Chapter 11.
The River Front market on North Peters Street was world famous and Beau was sure his cousin's visitors were going to be impressed by the mixture of old and new. Of food, wine, music and good company, he was also sure they would find a trinket or two to take home to loved ones. He parked in the big lot, and linking arms with Kristy led the way toward the historic market. "First the Flea Market, you will not believe what they sell!" he boasted.
Sarah was fascinated by the verity of shops and the vitality of the open atmosphere of the stalls in just the Flea Market. She lingered in a stall that was selling figurines carved in wood and local stone. Some of the images were oddly familiar. The one that had caught her attention was a little creature with bugged out eyes. Sarah lifted it off the shelf and giggled, "Well look at you," she said aloud to the image of one of the goblins of the Labyrinth in her hand. "Toby would just love you!" She motioned the woman behind the stall over. "How much for this little darlin'?"
--
Jolene Norichace was sorting through some dried herbs in the stall of the Herbalist at the Flea Market. Carefully she lined her basket with the leaves that were up to her exacting standards. "Have the essential oils come in," she asked the owner of the stall.
"No, miss," came the restrained reply.
"Pity," she said handing the basket to the owner to be tallied up.
Gyles Norichace had been standing by the entrance to the little niche of a stall. He left the task of picking herbs to his sister. He was bored, and distracted, his mind was not on herbs. Just as he thought he'd die of boredom he spotted the raven haired girl entering the Peters Street entrance of the French Market. He recognized the trio instantly, and their escort. He watched as the one who interested him was drawn to the carvings. Once more he began to ponder on her.
"What has your attention," Jolene asked when she exited the niche.
"Quail," Gyles purred, before he indicated where Sarah stood.
"Pretty little bird," purred his sister, "A fine sacrifice indeed."
"It's time I became acquainted with the little fool," the young man looked at his sister. "Go do your candle shopping… I'm going to put myself in her path…"
"Be careful, frère," Jolene cautioned as she passed by him on her way to the candle stall.
'What fun is careful,' he thought to himself as he moved stealthily toward the place where Sarah stood separated for the moment from her companions. He pretended to be looking at some carvings himself, but it was Sarah he was observing.
Lizzie was haggling with a seller of little mock voodoo dolls, both enjoying the exercise in quibbling and negotiating a price they could both agree on. Kristy was laughing under her hand as she watched. Even Beau was amused by the performance of the Northern blonde and the Cajun she was dueling with. She had the cagy old man worn down and got a price she was willing to pay. Both seemed satisfied, and Lizzie wore a victorious smile as she handed her money over to the man and accepted the bundled dolls.
Kristy giggled, "I've never seen anyone go head to head with Black-powder Pere like that!"
"I'd say old Pere enjoyed that," Beau commented as he watched the girl hug her prized bundle.
"That was more fun than an open market in Marrakesh," Lizzie boasted proudly. "At least this time I could understand what my opponent was saying… mostly."
"Marrakesh," Beau asked surprised by the girl once more.
"Daddy took us there the year I graduated high school," Lizzie explained easily. "He was importing rugs and silks for one of his holdings, and thought it would be an educational vacation."
"Was it," Beau asked the girl quietly as Kristy busied herself with s display of beads.
"Very," Lizzie answered, now more at ease and less self-conscious in the presence of the charismatic young Creole, "Just as this trip is." She looked past the man, saw Kristy and then became concerned. "Where's Sarah?"
Beau looked about and seeing the ravened haired girl at the carvings he called out to her. "Sarah," he called again. "Sarah, come on, there's more shops to see!" He waved at her when she looked his direction.
"I'll be there in a moment," she promised.
'Sarah,' Gyles thought to himself, still keeping a safe distance from the young lady. He watched cagily as Sarah paid for the ugly little statue that had her interest. Gyles knew there was no accounting for the taste of stupid tourists. His timing had to be exact; he inched his way over to where he placed himself in her direct path. When the girl turned she slammed right into him, dropping her bundle and staggering back. "Excuse-moi," he said in his most captivating manner. "I'm so very sorry…" he bent down to pick up the bundle. "I hope you didn't break the purchase…"
Sarah, slightly surprised, and more than a little shook up, found it was hard to speak. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you there…"
Gyles extended the hand holding her bundle, "My mistake entirely," he assured her in a courtly manner. "Accept my apology."
