“It is about status. There is nothing elevating about wearing a dress stitched by a whore. Or a thief.”
Mellie thought about that, rapidly stacking up everything she had heard about London society. In the end, she made no comment. Instead, she picked up a pattern book and perused the sketches. But Eleanor, apparently, couldn’t leave it like that.
“You think I’m wrong.”
“No,” Melinda responded honestly. “I fear you may be right.”
“You do?” Clearly she’d shocked Eleanor.
“I do,” she said. “But that doesn’t mean I think it’s right. In fact…” she said as her gaze fell upon Lady Redhill’s sketchbook. The woman had set it here before rushing into the backroom. Grabbing the pencil, Mellie found a blank page and quickly wrote down an address as well as some detailed instructions. But before she did more, she looked at Eleanor.
“Do you find the duchess to be a smart woman?”
Eleanor frowned. “Of course I do. It is the only reason I bear any hope for my family name. Her problem is stubbornness, not idiocy.”
Mellie waved that aside. “What about her brother? Do you know anything of him? Can he judge a man or woman accurately?”
Eleanor took longer to decide on that, and Mellie was impatient by the time she finally spoke. “I have little knowledge of Bernard personally, but in the months that I have been guiding Their Graces, he has managed to quietly and consistently bring in money to the title.” Then she dipped her chin. “I’m not supposed to know that, and we should not be discussing money, but—”
“So you have no understanding of his character then?”
“On the contrary. I said hequietlybrought in money. Which means he is likely not only smart, but discerning. Anything else would be noisy.”
Obviously, a grave sin. But that was enough of a reference for her. So she tore off the sheet and headed for the workroom. She wasn’t surprised when Eleanor followed. The woman might be discreet, but she was still nosy.
Apparently, Tabitha had lost the argument. She stood mutinously by as the two newcomers were shown about the room. But everyone paused as Melinda entered. She crossed directly to Bernard, who stood with his arms crossed in the doorway, his eyes on the furious Tabitha. But when she approached him, his expression shifted to bland neutrality that others might mistake as ox-like placidity.
“I have a solution,” she said to the room in general. “But it’s not ideal.” Tabitha looked up eagerly, but Bernard spoke, his voice rich in its low rumble.
“No solution needed. These two are settled here.”
“Yes, I can see that,” she said with her eyes on Tabitha. “But in case these two would like another option, I could find them employment in the country. My father’s house needs a new maid who is handy with stitching. And my uncle owns a mill that could use a man with sharp cutting skills and brawny shoulders.” This man did not actually have broad shoulders, but with steady food he would probably grow stronger. “I have written down instructions on what to say to my father and uncle. They’re in different counties—”
“Leave London?” the man asked, his gaze going to Bernard.
“Different counties? How far apart would we be?” asked the woman.
Bernard simply raised his hand for them to be silent. “That’s a generous offer, Miss…”
“Miss Smithson. And I’m counting on you to vouch for their honesty.”
“Oh, I do. I most certainly do,” he said, his gaze cutting hard to Tabitha. “But these two are needed here at my sister’s shop.”
Melinda knew better than to argue. She could see the determination in Bernard’s eye. And though Tabitha sputtered and complained, Melinda saw the duchess study her brother in a long silence. And when Tabitha finally ceased with her litany of objections, it was the duchess whose voice slipped soft and quiet through the room.
“What aren’t you telling me, Bernard?”
“Nothing, sister. Only what you already know.”
“Which is?”
“That I swore to your husband that no harm would come to you or yours from the…the other businesses.”
The duchess rolled her eyes. “He’s overprotective.”
“No, Wendy, he’s not. And these two are here to make good on my promise.”
“But—”