It took him a moment to understand the boy’s meaning. And then he was the one crying, ‘No! No!’ He had no interest in buying the girl in any capacity. Instead, he gestured to the same pile of cinnamon and offered a price. A good ten percent less than what the boy had offered.
The boy shook his head. ‘No! No!’
The same was echoed by the girl as she shook her head.
He nodded. ‘Very well.’ He smiled and bowed to her. Personally, he hated it when girls were shoved into the corner like a sack of meal. At least he could give her some respect. Then he headed for the door. ‘Come along. Maybe someone across the street.’
That was when panic flashed across the boy’s face. Clearly, Lucy had been right. Losing the first sale of the day was a bad thing for him. Suddenly, he shoved the girl forwards.
‘Sir! Sir!’ he cried. ‘We talk! We talk!’ But what he meant was, negotiate with her. Walk out on her. Then the girl would have a bad day, not him.
Cedric rocked back on his heels. He looked at the girl and at Miss Richards, and he pointed at them both. ‘You two. Talk.’
Both girls stared at him, shock in their expressions. He didn’t care. He folded his arms and waited, and then the two females squared off. Now the true bargaining began and both of them enjoyed every second of it. Indeed, it was a glorious thing to watch as the boy was sidelined, and the two girls began an animated discussion.
And though both made a show of being angry at times, he saw the sparkle in their eyes and the way their gestures took on more energy, more joy. Such a pleasure to see.
In the end, a bargain was struck. Several bargains for cinnamon, pepper and even a little salt. All of it was wrapped in the cheap muslin then packed in a pair of crates. They bought so much that everyone took a turn carrying as they made it back to the boat. And Cedric had the pleasure of seeing Miss Richards in her element.
She warned them as they left the shop to be wary. She even counseled him to act angry as they stomped out of the store, as if they were unhappy with what happened inside. And then they made their way quickly back to the boat.
Once safely aboard, he turned to see her face. Her grin amused him. He’d expected her to be exhausted. He certainly felt drained, and all he’d done was watch her. She, on the other hand, was so happy she practically skipped.
And then, she turned to him, a smile stretched across her face. ‘Thank you,’ she said, her voice brimming with happiness. ‘Thank you for a wonderful day.’
‘Of cou—’
‘She was happy. You made her so happy.’
‘Who?’
‘Priya. The girl. She never gets to bargain, and she’s good at it.’
‘Good?’
Miss Richards laughed. ‘Not as good as me, but good. And you gave her that.’ She squeezed his arm. ‘Thank you.’ Then she laughed as the sun topped the buildings to the east. Indeed, she laughed with such giddiness that his heart tumbled straight into love.