“Of course, professor.”
“As you know, we’ve got a number of scholars and professionals coming in from all around the world to deliver papers. There is one gentleman, however, I think might share your interests. Luc Beaumont is a scholar from the Provence area. He is a chemist, of course, but his main business is—”
“Luc Beaumont? The perfumer? From the Beaumont brand?” I asked, unable to control my excitement.
The professor smiled. “You’ve already heard of the Beaumont family. I had assumed so.”
I smiled. “I…I studied all the French perfumers. I was hoping, one day, to study abroad in France at a perfumery.”
“Yes, I remember reading that in your reflection essay. Seemed serendipitous, I thought. Now, would you be willing to meet Luc Beaumont? He’ll arrive in Chancellor tomorrow. The college has lodged him at Lavender Fields Bed and Breakfast. In your guise as both a student and a Chancellor notable, would you be willing to show him around? The college is rather keen on impressing him. The Beaumont family would certainly prove excellent benefactors to our college. And it was President White who suggested I ask your help.”
Caught. Definitely no way to say no now, not that I would anyway. “Of course, professor. Tell President White I’m happy to help.”
Professor Wallace nodded. “Good, good. Here is his information,” he said, handing a paper to me. “I’ll let him know to expect you.”
“Of course.” This was a golden opportunity. Monsieur Beaumont was a preeminent perfumer. His family had been in the business of crafting fragrances for hundreds of years. And he had several apprenticeship programs.
“Very well, very well. Thank you, Viola. Oh, and well done on your research paper. Your analysis of bee pheromones was very well researched.”
“Thank you,” I said, smiling. “I’ll check in with Monsieur Beaumont tomorrow. Thank you, and President White, for the opportunity.”
He nodded then turned back to packing up his bag.
Clutching the paper, I walked out of the classroom. Well, my Hunter name had put me under the spotlight once more, but I could hardly be angry. More than anything, I wanted to study perfumery in France. Meeting Monsieur Beaumont and charming the pants off him was just the chance I needed—though it wouldn’t have to go as far as actually pants off. Luc Beaumont was probably my father’s age. What I was really going to need was the hospitality of a wine heiress mixed with the charm of a Disney princess.
I pulled out my phone, turning the volume back on since I’d set it on silent for the duration of the class. When I did, however, I saw I had a text from Alice.
Come to the deli when you have a chance?
Just out of class. You okay?
No. Can you come?
Yep. On it like a bonnet, I replied back then hurried out of the chemistry building and across the campus green. It was a beautiful spring day. The wind blowing off Lake Erie was crisp and fresh. The air smelled sweet. I could smell daffodils and hyacinths in the air. Lovely. I stuffed the paper Professor Wallace had given me into my bag and walked toward town, which sat at the bottom of the hill along the lakeshore. From this viewpoint, I could see all of Chancellor, including Falling Waters, the restaurant my family owned. I had enough time to stop by Alice’s deli before I needed to get ready for work and the evening dinner rush. I sighed. I loved Chancellor, but I was ready to do what I wanted to do. No doubt I would miss it here when I went to Provence for an internship at Beaumont perfumery.
Chapter 3: Rayne
The engine rods in my old truck knocked a few times after I switched off the ignition. I hopped out and grabbed the boxes I’d stored in the back. Heaving up the box of goods, I walked into The Curiosity Curio. The little shop sat along a refurbished alleyway in which one could also find a bookstore, a smoke shop, an imported foods store, and a small French restaurant. I pushed open the door to the small antique stop and was instantly met with the strong scents of old books, polished wood, and other interesting, aged aromas.
Tess, the shop owner, looked up from the jewelry cabinet where she’d been working. “Hi, Rayne,” she said in her quiet voice.
I noticed she had four pieces of old jewelry set out on the cabinet. Like many of the items in the shop, something struck me as off about those four pieces. They had an odd shadow to them, much like the antique store owner. Being a faerie living in the human world afforded me a sense of sight most humans didn’t share. I was able to notice all sorts of otherworldly touches, most of which escaped human notice. And in Chancellor, well, if regular people knew just how different the little college town actually was, they’d be surprised. All those witch and fairy tales that made up the town’s folklore were more than just legend. But who was I to tell them what they couldn’t see? And besides, there were more things that went bump in the night in Chancellor than even I understood. In some cases, I could sense something was different, but I never knew just what. Such was the case with Tess and her little antique shop.
“Just restocking my booth,” I said, glancing down at the jars of honey, candles, and bottles of body lotions. The Curiosity Curio was, in fact, a co-op of curiosities. While most of the booths in the shop offered antiques, there was also a section for local goods like jams, fishing flies, and the local beekeeper’s wares.
Tess smiled, the small gesture making her petite face, framed by a mop of dark hair, light up. “Almost out of the honey-carrot body butter.”
“Brought some. Back in a few,” I said then went toward the back. I set out my goods, restocking the shelves. My honeys were selling well, and tourist season in Chancellor would kick into full swing soon. No sooner did the students leave than the antiquers and other connoisseurs of quaintness would start coming into town. But at the moment, the upcoming Cherry Blossom Ball would draw many visitors to Chancellor. The ball, which was the highlight of the sister city event, would bring dozens of well-to-do families to Chancellor, all of whom loved to purchase curious things.
After I’d unloaded my wares, I stopped by Pat’s chocolate booth and picked up a box of sea-salt caramel dark chocolates shaped like mermaids then walked to the front where Tess was waiting.
The girl smiled then set a box on the counter. “Finally got your box lot from the auction packaged up. The hive tools you wanted are on the top. There were some other interesting items in there as well. Go through them when you have a chance,” she said, sliding a cardboard box toward me.
The week previous I’d spotted some antique honey making tools at an auction but had to buy a whole box of knickknacks to get them. “Thanks, Tess,” I said, then set the box on the floor. “Grabbed some chocolates,” I said, setting them on the counter. “Do you want cash or—”
“I can take it out of your commissions, if you like.”
I nodded. “Thanks.”
“Of course,” she said then motioned to the box once more. “Don’t forget to look through the box. Never know what you’ll find.”
This time, I raised an eyebrow at her. Tess was different. There was an unusual aura about her, and she seemed almost immune to the faerie twinkle in my eyes. Today, something more was going on, but I wasn’t sure what.
She cocked a funny smile at me. “See you later,” she said, then turned from the counter and went back to sorting vintage pins.