Chapter 1

“I’m terribly sorry. These eyes of mine deserve a good slap.”

I hurried to apologize.

The young lady was sharper than I had expected. She said quietly that it was quite all right, then asked, as if in passing,

“Does he speak of his cousin often? What made you mistake me for her?”

A cold sweat sprang up along my back.

I wanted to tell her the truth, but not now.

With that great lord still planted there, how could I dare say whatever I pleased?

Thinking quickly, I smiled. “Oh, nothing of the sort. You and his lordship make such a perfect match. There’s a certain likeness in your bearing, so I mistook you for brother and sister.”

Then I added admiringly, “Now I see it’s the resemblance of a well-matched couple.”

The heir subtly moved between his fiancée and me. His voice was stern.

“Qingyan and I are not yet married. Joking like that harms her reputation.”

Groaning inwardly, I gave my own mouth a light slap.

“And this wretched mouth deserves one too.”

“I’m only an ordinary shopwoman with no understanding of proper manners. Please don’t take offense, miss.”

The young lady he had called Qingyan said nothing more. He turned, took her hand, and headed straight upstairs.

“All the best pieces are up there. I’ll help you choose. Since it’s for your mother’s birthday, we must find her the finest.”

I knew perfectly well he was keeping me away from her so that further conversation wouldn’t give him away.

Taking the hint, I stayed where I was instead of following.

Before long, they came down side by side.

My young shopgirl followed, carrying a complete set of hair ornaments made with pearls from the southern seas: the treasure of my shop.

There was a softer smile on Qingyan’s face than when she had arrived.

I took the opportunity to praise his choice.

“An excellent eye, my lord. It took no end of trouble to acquire this set from a merchant. Such pearls are precious. A pearl diver might come back with only a handful after a whole dive. Gathering enough for a set like this is no easy feat. You could search the market and still find none at any price.”

He smiled, looking faintly pleased with himself.

“Very well. Wrap it up.”

I gave the shopgirl a look, signaling her to fetch one of our expensive brocade boxes.

While she packed the set, I bent to take a jade bangle with a good translucent luster from the display case.

“As always, a little gift with your purchase. This set is quite expensive, and you’re a regular customer, my lord, so today I’ll include a fine bangle.”

Both of them paused.

Qingyan looked puzzled. “A gift?”

He glared at me as though he wanted to flay me alive and pull me limb from limb.

But when he met Qingyan’s gaze, he became a polished gentleman again and explained gently,

“The owner knows how to do business. Buy one, get one free. I often used to come here to choose gifts for you, and I gave the extras to the girls in the household.”

Qingyan was silent for a moment before she chided him softly.

“How can you give free trinkets to young ladies of a marquis’s household? You’re rather too harsh for its heir. In future, buy them proper jewelry and give the extras to the maids. Put it on my account.”

Embarrassment flickered in his eyes, though he forced himself to smile.

“How could I let you pay, Qingyan? Don’t worry. I’ll do as you say from now on.”

The pearl set was ready by then. He paid at once and took his fiancée away without a backward glance.

The shopgirl blinked after him, tilting her head.

“Mistress, his lordship didn’t look very happy. Are we going to lose him as a customer?”

I couldn’t help laughing.

“Don’t worry. If we lose him, someone more generous will come along.”

If even the shopgirl could sense the change in his mood, how could someone as perceptive as Qingyan have missed it?

I was certain I would see her again before long.