Ghastly Glass Read Free Page A

good sign usually because it meant they were baking instead of getting into other kinds of trouble. Their bread is to die for, but their quasi-religion of the Brotherhood of the Sheaf is a little strange.
    “My uncle is quite well. I am here visiting him because I am opening another shop for him outside the Village.” Henry smiled at me, his big blue eyes crinkling at the corners. I love men with crinkly eyes.
    We were passing the elegant houses on Squire’s Lane, which are eclipsed only by the sight of the castle rising above Mirror Lake where the pirates live. There was loud laughter coming from Peter’s Pub, a favorite of Village residents after hours. It was Friday and there was a good crowd around.
    Lady Godiva rode by with her body suit and butt-length blond wig. I didn’t have to look closely to see that Arlene, the last Lady Godiva, had been replaced. Everything here is transitory. People come and go all the time. Even shops and restaurants change from time to time. Nothing like a real Renaissance village where the same families lived and died for generations.
    “Hail to thee, Mistress Jessica!” Alex, one of Robin Hood’s Merry Men (and a former summer love of mine), walked by us quickly. “I see you have selected a new gentleman friend.”
    I knew this was a jab at the many years I’d been coming to the Village and seemingly finding a new love interest each time. I wanted to set that rumor to rest before he spread it everywhere. “I’m working with Henry and Roger during the Halloween season. That’s it.”
    Alex laughed, nearly unsettling his forest green hat from his blond head. “Of course, good lady. Who would think otherwise? ”
    I was about to protest on my own behalf when Henry swept me down into his arms and planted his mouth on mine. It was only an instant before he set me back on my feet. All right . I said he was interesting. But not that interesting. At least not in the first twenty minutes of meeting him.
    I was about to wipe the grin from both their faces when someone behind me cleared his throat. I didn’t have to look. It was Chase, of course. He might not have been there to greet me in the first hour when I didn’t do anything but look for him. But he managed to be there for the split second I got into trouble. Why do things like this always happen to me?
    All four of us stood there as though time really had stopped, just as the ads for the Village promised. I guessed Alex and Henry were waiting to see what would happen next. It suddenly occurred to me that Henry may have been in the Village long enough to know about me and Chase. Had he seen Chase coming as I spoke to Alex and purposely tried to break us up? I didn’t want to judge him right away, but my relationship with Chase could be on the line.
    Without hesitating (any further), I hauled back and slapped Henry. His head jerked back, and he looked at me with real hurt in his eyes. “Sorry, my lady. I could not resist your tempting lips a moment longer.”
    I glared at Alex. He laughed and trotted off toward Sherwood Forest. I turned my attention back to Henry, who was still standing there. “I’ll meet you and your uncle at the Glass Gryphon shortly, sir. Please give him my regards while I take care of another matter.”
    Henry bowed, seemingly chastened, but the evil little smile on his face told me otherwise. “I will take your message to my uncle.” He nodded at Chase. “Good day to you, Bailiff.”
    When we were finally alone (except for the hundreds of visitors, wandering knaves, and a few serfs), I turned to Chase. “Hi there.”
    “Hi.” He was staring at me in an un-Chase-like way. Normally he’d be running up, throwing me in the air (not a small task since I’m six feet tall and not at all waiflike). There was no big grin on his handsome face, no big kiss coming my way.
    I couldn’t decide which course would be better. You know how sometimes when you defend yourself it makes you seem guiltier than when you