While she recovered, Maddie finished the letter and set it down, frowning. “His wife is being sent back to Carrisford to apply for relief from the parish here. She asks if we can take her and my sisters in for a time. They don’t know anyone else to ask.”
Emma glanced at Cat—who glanced at John—who shrugged.
Emma looked back at Maddie. “Would your stepmother look askance if Cat gave up her room for them and moved in with John and me?”
“Emma, I don’t mind—” Cat began.
“But I do,” Emma finished firmly.
“She’s used to living with my father,” Maddie said, “so I know she’s seen worse things than three people caring for one another. He’s always described her as an absolute nightmare: a scold and a termagant, impossible to please. Then again, I shudder to think what he says about me when I’m not there, so.” She looked up at her friends. “If she makes you uncomfortable, even for a moment, we will find her someplace else to live.” She flattened the letter against the table, though the precise geometry of the creases sprang up again as soon as the pressure of her hand slid away.
Sophie had always been there for her family—just as they’d always been there for her. She’d always connected that with loving them, as if love and help were synonyms. But now, looking at Maddie, she realized it was possible to help someone you didn’t love—that you might not even like—simply because helping them was the right thing to do. There was a whole new kind of strength there worth admiring.
Maddie, still frowning lightly, toyed with the letter’s edge. “She says the girls have been offered work at Mr. Prickett’s.”
“How old are they?” Cat asked.
“Eleven and thirteen. The older girl has done a stint in a mill before, I think. Their mother will teach them what to expect. She makes bobbin lace.”
“She can step into our parlor then,” said Emma, trying to lighten the mood. “Between the four of us we can completely outfit any titled lady who happens to come calling in search of clothing.”
“A countess,” Cat laughed.
“A duchess!” Emma added.
“A princess,” Maddie put in wryly. “Which is about as likely.”
“A princess might come in disguise,” Sophie countered. “All the best ones do, in the fairy stories.”
Cat looked at her consideringly. “And what do you do, Miss Roseingrave?”
“Me?” Sophie blinked, as three people’s attention perched on her shoulders. “My father has a secondhand instrument shop. I work there—tuning instruments, selling music sheets, that sort of thing.”
“And you teach,” Maddie said, nudging Sophie with a gentle elbow.
“Oh yes, my one pupil,” Sophie said with a self-deprecating laugh.
“Two, if I count,” Maddie purred.
Sophie blushed. “That was a bit of fun.”
Maddie’s smile widened into pure sensuality. “It certainly was.”
Emma kicked at her beneath the table. “Don’t embarrass the poor girl, Maddie. I’m sure she takes her work quite seriously.”
“I do,” Sophie said. “I’ve rather missed it. There’s something about the moment when a student makes a breakthrough—conquers a difficult piece, or remembers last week’s lesson—it’s quite satisfying.”
“And the pay’s good,” Maddie said.
“The pay is sometimes good,” Sophie corrected.
“Enough to support you?” Emma asked.
“Not yet,” Sophie replied frankly. “I’d need more than one pupil for that—or more demand for my services.”
“Quite a few piano masters in Carrisford these days,” Maddie said. At Sophie’s narrowed eyes, she shrugged. “I’ve been asking around. There’s Mr. Nelthorpe, Mr. Perrin and his son, Mrs. Halban... They’re all doing quite well, from what I understand. Carrisford is hungry for piano teachers at present.”
Nelthorpe, Perrin,Halban.Sophie repeated those names like a descant as she walked home in the rising light of day. Sunrise suited Carrisford: it added rosy tones to the gray stone and brought out the bright silver traces of last night’s rain. The air was fresh and Sophie’s lungs expanded with it; she breathed out on a long silent sigh.Nelthorpe, Perrin,Halban.Perhaps someone in the Aeolian Club knew them and could introduce her. Other teachers were the best way of finding other students—they would know which families paid on time and which tended to let the bills languish.
