Chapter Ten THE LIGHTING Charlotte
Chapter Ten
THE LIGHTING
Charlotte
The response from Julian came on the day of the Solstice tree lighting.
Charlotte had continued giving out samples for the rest of the week, looking over to see if Julian would join her outside in response.
But as the days passed and the queue outside of Julian’s shop diminished, Charlotte began to worry their strategy had been too successful.
Although Charlotte was still annoyed that Julian refused to cooperate with them and had shown nothing but disdain for the notion that he should care about what happened to Mrs. Knox’s shop, Charlotte didn’t want to sink his business straight away either.
She needn’t have worried.
The market square and High Street were bustling with foot traffic by the time Charlotte made it out with her sample tray. But few people stopped, and the ones that did took their sample and kept walking.
It couldn’t have been the tree that was drawing them away. It had been fully decorated for several days, and the lighting wouldn’t be until nightfall.
Charlotte noticed a crowd gathered in front of Julian’s shop. But there was no Julian outside, sample tray or not.
“Come and see. It’s beautiful,” said Lady Sibba as Charlotte approached. The elf was wrapped in far more layers than the day required, and still she shivered as she took Charlotte by the arm, brushing her golden hair over her pointed ears to keep them covered.
Lady Sibba’s graceful movements led them to the front of the crowd without incident. There, Charlotte could see what all the fuss was about.
It was a Solstice window display, although that simple description sold it short. Julian had crafted a model of the market square and High Street out of gingerbread and frosting, complete with villagers made of chocolate and licorice string lights.
And if that wasn’t bad enough, the model was moving. The tiny villagers were walking on a loop on the powdered sugar ground. “I don’t suppose it’s magic,” said Lady Sibba. “It doesn’t feel like it, anyway.”
“It’s clockwork,” said Julian, coming through the door to join them. He was wearing a festive green jacket today under a dark red apron, and he looked frustratingly good in it. “There’s a handle to wind that sets it in motion.”
“The effect is impressive,” said Lady Sibba. “The painting is a nice touch as well, although next time, you should ask my Weyland to help. He’s very talented.”
The window to the shop had been painted with snowflakes and a continuation of the road that made it appear to go on forever. They were a bit more crudely done than the display itself, but it didn’t look bad at all.
How annoying.
“Wait there. I’ll show you the snow.”
He winked at Charlotte before he turned to go inside, and she was embarrassed to say that it made her blush.
Julian went behind the counter and retrieved a large metal can—an icing sugar duster.
Charlotte groaned. She could see where this was going.
Julian stepped on a step ladder to the side of the display and shook the can over it, creating a sugary snowfall.
The crowd cheered.
“Great,” said Charlotte. “Just what we need.”
“It is,” said Lady Sibba, missing Charlotte’s sarcasm. “It’s nice to have a new shop in town with such a committed shopkeeper. I taught him when he was in school, you know. He’s a great addition to the High Street. I was just saying to Weyland the other day—”
Charlotte had started walking back to Mrs. Knox’s Bakery before Lady Sibba could finish, but Lady Sibba wouldn’t mind—she’d just turn to someone else to keep talking.
“What’s he selling now?” said Mrs. Knox, who was waiting for Charlotte to return. The poor thing looked a bit worse for wear: they’d been pushing themselves to the limit to keep up with the sudden demand.
“I’m not sure,” said Charlotte. “I didn’t stay long enough to find out. He’s got a Solstice display in the window. That’s what’s drawing the crowd. The town modeled in gingerbread.”
“Oh, dear. Is it well done?”
“It is,” Charlotte admitted. “He’s powdering on snow for people to watch.”
“It’s a shame. I would have really liked that if it weren’t for…” She gestured to the empty store and the counter full of Solstice biscuits. “I don’t suppose we have time to put together a rival display.”
It didn’t make much sense to do so with Solstice only a week away. “Maybe not. But Lupercalia isn’t too long after the New Year. What if we did a display for that? Little cherubs shooting arrows, turtledoves, that sort of thing.”
“Oo, maybe with a wedding theme too to honor your brother and his bride.”
In the end, there were so many people in Herot’s Hollow that day, Julian’s crowd spilled over into their shop when the queue outside became too long.
They had a banner day selling biscuits, and they even received several orders from out-of-towners for delivery before Solstice, which would keep them going for the next week, at least.
“Perhaps we ought to let Julian make the Lupercalia display as well,” said Mrs. Knox, counting the coin once the day was done. “I’ve a mind to go and thank him for the help!”
