Black Curiosities
Strange Affections

"There's still no answer as to why my magic is telling me to return to Britain, to come here to Middleton," Cassie thought to herself as time passed. "But it is turning out to be a very delightful town, with many problems in need of being solved."

As if on cue, the bell jingled, and a woman with shoulder-length blond hair stepped in. She glanced around, her blue eyes taking everything in the shop, before heading over to Cassie, smiling. "This is definitely the quaint little shop, isn't it?"

"It is," Cassie said, her head tilting as she attempted to get a read on the woman, only to find the reading she got to be rather amusing, particularly with what her magic told her to recommend to the woman.

The woman held out her hand, smiling brightly, her entire persona bright sunshine. "Stephanie Borden. I own the local bistro."

"Oh," Cassie said, taking her hand and shaking it. "Jake Granger brought me lunch from there the other day."

"So I heard," Stephanie said, continuing to smirk. She continued to glance around, taking in the entire shop. "I've also heard you helped Martha Tinsdale with her sleep problem."

"I just suggested a simple tea that remedied the situation," Cassie said.

"And I've heard, Ms. Nightingale," Stephanie said.

"You can call me Cassie."

"And you can call me Stephanie," the other woman said, grinning ear to ear. "I heard you also helped Jake's father-in-law with his back pain."

"Yes. George had been in, although a few days is a bit early to see if the essential oil I suggested is working," Cassie said.

"Yes," Stephanie said. "But you seem to have this magic about you that you know exactly what people need. Because they haven't been the only ones, the few others who've stopped by your small shop have been quite pleased."

Cassie smiled. "I take it you're in need of something?"

"Yes, well," Stephanie looked around, continuing to take in the charm of the small shop. "I make frequent visits to the dentist's office."

Cassie continued smiling. "How often?"

"Eh," Stephanie lifted her hand, wobbling it back and forth. "Maybe once a week?"

Cassie nodded her head. "Well, the thing is, I don't have any love potions which will make a man madly in love with his wife fall in love with someone else."

Which was rather blunt and to the point, resulting in Stephanie's eyes blinking and her mouth opening, and yet Cassie's magic told her that saying that was the right thing to say.

Particularly when she followed up, "And if they did exist, I don't think they'd be legal."

Which, unknown to Stephanie, was quite true. Stephanie's lips pushed together. "Alright. How did you know?"

"Know about your crush on Mr. Granger?"

"It's actually Dr. Granger," Stephanie said, sighing and leaning into the counter, all dreamy-eyed.

"Oh? I thought a dentist only needs a bachelor's degree here in Britain?"

"Yes. Two bachelor-level degrees with first-class honors, a master-level degree with distinction, and a doctorate. And he's handsome as well," Stephanie said. "Black hair, gray eyes, looks at least ten years younger than he actually is, but I'd love to know his secret."

"Healthy eating?" Cassie suggested.

Stephanie let out a laugh and stood up straight. "You still haven't told me how you knew? That the reasons for my weekly visits were because of Dr. Granger?"

"Martha Tinsdale might have said something about certain ladies wishing he wasn't married yet," Cassie said.

Stephanie let an eyebrow rise. "That had to be a really bizarre introduction to Middleton's local dentist."

"Dentists," Cassie said, "As I hear his wife is one as well. Isn't she bothered by all of this?"

"Oh, no," Stephanie said. "She finds it amusing." The blond leaned into the counter then. "Truth is, Sebastian is quite oblivious to it all, which just makes him even more attractive to the opposite sex if you know what you mean."

Cassie frowned, tilting her head and looking up at the ceiling. "I don't know. You did describe him as having dark hair and gray eyes."

"Oh?" Stephanie smirked. "Not your type."

"More of reminded of someone," Cassie said, laughing. "The past is the past, though. No need to look back on it if we don't have to."

"That's an interesting train of thought," Stephanie said. "But his wife honestly doesn't mind if you want to check him out."

Cassie pushed her lips together. "But is that fair to him? I mean, I know you said he's oblivious to it all but is it really fair to him that he doesn't know quite a few of the women in town have a thing for him?"

Stephanie straightened up. "You know, I'd not thought of it. Sebastian is a sweetheart." And then a grin spread across her face. "Plus, he's so adorable whenever he becomes flustered."

Cassie raised one of her eyebrows, having not expected things to go in this direction. " Magic, I don 't think this is helping Sebastian Granger out, is it? "

"So, you're right," Stephanie said. "I should be honest with him."

Cassie's eyes blinked a couple of times. "You mean to tell him?"

"Well, I can't keep going to weekly dentist appointments forever. Plus, he frequents the bookstore next door, and I can toggle when he stops in for something to eat," Stephanie said. "You know, maybe I should convince him and his wife to start a book club. I'm sure quite a few of the ladies in town would love to join up."

"But not to read the book selected?" Cassie said, her mouth pressed into an amused smile as she shook her head in disbelief. She looked around the shop. "Since I helped you with that, is there anything else?"

"Tea," Stephanie said. "That one that boosts energy. I could use something that isn't loaded with caffeine."

"Oh. I can definitely make a suggestion," Cassie said, nodding. She headed over to her teas. "Magic, why did you have to go and create more problems." And yet, there was that gut feeling that her magic was working the way it was for a reason: it always had, for better or worse.

She also remembered her benefactor's words, " I think you 'll understand more when you open up your shop and move into Grey House. "