Page 13 of Bride in Blue
“I’m Maximillian Blue. What can I do for you today, miss?”
“Stockton. Cassandra Stockton.” She stuck out her hand but let it drop as he glanced at her dirty palm in distain. Cassie looked the store. “You can call me Cassie.”
“I won’t be calling you anything unless you tell me why you are here.” Max took as step forward. Cassie took a step back, walking into a display of dress trousers that were sitting on a table.
“Oh my,” she said, looking at the dust that had transferred from her skirt to the new pants. “I am so sorry. Let me clean those off.” Cassie grabbed the first pair and started brushing the dust off with such force. When she looked at the pants, she had managed to transfer more of her dust, streaking the fabric.
Maximillian Blue took the pants from her. “That is enough. I have a brush I can use to remove the dirt. Please don’t touch anything else.”
“Uhm,” Cassie started, twisting her hands.
“Now Miss Stockton, why don’t you tell me why you are here.” His voice was gentle. Almost soothing. Although she could hear the annoyance in the tone, there was something rather calming about the way he was talking to her.
Suddenly she heard a light voice. Almost like a whisper.Tell him.
She took a deep breath and blurted out the words. “I was told there might be employment here.”
Max looked at the little sprite in front of him from head to toe. He was a man that appreciated a fine figure, and the figure of the woman in front of him was very fine indeed. In fact, she was exquisite.
She probably reached halfway up his chest. He wasn’t a tall man, but he wasn’t overly short either. This woman was very petite with curves in all the right places.
Her light brown hair was falling from whatever was holding it in place on top of her head. A single ringlet reached down to her shoulder. She had a pair of eyes that a man could get lost in. Beautiful eyes the color of hazelnuts and honey.
She had a pale complexion, or at least Max thought she did underneath the dirt streaked on her face. Her nose was covered as well, but he could see a few freckles scattered across her cheeks.
Her lips were kissable despite the dirt, and when she slightly parted them, Maxfelt a flutter in his stomach that he commanded to go away.
Her dress was covered in the same dirt. Her skirt appearing a brown instead of the dark cream he recognized it to be.
Her hands still clenched her skirt afraid to let go. Max looked at the pair of pants in his hands and sighed. He would brush them out before he left tonight. It wouldn’t do to rush in the morning.
“I’m afraid I don’t need anyone at this time. I’m sorry to waste your time.”
The young woman looked disappointed. Cassie looked at him and blurted, “But Mrs. Pennyworth said…”
“Mrs. Pennyworth?” Max interrupted. “Do you know Mrs. Pennyworth?”
The young woman looked around the room, glancing left and right. “Let’s just say she is a friend.”
“A friend. Hmmm,” Max said thoughtfully. “I don’t know of anything available. And you certainly do look like you need work. And a bath,” he added as an afterthought.
“I just arrived in town. I’ve been travelling for the past week.”
“Well I suppose that explains the dust,” he said. “I suppose I can inquire to the other shops tomorrow morning. Where are you staying?”
“Can you?” Cassie clapped her hands together, a small cloud of dust appearing in the air. “I don’t know where we’re staying yet.”
“Try Mrs. Franklin at the boarding house. Two blocks up.” Cassie clapped her hands once more, the cloud of dust causing her to cough. “If you don’t mind,” Max said. “Why don’t you show your excitement outside?”
“Oh, I am sorry,” she said, turning, covering her mouth. Her skirt swiped up against a long evening jacket on display. The light brown dust stark against the dark fabric. “Oh, I am sorry,” she repeated. Reaching out to steady the wire mannequin.
The mannequin teetered for a moment before crashing to the ground. Max groaned. “Is there anything that you don’t destroy?”
Cassie looked at him, her eyes seeming glossy as tears threatened to appear. “I’ll just go,” she said, turning to head out the door.
Max felt terrible. He stepped out of the door to call to her, but she was running halfway up the road and wouldn’t hear him.
Suddenly, he realized she had headed in the wrong direction. The boarding house was the other way.