Charlotte couldn’t help but wonder if the crowd into their shop may have been even larger without Julian’s interference, but she didn’t want to dampen Mrs. Knox’s spirits.
“Are you coming to the lighting?” asked Charlotte. The crowd had moved into the square now by the sounds of it.
“Oh no, I don’t think so,” said Mrs. Knox. “You know I’m not fond of crowds. Not unless they’re in my shop and I’m safely behind the counter.”
Charlotte knew this about Mrs. Knox, but she couldn’t believe she wasn’t tempted by the first ‘lectric lights in Herot’s Hollow turning on.
She was the only one who was absent. The market square was full to the brim. Everyone had come from miles around to see the show.
A platform had been erected near the Solstice tree. Charlotte spotted Keir near the base of the platform arguing with Prince Idris.
“They know you’re here. They’ve seen you. You don’t have to say much,” said Keir. “‘Merry Solstice and a Happy New Year.’ It isn’t complicated.”
“I still don’t see why you can’t do it. It’s going to be your land.”
“No, it’s all going to be your land—”
“Would you both quit your bickering? I’m the one doing most of the talking,” said Gwenla. “Unless one of you would rather?”
“No, no, by all means,” said Keir, bowing slightly to the dwarf. Neither Alison nor Rinka spoke up to take the honors from Gwenla either.
“Finnli, get down!” Gwenla shouted. Finnli had begun to climb up the platform, and he was making his way towards the Solstice tree.
“But the ornament was crooked—”
“Later,” said Gwenla. “It’ll do for now. I don’t want you up there without a ladder.”
“Reminds me of someone,” Keir whispered to Charlotte. She had been something of a tree climber herself, once.
“Charlotte, would you mind watching him while I’m on stage?”
Charlotte was surprised. She was frequently in charge of the resident cats, but a whole dwarf? She’d never done much child-minding when she lived with the korrigans.
“I want someone who has a chance of getting him down if he manages to get up there,” said Gwenla, gesturing at the tree.
“Alright, I guess—” said Charlotte, but Gwenla was already gone.
“It’s impressive how she manages that,” said Alison. “She gives you a task, and before you’ve had a chance to argue, she’s vanished.”
“Truly an inspiration,” said Rinka.
“She’d better be back soon,” said Idris. “It’s almost time to begin.”
“Oh, humbug, you old misery guts. Some people like Winter Solstice,” said Rinka, elbowing him in the side.
“Miss Charlotte.” Finnli was tugging on the sleeve of Charlotte’s work dress. She realized she should have gone home and changed for the occasion, but if she left now, she might miss it. Plus, she’d have a seven-year-old boy in tow.
“Yes, Finnli?”
“Can we go talk to Mr. Blair?”
Finnli pointed to a figure standing off on his own under an archway that led down to the river. “He looks lonely over there.”
Charlotte felt for Julian in spite of everything.
He had been gone for a long time, just as she had, and it could be tough to fit in again in a small village after an absence.
It wasn’t that the villagers weren’t friendly, but people tended to get set into their ways, into their routines of who they spoke to and spent time with.
She’d managed to reintegrate herself with frequent appearances down at the inn, but she hadn’t seen Julian try the same approach.
In fact, she hadn’t seen him outside of his shop at all.
That wasn’t altogether surprising. He’d have to be working long hours in the back after closing to keep up with the demands their competition had brought. But still, Charlotte felt sad to see him on his own.
But just as she’d decided to go over and speak to him, Keir took the stage.
“We’ll go once it’s over,” she whispered to Finnli as the crowd quieted down.
“Welcome to the first annual lighting of the Solstice tree here in Herot’s Hollow,” said Keir.
“I’m Dr. Keir Ainsley, the Marquess of Caernock, and I welcome you all to our village.
I hope you’ll stay and enjoy the Solstice festivities.
Now allow me to introduce our most honored guest, his royal highness, Prince Idris of Loegria and Wilderise! ”
Keir bowed to Prince Idris. Charlotte tried to reconcile the man before her, the dragon prince of Loegria, an imposing, devastatingly handsome man in the finest suit she’d ever seen, with the stories Keir had told her of what a ridiculous buffoon he could be.
“Thank you, thank you,” said Idris, waving to the crowd as they applauded with that closed hand wave the royals always preferred.
This was meant to be her brother’s best man?
“As you know, my father King Derkomai has a great interest in developing Wilderise and bringing this magnificent land into the modern age.”
“Gods save the king!” someone shouted in the crowd.