Chapter 12

Hannah arrived at the Grand Arcade, the largest shopping hall in Eldermere. In the carriage yard, she told her guards to wait while she bought a few things.

Inside, the hall was packed with shoppers and humming with noise.

She went first to a crystal shop, where an eager assistant walked her through every model and its enchantments. After some thought, she chose the newest one.

Her first instinct had been to pick something cheaper. But she would soon return to the Harrington family, and from then on every word and action of hers would reflect on them. They could not be seen skimping, or someone with ulterior motives would whisper that the Harringtons were too stingy to spend even a small sum.

She had understood this lesson long before. Back in the Hale house, they had looked down on her and never treated her like a human being, yet they had never shortchanged her in material things. Every dress, bag, pair of shoes and necklace she owned was from a famous maker.

It was all for the Hales' face. If the neighbors saw her in cheap clothes and decided the family's fortunes were slipping, business partners might back out, and the Hales would lose money.

Once she had chosen, Hannah bent down and carefully drew the black card from the sole of her shoe.

The clerk at the counter saw it. She stared at Hannah with open disgust, as though she had caught her doing something shameful.

Hannah handed the card over and noticed the sneer at once. The clerk said nothing aloud. She only swiped the card impatiently, pushed the receipt across to be signed, and hurried away to the next customer.

But as Hannah left the shop, she heard the clerk's hushed voice behind her.

"Did you see that? She pulled a bank card out of her shoe! Disgusting! Who hides a card in a place like that? Doesn't she care how it smells? And she's so pretty, too. How can anyone be so filthy?"

Hannah felt a flush of embarrassment. Then she remembered she was here to spend money. Why should she swallow an insult for it?

She turned around, cold and stiff-backed. "I can keep my card wherever I like. Are you saying my money smells? Then cancel the sale and refund me. I'll pay at another counter. Let's see whether every clerk in this hall gossips about customers behind their backs."

The clerk's face went red. She stood to one side, speechless.

The shop manager had seen it all and rushed over. One glance at Hannah, another at the clerk, and he understood.

Hannah set the card down in front of the girl, ready to return the goods. The manager saw it was a black card, and his expression changed at once. He didn't dare treat her lightly.

It was the highest tier of card issued by the Royal Bank of Eldermere, with no spending limit. Anyone who held one was very wealthy and very powerful, someone a mere shop employee could not afford to offend.

He put on a smile. "I'm terribly sorry, Miss. Our clerk has offended you. The fault is entirely ours. Please forgive us." Then he glared sharply at the girl.

Hannah's tone didn't soften. "Is this how you treat the customers who walk into your shop? I've learned my lesson today."

The manager nodded again and again and promised to deal with the clerk. He processed her refund himself and sent another clerk to ring up the sale again.

Through all of it, Hannah held herself with a cool, proud poise that made everyone nearby feel her presence.

"I'm sorry, Miss. I shouldn't have spoken about you that way..." The clerk bowed her head and apologized again and again, full of regret. She had never imagined one careless remark could blow up like this.

Hannah wasn't one to hold a grudge. She had only been upset because the girl was rude and fond of gossiping behind people's backs. Seeing her apologize so earnestly, she stopped pressing.

Before leaving, she said, "I don't want to make things hard for you. But I can't accept that kind of attitude. I hope you won't do it again."

She turned and walked out. Her figure slowly disappeared into the crowd.

The manager strode over and rounded on the clerk.

"Do you want to be dismissed? Do you even know what kind of card that was? How dare you gossip about a customer! That is the top-tier card of the Royal Bank. You could work here your whole life and never afford one!"

Hannah knew nothing of this. She was already heading for the second floor.

The second floor sold fine women's clothing. It was quiet and elegant, and each boutique had its own style, a mark of distinct taste.

She chose one that looked refined and stepped in to browse, hoping to find something that suited her.

Lucas had always bought her clothes, so she had rarely gone shopping herself and knew little about the different makers. But from the shopfront and the beautiful furnishings, she could tell the garments were costly. Wearing one of them to the Harrington house certainly wouldn't be a mistake.

She walked in.

The moment she entered, a shop assistant glanced at her and said impatiently, "We're not hiring."

Hannah was startled, then understood. The woman had assumed she was there to ask for work.

"I'm not here for a job," she explained.

The assistant frowned. "Then what are you here for?"

Hannah looked around at the racks. "I'd like to browse."

The assistant rolled her eyes. "You can look, but don't touch things carelessly. The clothes are expensive..."

Hannah didn't like the woman's attitude, but she let it pass. She had come to buy clothes, not to argue.

She wandered along the shelves, her eyes settling on several elegant, soft-fabric garments. Then she turned and greeted the assistant politely.

"Hello. May I try these on?"