“Of Piper and Co. Shipping?” Miss Brewer asked, exchanging a look with her friend.
“Mr. Piper is my father, yes.” Dismayed by the distraction, Eleanor looked to the golden-haired young miss. “May I?”
With a shrewd look in her eye, the young lady nodded. “Go ahead.”
Eleanor knelt in front of her, smoothing out the ribbon, finding the edges of each side. There was a loose tie that had come unpinned from the waist. It wasn’t secure without a proper knot. Stripping her gloves off, Eleanor quickly tied a double butterfly, careful to flare out each wing to make the knot’s namesake clear. The width of the ribbon wasn’t easy to work with, nor was the slippery satin easy to tie, but Eleanor was happy to finally be comfortable.
“There now.” Eleanor backed away, pleased with her work. Instead of a plain hook of ribbon, there was now a jaunty butterfly pinned midway down the wide skirt of the young miss.
“Oh,” Miss Brewer said in surprise.
“That was fast,” the other said, looking down. “Oh. It’s a butterfly.” She sounded disappointed.
“Do you not like butterflies?” Eleanor asked, her stomach plummeted.
“Who doesn’t like butterflies?” the miss replied, though her tone made it very clear:shedid not like butterflies.
Eleanor squared her shoulders. “Not to worry.” She knelt once again, untying her butterfly and looking up at the woman who was now peering down at her as she worked, judging her to be the type of person who preferred fewer feminine frills. She tied a double figure eight knot instead, fashioning the ribbon to make the geometrical pattern of the infinity sign pleasing to the eye.
“Ophelia,” Miss Brewer said, her voice full of admiration. “Come look in the mirror.”
The young lady—Ophelia—moved past Eleanor to the mirror hung on the wall. She moved this way and that. “Oh, that’s good. That’s very good. Miss Piper, you have my undying gratitude.”
Eleanor smiled and got to her feet, careful not to step on petticoats and balance the hoop of her dress. “My pleasure.”
“You seem to be quite the expert on ribbons,” Miss Brewer said carefully.
“Not ribbons, really.” Eleanor smiled. “It’s one of those things anyone might learn if their father dealt with ships. Knot-tying is essential aboard any vessel.”
Ophelia got a strange look on her face, an expression that made Eleanor almost nervous. “Miss Piper, I would very much like you to call on me tomorrow, at my home.”
Eleanor blinked rapidly. Had she made friends so easily? And did she want to be known as a friend to an associate ofBad News Brews? “I would be delighted. May I inquire as to your address?”
“Belgravia Square. Lord Rascomb’s residence.” Ophelia smiled.
Eleanor stood stunned. This wasThe HonourableOphelia Bridewell. And her golden-god brother wasThe HonourableTristan Bridewell. Her stomach sank. They were so far out of her social sphere, she might as well be on the bottom of the ocean. “Of course.”
Miss Ophelia gave her an impish smile. “Did you not recognize me?”
Eleanor shook her head. Oh, her father would be pleased to call on Lord Rascomb, with his wealth, his title, and his two unmarried sons. “I apologize, I have not been keeping up on the socialon dits.”
Miss Brewer gave her a kind smile and folded Eleanor’s hand in her arm. “Why don’t you let us make introductions tonight? It’s the very least we can do.”
“That isn’t necessary,” Eleanor said weakly, wanting to pull her arm from her new friend’s grasp.
“I’m afraid it is,” Ophelia sighed. “After all, once Justine makes up her mind about a friend, you’ll have a devil of a time changing it. Besides, tomorrow, you’ll be a member of the club, so we might as well introduce you as one tonight.”
“The club?” Eleanor asked, having a distinct feeling that things were about to happentoher, whether she wanted it or not.
Both young women smiled. “The Ladies’ Alpine Society.”
Eleanor echoed the name back. “I’m afraid I’ve never heard of it. What does it do?”
“It raises money,” Justine said.
“For what?” Eleanor asked, her whole body tingling.
“For the first women to climb the Matterhorn.” Ophelia took Eleanor’s other arm.
