A Distant Magic by Mary Jo Putney Read Free Book Online Page A

recipient of such gratitude.
"It's the most rewarding work I've ever done."
    He inclined his head. "I shall be in the offices if you need me. The doors are locked to the public, so you will not be disturbed." He turned and headed for the emporium offices.
    Jean decided to start with a quick swing around the showroom to get an idea of what was available before she began shopping in earnest. Her resolve was continually tested as she found treasure after treasure. There were textiles, beads, and brasswork from Africa, silks and porcelain and lacquerwork from China, spices from the East, jewels from India, and much more. She would be able to buy a lifetime's worth of gifts here. Peeling off her gloves so she could feel the textures, she moved through the labyrinth of display rooms.
    In the far-left corner she found an alcove devoted to buttons. Since two women were there, she started to withdraw. The taller woman made a beckoning motion with her hand.
"M'selle, if you visited a
modiste,
would you be willing to buy
such buttons?"
    On her palm lay several buttons of different materials. One was carved green jade, another red cinnabar, others enameled with Chinese designs.
"These are wonderful!" Jean replied. "I would certainly be interested if I were
your customer."
    The woman indicated the signs showing price and origin, which sat neatly beside each dish of buttons.
"My sister says they are too dear."
    Jean saw the prices and blinked. "Dear indeed, but very
attractive. They would add distinction to any gown."
    "We have an
atelier
in Paris," the shorter sister explained.
"We come here every year to find rare goods, but our customers are of the middling sort, not wealthy. I do not wish to sink a fortune into Asian buttons." The words were clearly aimed at her sister.
    "Perhaps you could buy a sampling of different styles and your customers can order more if they wish?" Jean suggested.
"With the understanding that the set might not be precisely like your sample,
but would be the same material and general look. If you talked to Monsieur
Fontaine, I'm sure he'd be happy to supply buttons on that basis."
    The taller woman looked thoughtful. "That should work. Thank you,
m'selle."
    As the sisters debated which samples to select, Jean headed to the first quadrant of the showroom to begin serious shopping. The Parisiennes seemed to think that she was French, which pleased her. The weeks in Marseilles had improved her accent.
    In a room filled with shining brasswork from Africa and Asia, she chose a large Chinese teapot with engraved patterns as a gift for her sister-in-law. For Lady Bethany, her honorary grandmother and friend, she picked a lovely ivory carving of a rhinoceros. Lady Beth had said once that the rhinoceros was the African version of a unicorn, and she had a fondness for unicorns.
    After the sisters left with their bulging baskets, Jean had the showroom to herself. She filled one basket, set it by the door into the offices, and began to fill another basket. She was examining the area that displayed African beadwork when a man entered the showroom from the warehouse side.
    Forgetting her manners, she stared in frank appreciation at one of the handsomest men she'd ever seen. The newcomer was dressed with expensive European elegance, but his strong features and dark coloring surely came from some more exotic land. Lean and a little above average height, he moved like a man who walked in dangerous places. And wherever he walked, women would notice.
    The newcomer was so compelling that it took Jean several moments to realize that he was followed by a servant, or perhaps a slave, a black African who carried a basket for his master. The elegant gentleman examined several lengths of fabric before placing two in the basket, then moving to the next area.
    Since he was coming toward her, Jean returned her attention to the bead necklaces she had been examining. They were so lovely and varied that she wanted to buy them all.