Night Market Magic (Regency Tales of Love and Magic Book 2) by Deb Marlowe

Author:Deb Marlowe [Marlowe, Deb]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-09-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 5

Edwina Cope was enchanted with Clio’s work, of course. Joss feared he was quickly becoming enchanted with the girl herself. Excitement heated the space between them. It was as if they were generating a new aura—one of hope and desire and possibility.

But he could not explore those possibilities. Not yet. There were questions that needed answers, still. He just wasn’t sure about how to go about getting them.

Perhaps she was right, and she would learn something if she held the bauble. They would persevere, then. And it couldn’t hurt to get her talking. After they had taken their basket and bid Edwina farewell, they set out—and he regarded her with interest.

“You asked about the magical oddities I’ve seen, but I would wager that you’ve seen some amazing things, traveling with the Night Market all of these years.”

“Amazing things, yes. The folk who travel with us are immensely talented and creative.” She lifted a shoulder. “But yes, we’ve seen some odd things, too.”

“Do tell.”

She cast a glance in his direction. “You mentioned your mermaid amulet. Have you ever seen one?”

“No.” He was instantly intrigued. “You have?”

“Yes. We have many applicants, magical folk who wish to become a part of the market. One was a man who had a mermaid trapped in a tank. He wanted to charge admission for people to see her.”

“Oh, no.”

“It was terrible. He was a crude and cruel man. The poor mermaid was more than half dead with heartbreak and longing for the sea. I refused him, of course, but I offered to purchase her—at a price he should not have been able to resist.”

“But he did?”

“He did. He had dreams of finding more creatures and creating a traveling show of his own. He didn’t want to give up the idea.”

“What did you do?”

“I tried to persuade him. He became . . . obnoxious.” She flushed a little. “So I turned him into a merman.”

Joss gaped. “You didn’t!”

“I did. I know I shouldn’t have, but he was so exasperating. I let him flop about a bit on the floor while I crafted a copy of his tank. Then I dumped him in and waited.”

“How long?”

“It took three days until he agreed to release her to me. I transformed him back, gave him half the price I had offered before and banished him from ever entering the Night Market again.”

“What of the poor mermaid?”

“Fortunately, the Market understood. We ended up in Penzance the next morning, and we were able to set her free.”

Joss nodded slowly. “That is no small thing. The general wisdom is that merfolk long remember such kindness.”

“Well, I hope I will never have to put the theory to the test.”

“So now I must add a touch of ruthlessness to the list of your fine qualities. I admit, I respect that.”

She made a face. “I wish everyone felt the same. It created quite a furor. I’m afraid I frightened a few of the vendors.”

“It’s a massively impressive bit of magic. Not many could have pulled it off.

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