Megan Derr [Derr - The Toymaker’s Hoard

THE
Toymaker's
HOaRd

TRICE CITY LOVERS 2

MEGAN DERR

Cadmus is content to spend his days quietly tending his shop and creating custom toys, music boxes, and automatons for his clients. It's a peaceful life, minus the occasional hostile visit from a rival who wants to know the secret behind his creations, which require no winding to work.

Then an intriguing new client, Lady Serena, blows into his shop requesting he make a gift for the man she loves but is forbidden to be with. She is followed shortly by her father, the notorious Chief of Police Harren Imperia, who ends up taking Cadmus out for coffeeand introduces him to Lord Paali, whose son is the object of Serena's affection.

As he is dragged further into their dizzying world, he finds himself facing problems he never expected: being caught between the wishes of the parents and the wants of the children, and drawn helplessly to the fierce Harren and intriguing Lord Paali

The Toymaker's Hoard

Trice City Lovers 2

By Megan Derr

Published by Megan Derr

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission of the publisher, except for the purpose of reviews.

Edited by Samantha M. Derr

Cover designed by Natasha Snow

This book is a work of fiction and all names, characters, places, and incidents are fictional or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people, places, or events is coincidental.

First Edition September 2019

Copyright 2019 by Megan Derr

Printed in the United States of America

Chapter One

Cadmus was putting the finishing touches on a music box when the silence in the shop was broken by the silvery tinkling of the bell above the shop door. That was odd. He had no appointments today. Maybe someone was lost or hadn't noticed the 'by appointment only' sign on the door. Would hardly be the first time. Setting down his tools and jeweler's loupe, he retrieved his gloves and a rag as he stepped through the curtained-off doorway that divided the front of the shop from the backrooms.

A young woman stood staring in rapt fascination at his display pieces, so enthralled with them Cadmus flushed with pleasure. Nothing was more gratifying than seeing his work so openly admired. Most of the time his clients were more reserved, trained to be so practically every moment of their lives.

She appeared to be alone, which was odd, because by her costly clothes she was nobility, and young, wealthy women seldom went anywhere without an escort. On this side of town, which was almost entirely paranormal, many of the more prejudiced humans came with bodyguards.

She was dressed in an elegant green walking dress, the bustle decorated with enough ribbons and lace to resemble a frothy silk waterfall. Her beautiful curls were barely restrained by a matching ribbon, and a handsome black and green hat was perched on her head, a matching parasol clutched in one hand.

Cadmus finished wiping his hands, then pulled on his gloves and fussed briefly with his jacket. Then he cleared his throat quietly to get her attention, and when she turned said, "May I help you, my lady?"

The woman smiled brightly, her eyes as green as her dress, skin dark brown and flawless, set off handsomely by gold and emerald jewelry. "Good afternoon, sir. I am sorry to intrude, but I did come intending to commission a piece and can certainly make an appointment for another day. I was simply so excited once I thought of the idea that I could not bear waiting to act upon it."

Cadmus chuckled and motioned her to the table on the far side of the room, then went to make a quick pot of tea. He set it on the table with a plate of biscuits from the fancy bakery at the end of the lane. "You chose a good day to come, my lady. I have no appointments today, so have plenty of time to speak with you. What is it you are seeking that had you so eager to see me immediately, Miss?"

"Imperia. Serena Imperia." She made a face when Cadmus froze. "Yes, that Imperia, I'm afraid."

"No, please, there's no afraid involved. I was simply surprised. Chief Imperia is a wonderful man; he's better to my side of the city than his peers."

"Papa has many friends amongst the paranormal set. He doesn't hold with the" she pursed her lips, "narrow-minded beliefs and behaviors of humans. Yes, I think that's the polite way to say it."

Cadmus laughed. "I sense the daughter is much like the father." He didn't add that he found Imperia, one of the most notorious figures in the city, compelling, fierce, and devastatingly beautiful. He was also a marvelous dancer.

Serena smiled. "You are Master Cadmus Tulari, the toymaker whose creations never need winding but don't rely on magic and will work forever?"

Cadmus smiled, flushing again at the praise. "Yes, that is me. Toys, music boxes, and many other clockwork deviceseven boring old clocks on occasion. And I wouldn't say forever, but they are guaranteed to work for a very long time. Some have survived two, even three generations so far."

"That is simply marvelous! But I won't ask how you do it, I know that's a secret."

"I appreciate it. So what manner of novelty do you seek, Lady Imperia?"

She caught her bottom lip between her teeth, eyes dipping to the table. "A gift, actually, for a young man I favor." She looked up, regarding him warily. "The young man in question has been engaged to another since he was a little boy. You can see where my rule-abiding father would not approve."

"The less you tell me, the better, though I do appreciate the complicated nature of your dilemma," Cadmus replied. "My job is not to judge, admonish or advise. It is only to make the commissioned novelty and deliver it to the recipient. That being said, you are hardly the first to commission a piece meant to be gifted to a forbidden sweetheart."

Her shoulders eased and her smile returned. "Oh, good. I was worried I might seem strange or forward."

Cadmus laughed. "Oh, my lady, you are a long way from forward. I've made novelties that are meant for private viewing only."

Her eyes widened, then she dissolved into giggles. "I see! That must be so interesting to do! Oh, to know who has naughty automaton in their homes!"

He smiled. "What sort of novelty would your sweetheart like? Music box? Automaton? A clock?"

"An automaton," she replied, clapping her hands and tangling her fingers together. "I saw one in Lady Betherford's parlor that had a little boy and girl picking apples, and it was absolutely charming. I was wondering if it might be possible to contrive something like that, only of a boy reading in a little library or pulling a book off a shelf or something like that."

Sparks tingled along Cadmus's neck and down his spine as the image bloomed in his mind. He could feel the pieces he needed, the final creation they would make, the warmth and beauty of it. "I can do that. It will take me a couple of weeks and will be expensive." He quickly sketched a rough approximation of the design and listed a figure, then slid the sheet of paper across the table to her.

She teared up and pulled out a handkerchief to dab at her eyes. "Master Cadmus, if it only half-resembles what you've sketched, it will be above and beyond perfect. Is it true you can build clever little secret drawers and such into them?"

Cadmus smiled faintly, not remotely surprised she knew of that little detail, despite the fact those who had them were hardly in a hurry to share the knowledge. "Yes."

"Could you do that for me? I would like to leave a note in it for the recipient. Nothing nefarious or anything, if you are worried about being caught up in something untoward."

"I do not ask such questions unless the client gives me cause. You've not given me that cause. I will begin work, and when it's partially done I'll send word so you can approve the rough. We'll fine tune any details you'd like altered, adjust the price if necessary, and then I'll complete the work. The down payment is one quarter of the price."