Her fingers dug into the sides of her bread. “Everything is under control.”
“Yes, your brother Mark seems to have things in fine control.” He rocked his chair farther back.
She hoped he tipped. “Mark has had a tough time since our parents died.”
And wasn’t that the turnabout of the season? She had said the same thing as Noble, in much the same sarcastic tone, but it was different when it came from his mouth. Whenhewas attacking her brother.
The front legs of his chair clacked the floor stones. “I don’t see you breaking down and drinking yourself into a stupor.” His voice was mild as he picked up the other bread slice.
“I don’t have the same pressures as Mark.”
Something inside her sobbed at the injustice—one she was placing upon herself. She had the exact same pressures. In fact, sometimes she thought hers were worse, because as the female of the family she could do nothing about any of it directly. Powerless.
She straightened her shoulders. She wouldnotbe powerless.
He eyed her, then finished the buttery slice. “Mmm. You don’t have the same pressures. I see. That’s good to know.”
She nodded tightly, irritated with him and herself.
He watched her for a moment, then cut two more pieces, buttered them and plunked one in front of her and one in front of him.
“Archibald Penner is a regular pub rat, from what I can tell. And a part-time watchmen. Involved in businesses on the east side. Milliners and dress shops, as unlikely as that seems from his description. Clarisse may have gossip concerning him.”
Marietta wondered if he procured information from Clarisse in the same manner as from Carla.
A noise at the kitchen door drew her attention. A frazzled looking woman with fuzzy brown hair and kind brown eyes fell through the door, arms full of cloth.
“Mr. Noble, sir! I came as quickly as I could.”
“It’s not a problem, Clarisse.” Again she noted that his voice was richer and warmer than when he had addressed her. He rose to relieve Clarisse of her burden.
She thanked him, then looked at Marietta and bobbed her head. “Good morning, miss.”
Marietta murmured a greeting as Noble made the introductions. She couldn’t help watching Clarisse as she made morning chitchat with Noble. Her face was friendly, but there was a rather apparent look of worship in her eyes as she spoke with him. Excellent. Another smitten female.
Noble was much more attentive and kind to Clarisse than he had been with her two maids. With Carla, he had maintained a removed look, all the more inviting to her, since Carla thrived on challenges. For Clarisse, he had nothing but friendly smiles.
The smiles transformed his face. Without guile, without sarcasm, he fairly beamed. She swallowed with difficulty and turned away from watching him.
“If you could fit Miss Winters with a few garments? The standard ones should be fine.”
Clarisse bobbed her head and followed Noble to the door. Marietta quickly stuffed the rest of her bread in her mouth and quietly followed.
“Are you familiar with a Mr. Archibald Penner?” he asked Clarisse.
“He owns some shops over on the East End. Mostly pleasant. Likes the shopgirls, though he’s not a bully. Doesn’t have a reputation as a ruffian, but likes his drink well enough.”
“Invaluable as always, Clarisse.”
Marietta saw the blush stain the girl’s cheeks and stifled a sigh.
“Will you be wanting Miss Winters to have the look of a shopgirl?”
“Something like that would do well. And an assistant’s outfit. Maybe something that shows a bit of skin around the collar.”
Noble left them at the door of Marietta’s room and Clarisse got to work.
Marietta watched her curiously. “You work with Mr. Noble often?”
