At the first employment agency on the list, she had to wait for almost an hour before a dauntingly formal matron consented to interview her.There were several others before her, waiting, looking nervous, or hopeful.One by one, they emerged from their interview looking excited or crushed.Her own nerves grew.
But she was clean, literate, polite and willing to work hard; surely there would be a position for her.Finally, it was her turn to be called.
A grim looking matron seated behind a desk gave her a long, searching glance, taking in, Tessa felt, every tiny detail.She made a few notes on a ledger in front of her.She did not invite Tessa to sit.
“You wish for a position as a lady’s companion?”she said eventually.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You have a character?”
Tessa blinked.“A character, ma’am?”
“A character reference from a previous employer.”
“No.I haven’t been employed before.This will be my first position—I’m a widow—but I’m willing to work hard.”
The woman sniffed and made another note.“We have nothing for you.”
“Oh, but—”
“Did you not hear me, gel?We at the Howard Agency deal only with applicants of the highest standard.You do not meet those standards.Send in the next applicant.”
When she left the building, she found Billy sitting beside the gas lamp she’d tied him to, untethered, the lead chewed quite through.“Oh Billy.”She laughed and retied the ribbon again, much to the dog’s disgust.
After that she had several more crushing interviews each by equally intimidating women who seemed to sum her up at a glance and decide she wouldn’t suit.Some of them didn’t even bother to interview her, just glanced at the form she had filled out and dismissed her, some politely, some brusquely, making it clear that she’d wasted their time.
It was quite confusing.When they did bother to ask her questions, they’d shaken their heads at her responses and cut her short.She’d been too honest, she decided in retrospect.She’d do better tomorrow.
She returned to Alverleigh House with dragging feet, Billy trotting ahead without a lead.He’d made his point.
Greeting Peverill with a bright smile, she went upstairs to her room and sat down to write herself a glowing ‘character’ from the widowed Lady Holgrave in her best copperplate handwriting.
She would not give up so easily.
#
“YOU’RE WANTED DOWNSTAIRS, m’lady,” Tessa’s maid said.
“Thank you, Sutton but I don’t really feel like afternoon tea,” she responded.She was weary and dispirited and not in the mood to endure—or attempt to parry—the old lady’s sniping.
“Lady Gosforth particularly requested your presence, m’lady.”
“Very well.I suppose I’d better go then.”Sutton tidied her hair and helped her into a fresh dress, and Tessa went downstairs.
“Well, miss, what did you get up to today?”Lady Gosforth greeted her.“Spent the day lolling on your bed, eating sweetmeats and reading some silly novel, I suppose.”
“On the contrary, I visited a number of employment agencies.”
“Did you now?”A finely plucked eyebrow rose, and the lorgnette was trained upon her.“And how did you fare?”
Tessa would die rather than tell this old woman how miserably she’d failed.“Quite well.I left my name with several very respectable agencies, and they will contact me when a suitable position arises.”
“Indeed.”It was a skeptical sort of ‘indeed.
“Yes, it was most gratifying.”
The old lady opened her mouth but before she could speak the drawing room door opened, and a footman carried in a tray bearing the tea things.And to Tessa’s relief, Lord Alverleigh strolled in after him.