Sarah looked at the wrapped bundle he was returning to her. "Oh," she gasped. "I hope it didn't break," She began to open the bundle and breathed a sigh of relieve, "Its fine." Meticulously she rewrapped the figurine. "I'd have been devastated if it had broken…"
"A memento of your visit," he asked making small talk, "I cannot help but notice your accent."
Sarah giggled, "You're the one with an accent," she teased. "No, he's a gift for my little brother." She tucked the bundle into her shoulder bag. "He likes unusual objects and strange little statues."
"Indeed," Gyles looked at the carvings still on the stalls shelves. "Well this is the place to find that," he extended a hand to her, "Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Gyles Norichace."
"Sarah," she looked at the hand and found she really didn't want to accept it. "Sarah Williams," she said hesitantly.
"Sarah!" Beau called her once more.
Finding it a good excuse she backed away from the handsome stranger. "That's my host calling…. Gotta go." She dashed off having never taken the hand offered.
"Run quail, run…" Gyles mused before turning to head toward the candle stall.
"I'm sorry Beau," Sarah said breathlessly as she rushed to rejoin her companions.
"Bebe," he took her chin into his hand, "I'm responsible for you… can you image what Maman would say if I should up with only two girls?" he teased good-naturedly. "You wouldn't wish to subject me to that now would you?"
Sarah laughed effortlessly and smiled at the man, "No… I'm sorry." She explained. "I ran into someone at the carving stall, and I thought I had broken my purchase." She pulled the bundle out and unwrapped it. "Toby is going to love this," she gushed.
"Toby?" Beau asked lightly.
"Sarah's little brother," Lizzie supplied the answer. "You know, I think we should all bring something back for him." She looked at Beau who was still holding Sarah's chin. "He was very put out with us."
"Didn't understand why he couldn't join us," Kristy chipped in as she looked at the figurine that Sarah had handed to her. .
Beau released Sarah's chin, "How old is the lad?"
"He's five," Sarah said taking her wallet out to show off a picture she always carried with her. "And a little living doll."
Beau was startled by the image he was seeing. "He's enchanting," he said quietly. "You must be a very devoted sister."
Sarah tucked her wallet back into the shoulder bag, "Sometimes," she sighed remember a time she was less than devoted and what it had cost. "Not always." A slightly wishful expression crossed her lovely face. "He was very angry he couldn't come with us, and I just want to make it up to him."
The carving was now in Lizzie's hands, "You know, I'll bet there are a few more of these at that carving stall… and if we got Toby a whole set, he's bound to be more reasonable."
"Yes," Kristy said excitedly. "And we'll get him so beads and an alligator's tooth!"
"Carvings first," Beau said directing them back to the stall Sarah had been to. "You said you ran into someone?"
"Yes, a young man… Gyles…something or other…" Sarah was distracted thinking of getting more carvings for Toby. "Gyles is a French name, isn't it?"
"What did this man look like," Beau questioned in as casual a manner as he could. He didn't wish to upset the girls as they were very happy in their hunting of gifts for the little boy. "Do you see him?" Beau was feeling strangely alarmed.
Sarah looked about, "No, I don't see him," she shrugged. "He must have moved on." She was now looking at the figurines and putting aside the ones she felt might go with the one she'd already purchased. "He's just some guy, Beau… you know the type. Tall dark and handsome and very Creole…" she didn't seem impressed. "I think he purposely bumped into me."
Beau was amused suddenly that Sarah was so unaffected. "Not your type, Bebe?"
"Nope," Sarah said placing more items on the counter for the clerk. "Not at all…in fact, he kind of gave me the creeps."
"Indeed," Beau mused lightly as he too placed something on the counter for Toby. "You think your brother would like this?"
"Oh, Beau," Sarah sighed emoting sentimentally. "You don't have to… but yes, that's exactly the kind of thing he'd love." She looked at the caving of a gator that Beau had picked out.
"My contribution, Char," he said giving her a quick hug.
"Thank you Beau…" she turned her attentions to the items she was purchasing and didn't see the man turn to look about.
"Ladies, we've other stalls to visit," Beau said gently. "Make your purchases, and let's go."
"Beau can we go to the pralines shop, I know your mother would love some," Kristy asked quickly as she paid for the figurine she was getting for Toby. She smiled at her roommates, "You've never tasted anything as good as a Creole praline." She bragged happily.
Beau nodded, distractedly, still trying to figure out whom this Gyles was, and what his interest in Sarah could be. The little hair on the back of his neck was tingling and he sensed danger. "The praline shop it is," he said as he ushered the girls down to the other end of the French Market.
