Suddenly, her view was blocked by wooden panels. She ran to open the door.
“Mrs. Ingram, welcome!” she called to the small, thin, gray-haired woman sitting next to the wagoner.
The wagoner jumped down, then helped Mrs. Ingram descend. Mrs. Ingram, sharp of features and sharper of eye, came forward to embrace Rosamund.
“You’ve an impressive spot here, right off a main shopping street.”
“I’ve the first story too. You can live up there if you want. Or you can live at my house.”
“Up there will suit me very well. Easier to walk to the shop, eh?” She chuckled. “Now, let me see the inside.”
The wagoner followed them into the shop, toting a large wooden box.
“I have the bonnets you asked me to bring,” Mrs. Ingram said. “They’re in that box. There’s plenty back in Richmond still. That new woman looks to know her business with a needle and such, so we won’t be running out there.”
“You are convinced Mrs. Hutton can manage the shop?” Mrs. Ingram would manage this new shop in London. That had meant finding someone suitable to take over the shop in Richmond.
“She seems more than fitting. Worked for a man in Bristol for five years who was too lazy to pay attention, so she did it all for him. At least he recognized her value and gave her a good reference that all but admitted it. I think we’ll be fine with her.” Mrs. Ingram lifted one of the iron stands and examined it. “You’ll be going to see for yourself soon enough, I expect. If you are not content with her, we will find someone else. Lots who will be glad for the situation.”
Two valises and another box were carried into the shop. Once he was gone, Mrs. Ingram opened one valise. It was full of caps.
“You didn’t ask for them, but we’ve quite a few, so I brought these. Only a few plain ones. Most are the fancy ones, with lace and such.”
“You have been thinking more clearly than me.”
“In Richmond they always paid the lease. Maybe they will here too.”
Mrs. Ingram straightened, then strolled to the back, peering around the wall.
“I’ll be needing you to go to the warehouses, to purchase fabrics and ribbons and forms,” Rosamund said. “I want to start as soon as we can.”
“We’ll be needing a girl.”
“You may find one as you see fit. You chose the last apprentice, so I have confidence in your judgment.”
Mrs. Ingram was of an age when fine lines had formed above her lip, like tiny, visual echoes of the ones on the sides of her eyes. She pursed her mouth and those lines exaggerated her expression. “Are you going to tell me how you got that bruise on your cheek? Seems that legacy should protect you, not cause you harm.”
Rosamund’s fingers went to her cheek. “Does it look very bad?”
“Bad enough.” Mrs. Ingram opened the other valise and fished around in it. “You are not to tell anyone about this.” She removed a small wooden box and opened it. “This salve will hide the worst of it. Come here and I’ll dab some on.”
It didn’t look like salve. It looked like paint. Rosamund submitted to Mrs. Ingram’s deft fingers. “You use this?”
“A bit here and there, vain fool that I am. Let’s say that time is not kind and leave it at that.” She stood back. “It will do. Best if you avoid strong light, though.”
Rosamund fumbled for her pocket watch. It was almost ten o’clock. “Perhaps when you go to the warehouses, you will buy me some of that salve for tomorrow.” She took a card from her reticule. “This is where I live. Have the bills made out to me and sent there. I have arranged accounts at most of the warehouses. Here is some money, to pay for hackney cabs.”
Mrs. Ingram took the card and coins. “Accounts and transport, no less. I can see things will be a bit different here than what we knew in Richmond.”
* * *
Kevin knew it was well past ten o’clock, but he checked his pocket watch anyway. From his position at a library window, he could see no activity on the street.
She probably would not come today. Not after last night. Still, he had prepared for her call, just in case. He suspected Miss Jameson was the sort of woman who did not miss appointments unless she sent word that she would.
He hoped she did come. There were decisions to make that should not be delayed.
He paced around the library, unable to sit and think, uncomfortable with his own body. If she did not show, he would go out and either fence or box. Some exercise should rid him of the agitation that made him so out of sorts.
