy eyes.”
“His-” Rue flinched and blushed. “Listen, a girl is allowed to flirt.”
“Of course. As long as you can take over for a bit?” Mira glanced at Mr. Sheffield, who was now whispering with his employees. She reached under the table, where she’d kept a special bottle all day and put that bottle into her pocket. “I’ve got somewhere to be.”