Miranda frowned. “But if we do accompany you, don’t you want me to continue as Norma Jean’s chaperone?”
“Given your lack of chaperoning experience, and the fact that you’ve been teaching my daughter interesting ways to secure a gentleman’s attention, I think not.” Louisa glanced to Annaliese. “Any chance you might have positions for these two at the academy?”
An image of Miranda being surrounded by Norma Jean’s friends immediately sprang to mind. Knowing the knowledge Miranda was in possession of that pertained to a variety of flirting techniques was not exactly something an academy for young ladies wanted to impart, Annaliese gave her chin a rub. “I’m sure Flick would be well suited to take on a security job for the academy, but I’ll have to think more about what we could have Miranda do.”
“I could always become a fashion advisor for the students,” Miranda said as she readjusted a neckline that was a touch lower than propriety allowed, at least when one wasn’t attending a ball. “I’m sure the mothers would appreciate it if I taught their daughters how to dress in a way that really draws a gentleman’s attention.”
“How about we agree to think further on an appropriate position for you,” Annaliese murmured as she took the paste necklace Miranda was now holding out to her.
Miranda blew out a breath. “I think that was a solid no to the fashion advisor idea, but I could always assume the role of a typist since I learned how to type last winter during the fair’s offseason.”
“That’s actually a skill that would be useful as the academy has yet to hire a secretary,” Annaliese said, earning a grin from Miranda, who earned a sappy grin from Flick, which earned a roll of the eyes from Norma Jean, who apparently had a limit for how much sappiness she could handle in a day.
Resisting a grin of her own, Annaliese moved directly next to the trunk of the tree and held up Miranda’s necklace. “I’ve got some new jewelry for you, darling.”
Harriet’s face was peering down at her through the leaves a blink of an eye later, and in no time at all, she was on the ground, chattering in a tone that suggested she was no longer terrified.
After putting the necklace on, Harriet admired the danglingpaste jewel before she scurried, not closer to Annaliese, but to Seth, who didn’t hesitate to scoop the little monkey up and settle her against his chest, Harriet leaning her head against his shoulder.
Unsurprisingly, Annaliese’s pulse hitched up a notch, until she realized that Louisa was watching her a tad too closely.
“I believe it’s past time that I officially proclaim myself your chaperone as well, dear, as it appears as if there may soon be another courtship occurring in the not-so-distant future,” Louisa said as she sent a knowing nod Seth’s way.
Before Annaliese could think of a reply to that, or figure out why her stomach had suddenly taken to lurching, Charlie took a step forward.
“Not that I have anything against courtships, but we got some business to attend to, as well as that proposal you mentioned.” He gave his nose a scratch. “I’m thinkin’ that proposal might have something to do with that aviary you’re going to build.”
The reminder of the proposal left all thoughts of odd feelings in her stomach disappearing as Annaliese inclined her head. “It does center around that, and concerns how I would be able to fill an aviary most efficiently. Clearly, I haven’t had time to think matters through, but it seems to me as if you and Howard might play a part in that efficiency.”
“How so?”
“I’m not certain just yet, but tell me this—do you sell most of your birds to the fashion industry in New York City?”
“They’re our biggest customers because they fund the space where we sell birds in a large outdoor market right on the edge of the fashion district.”
“And the majority of plume hunters do most of their business there?”
“If you’re thinkin’ about asking us to poach birds from fellow plume hunters before they sell to the fashion industry, knowthat there ain’t no plume hunter alive who’d risk letting anyone from the fashion industry, especially the milliners, see them selling their birds to former plume hunters,” Charlie said. “Shady business like that would get practicing plume hunters banned from making sales for life.”
“Which wouldn’t be a bad thing, but...” Annaliese cocked her head to the side. “I suppose you and Howard could always set up meetings with plume hunters away from the fashion industry.”
Charlie exchanged a look with Howard before he returned his attention to Annaliese. “That might work, but are you really offering us a job?”
“On a temporary basis since it’s not as if I trust either of you yet. With that said, though, I can pay you well, more than you’re making with your birds, although...” She frowned. “I’d have to have assurances that you weren’t out there trapping more birds to sell to me.”
“If we was working for you, we wouldn’t have time to go off hunting new birds,” Howard said. “But we’d only do that for twice the money we bring in with birds we trap every year.”
“And you’d have to pay plume hunters more than they’re gettin’ from the milliners,” Charlie added. “No plume hunter would want to risk annoying them and losing any business if you’d decide to quit taking on their birds.”
“I have the means to pay the plume hunters twice what they’re currently getting, as well as the means to pay you twice what you’re making now. With that said, though, I wouldn’t want plume hunters to start trapping more birds because I’m buying them, or tell anyone in the fashion industry who they’re selling to.”
“You could make these men sign a contract, one that would require them to pay you a lot of money if they don’t agree to keep selling their birds to you a secret, or trap birds specifically to sell to you,” Norma Jean suggested.
Seth’s brows drew together. “Where in the world did you learn about contracts like that?”
“I read my way through a law book during the first two days of my house confinement last month.”
“Of course you did,” Seth muttered as Charlie rolled his eyes.
