One of the reasons he was such an effective teacher was because he was so very skilled at offering heartfelt encouragement. “I won’t keep you but will continue to give thought as to whom I might entice into helping you when I’m unavailable. It’s just a bit of a challenge when most people in the area lead such busy lives, working long hours with little time for leisure—”
Her thoughts leapt to last evening’s dinner companion. Would she be able to entice him into helping? Things between them had been awkward at the end, but she could set that aside for a greater good. The question was: Would he?
“Are you all right, miss?”
She gave her head a little shake. “Yes. I just had a thought. A possible solution to our dilemma. I’ll have to ponder it a bit more. Have a good day, Mr. Tittlefitz.”
“You as well, Miss Trewlove.”
Before leaving the hotel, she stopped in the kitchen where one of the staff members gave her a small pitcher of cream. When she returned to her shop, she went upstairs and poured it into a saucer. Dickens immediately arrived to begin lapping it up. He seemed to care little about anything but did love his cream. After putting away her hat and gloves, she returned downstairs.
As always, she simply stood there for a moment, taking in what she had built with help from her family. Every member of her family and Mr. Tittlefitz had been kind enough to help her place the books on the shelves. Everywhere she looked were memories of them assisting her in one way or another, never complaining, doing it all out of the goodness of their hearts. She hadn’t expected to find incredible satisfaction in working here. Originally, she’d simply seen it as a way to surround herself with books while filling her days waiting for her first Season. Now it all meant so very much that it would be difficult to walk away from it.
At nine, she unlocked the front door, ready for business. She halfway hoped Mr. Sommersby would have finished his book by now and might drop by to purchase another. She wondered how long he might have stood at that window, how long before he turned away to retire or become lost in the adventures of Dick Turpin. Strange how they’d made a heroic character out of a criminal, but for some reason people expressed a fondness for scoundrels. When it came to the ladies, her brothers had certainly benefited from that attitude.
Matthew Sommersby seemed more gentleman than rogue. As such, perhaps he’d be willing to assist with the classes. If she could reestablish the rapport they’d shared before the clipping had escaped her pocket and caught his attention.
To that end, once Marianne arrived in the late morning to assist her in the shop, she decided to pay the gent around the corner a visit.
The streets and pavements were bustling with activity as people went about their daily chores and business. She greeted by name those she knew, gave a smile and nod to those she didn’t. As she made her way past the mews, glancing up at the window in which he’d been standing the night before, she couldn’t help but wonder how often he stood there, gazing out.
Turning onto Ettie Lane, her heart picked up its tempo while her feet slowed theirs. The residence was neither large nor intimidating, so the apprehension taking hold surprised her. She was intimately familiar with the layout of these terrace houses for they were all the same and Mick had shared the design with her, had even asked for her opinion on the matter. And then she’d watched them being built. It had been exciting to see her brother create so much from nothing.
So it wasn’t the building causing her heart to thump wildly, her palms to grow damp within her gloves, but the gentleman who made his lair within those walls. To approach him for a favor when she barely knew him seemed the height of foolishness, but surely he couldn’t object to her request when it would serve such a useful purpose.
Gathering her resolve around her like a finely sewn velvet pelisse, she marched up the steps, banged the knocker, and waited impatiently, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet, hoping whatever fault he’d found with her last night had melted away and he’d deliver a warm welcome.
When the door finally opened, she was surprised to find herself staring at a dark-haired woman whose spectacles made her blue eyes seem far too large for her face. “Mrs. Bennett.”
“Miss Trewlove, is something amiss?”
“No, I’m simply surprised to see you here.” Knowing the man who ran Mick’s construction crew and his wife lived on this street, she glanced around. Had she gotten the wrong house? “I was looking for Mr. Sommersby.”
“Ah. He’s gone out. Said he’d be awhile, that I wasn’t to bother with preparing a midday meal for him.”
She brought her attention back to Mrs. Bennett. “You cook for him?”
The dear woman bobbed her head. “Aye. He has me come in each morning to tidy up, not that there’s ever much to tidy. He has very little furniture, our Mr. Sommersby. Nothing personal like. Mr. Bennett says I’m not to worry myself over it as long as he pays me every day—which he does. But still, there’s a loneliness to the place, you know?”
She’d deduced he was a bachelor. Still, it saddened her to think he might be all alone in the world. “He’s not been here that long. Perhaps he’s just not settled in fully yet.”
“Mayhaps. He’s never had a visitor as far as I can tell. Always just the one glass that needs washing. Still, I polish everything up, scrub his floors. Won’t find a speck of dust when I’m done.”
“That’s very commendable on your part. Will you let him know I came by and wanted to have a word?”
“Of course, Miss Trewlove. Don’t know when he’ll be returning, though.”
“It’s not urgent. Just at his convenience, I’d like to speak with him.”
“I’ll pass it on.”
“Thank you. And give my best to Mr. Bennett.”
“I will, miss.”
Darting down the steps, she heard the door close. When she reached the pavement, she glanced back, noting now the absence of draperies at the windows, something she’d overlooked watching him the night before. Although perhaps even now he was out seeing about having some sewn. He had Mrs. Bennett to worry over him. She didn’t need to do it. Still, she was more convinced than ever that he would welcome the opportunity to assist others in learning to read. What better way to become part and parcel of the whole of the community and to ease one’s loneliness?
Miss Trewlove had occupied Matthew’s thoughts through the night and into the following morning, which was deuced irritating, so he’d decided a day seeing to business was called for. After meeting with his man of affairs and then enjoying a leisurely meal at Dodger’s, his favorite club, he’d hailed a hansom cab and had instructed the driver to deliver him to the outskirts of Trewlove’s domain, because he was in the mood for a stroll before returning to his residence. He stood for a moment taking in the construction that was expanding the area. The pounding of hammers, the grunting of men, the occasional shouted order, and the creaking of wheels beneath a wheelbarrow’s weight created a symphony of sounds that hinted at increased wealth and power.
