“Did you move to live with him after your husband died?” She bit her lip. That had been fairly blunt.
Mrs. Galbreath did not seem to mind. “I had no choice. My husband was young and left me little. I was young too. I thought to remarry soon, but . . . that did not happen.”
“I think it is wonderful how you have made your own way now. I would like to do that.”
“Youaredoing that, aren’t you? You depend on your employment, but no one else. It feels good, doesn’t it? I certainly think it does.” Mrs. Galbreath smiled conspiratorially, and they both laughed. “Now I will leave you to familiarize yourself with all of this. Here are some bills for the household. If you think you are ready, you can enter them, then make a list of payments I should disburse.”
Amanda made short work with the accounts. Mrs. Galbreath’s tradesmen were more honest than Lady Farnsworth’s, and she found no discrepancies. She left the accounts in the little office and ventured down to the public rooms.
She took the opportunity to examine the rest of the premises. The dining room held several card tables and what looked to be a wagering log. Decanters with colored liquids sat on a breakfront. Since they resembled the ones used at her last meeting, she assumed these too held spirits.
It was a wonder this club had not caused a scandal. Not only for the spirits and gambling, but because it accepted such as she through its door.
She returned to the library. Three women lounged on divans in the library. They noticed her enter.
“You are welcome to join us if you would like,” one of them said.
A sisterhood, the duchess had called it. She supposed that meant she was supposed to be sisterly.
“Thank you. That is very kind.” She found a chair among them.
Introductions flowed. Mrs. Harper and Mrs. Guilford were wives of gentlemen. Mrs. Troy, however, owned a bookshop. “I am one of the booksellers who offersParnassus,” she explained. “You are Lady Farnsworth’s secretary, I believe.”
“She kindly took me on.”
“Of course she did. Why not employ a woman? She often extols you to us. She says you have the best hand she has ever seen, and can cleverly copy others’ hands too. You are very talented with the pen.”
“I was well taught.” Amanda swallowed her dismay that Lady Farnsworth went about town speaking about her penmanship. The day might come when someone realized that such a fine hand would be useful in forgery, which had been the purpose for all those lessons from Mama.
Mrs. Harper poured her some tea. “We have the best here,” she explained. “Never adulterated. You can taste the difference at once. I would have joined for the tea alone, and am sure I drink my fees in it.” She handed over the cup.
Amanda sipped. What a small luxury, but so welcomed. She never had tea at home, and savored the cups that Lady Farnsworth on occasion pressed on her.
“How did you become a secretary? There can be no clear path.”
Amanda finished her tea and set down the cup. “After I left school, I took employment as a companion, first with two ladies in the country, then with one here in town. I helped them all a little with correspondence and accounts. The last lady gave me a reference when she decided to join her son’s household. I was fortunate that Lady Farnsworth took the chance on me.”
“She is nothing if not open-minded.”
“And outspoken too.”
“I am sure Miss Waverly has not missed that her employer, while brilliant, is eccentric,” Mrs. Guilford said. “We love her, Miss Waverly, but I daresay none of us admits to our husbands that she is a friend. Except Mrs. Troy here, but then her husband is a radical, isn’t he?”
Mrs. Troy seemed unfazed by the description of her husband.
“She probably knows that we keep her friendship a secret,” Mrs. Harper said, looking sad.
“I do not think she would mind much if she does know it,” Amanda offered. “I am sure she anticipated what the social reaction to her chosen path would be.”
Mrs. Troy rose. “With time, perhaps all of us will stop being sheep. Now, this woman must return to her bookshop and earn her keep.” She smiled at the other women, who had probably never earned a penny in their entire lives.
Mrs. Harper checked her watch pendant. “My carriage is arriving soon, so I too must take my leave. It was a pleasure meeting you, Miss Waverly.”
After the little group broke up, Amanda moved to a chair and availed herself of a stack of newspapers on the table next to her.
She openedThe Times. Lady Farnsworth always received this newspaper, but Amanda rarely read it on the day it was published. Rather, she would take the old papers home with her on Saturday. As a result, her knowledge of events was often a week behind.
Today, she luxuriated in reading every word in a timely manner. After enjoying her fill of news about politics and international affairs, she turned her attention to the advertisements. She always found them fascinating, announcing, as they did, new wonders for sale. The personal notices never failed to amuse and intrigue her so she saved those for last.