--
Jolene read the smile on her brother's face as he approached. "Success," she asked with pursed lips.
"Indeed," he chuckled. "I've made contact with the little quail."
"You must have one of your hounds flush her out for us," his sister suggested.
"My thoughts exactly," he purred.
--
Artemis was leafing through some stationary supplies, his face joyfully expressing his pleasure. "I say, there is nothing as awe-inspiring to a scribe as vellum and leather," he had picked out several leather bound journals and a stack of stationary.
Jareth watched patiently as his Scholar shopped for personal supplies. "I'm sure," he mused cheerfully. He was leaning on his walking stick, and seemed at ease and contented to just watch. "You missed a stack over there in the corner," he told the Scholar.
"Did I," Artemis looked where the King was pointing.
"And they have real quills here as well," Jareth boasted.
"Oh," Artemis placed a hand to his heart, "You know my weaknesses!" He rushed over to the corner.
Jareth didn't answer, he was distracted by a scent that was now in the air, 'Sarah,' he thought to himself. He looked out of the shop in time to see the girl moving past the shop with her friends and Beau. Jareth knew that Artemis was going to be occupied in the engaging task of finding supplies, and that he would not miss the King for a few brief moments. Casually he strolled out to the passage between the shops and stalls and called up a slight breeze.
--
Sarah halted and gasping drew in air, "Do you smell that," she asked without thinking, "That strange spicy smell?"
Beau knew without looking, and was amused. "Perhaps it's the candle shop, or the Herbalist," he suggested nonchalantly.
"What smell," Kristy asked and Lizzie also looked perplexed that she didn't smell anything unusual.
Self conscious and feeling like she was overly exposed, Sarah tried to make light of her outburst, "Beau must be right, it's only one of the shops."
Knowing unseen stormy eyes were watching, Beau placed a comforting arm about Sarah. "There are lots of strange and unusual scents here, Char…This is N`Orleans." He was not sure but he thought he heard a fist clenching and knuckles popping. Beau smiled coyly at Sarah, "Bebe, would that brother of yours like some Cajun fudge?"
--
Returning to the stationary store, Jareth tapped his walking stick impatiently. "Birddog," he uttered under his breath huffily.
"What was that," Artemis asked looking up from the pile he was now building to purchase.
"Nothing," huffed the King.
Shrugging, the Scholar asked distractedly. "How are we going to get this back home?"
Jareth motioned the clerk over, "When he's finished, put the purchase on my account and send it all over to the Le Petit Bruyere plantation," he instructed.
The gentleman who was waiting on them bowed respectfully; "Of course, Monsieur Pommeroi, always a pleasure to do business with you."
Jareth looked over at the Scholar, "Are you finished?" His voice alerted Artemis of his changed mood.
"I suppose I am," Artemis said pulling himself free of his passion. "This will do nicely," he informed the man who was tallying up the account. "Thank you for your time."
"Always a pleasure," he assured the men before they walked out of the shop.
Artemis brushed off his light colored suit coat, "I apologies," he whispered to the King, "I lose track of time when I'm surrounded by writing implements."
Strolling leisurely Jareth gave the man a less irritated look, "I cannot blame you," he said more evenly. "I understand a man and his passions." He thought about the girl who had felt his presence only moments ago.
"You've something on your mind, sir?" Artemis questioned.
"Someone," corrected Jareth as they passed the stall where a dark haired girl was purchasing a confectionary box for a boy, miles away. "Someone," he mused.
--
Sarah shivered suddenly, and Kristy looked at her oddly, "Sarah are you cold?"
"No," she assured the concerned girl. "I think my blood sugar just dropped."
"With all this chocolate and fudge about I don't doubt it," Beau said taking a sample off a tray, "Here, try this," he extended his hand toward Sarah.
"Thanks," she said opening her mouth to accept the offered morsel. The fudge melted into a flood of sugary heavenly rush down her throat. "Oh Gods, that's sinful." She emoted.
"Me next," Kristy said turning to her cousin.
"Of course," he placed a cube in her mouth and then looked at Lizzie, "Now you," he purred as he slipped the last sample into Lizzie's mouth. "Oh I'm the most envied man in the Market today," he crowed, "Three beautiful girls, and chocolates," he teased.
Sarah laughed merrily, not knowing that someone exiting the market heard and cringed.