“No, my dear, I’ve never seen this shop before, but let’s go inside,” he’d said with a cheeky look that was out of character for him. She thought he was playing with her, and she decided to go along with his little ruse, because she was sure he had some sort of surprise in mind.

When they walked into the shop, a brass bell rang overhead. It was a dim little place with a long glass case displaying the treasures within. She remembered her husband going right over to the case, not even noticing the proprietor had come out from behind a curtain. He was a happy sort of man, beaming with excitement to have customers, even if it seemed they had just interrupted his lunch. He was still holding his napkin, wiping his hands with it as he approached the display case.

“So sorry to come at your lunchtime,” said Lady Tremaine, smiling at the shopkeeper. “I am Lady Tremaine, and this is my husband, Lord Tremaine.”

“Welcome, my lady. We don’t get many lords and ladies in my little shop. It’s an honor. Are you looking for anything in particular?” he asked.

Just then her husband looked up from the case. “Good man, I’d like to see this brooch here!”

The shopkeeper rushed over to the case and took the tray with the brooch along with a number of other exquisite pieces. “My love, come here. Look at this brooch. What do you think?”

Lady Tremaine went over to the case. The brooch caught her eye immediately. “It’s a lovely brooch, my dear.”

Her husband looked up at her, meeting her eyes. “And it will look so handsome on you, my love. It’s beautiful and stately just like you.”

Lady Tremaine hadn’t seen her husband so excited in quite some time. He had been so tired and not himself that she had started to worry about his health, and she was cheered to see him in such fine spirits.

She took the brooch in her hands, almost mesmerized by its beauty and how it made her feel. She felt a tingling sensation move through her, which made her feel exhilarated, and powerful, and yet at the same time somehow very calm.

“And it has an interesting story,” said the shopkeeper. “I bought everything on this tray from a dealer who says he purchased the entire lot from a pirate, along with a book of fairy tales that is said to be written by witches.”

Lord Tremaine scoffed. “Poppycock!” he said, scandalizing his wife.

“What my husband meant to say was surely that’s just a story you tell to entice your customers, isn’t that right, darling?” asked Lady Tremaine.