Shortly after Fanny’s return, the following colloquy was heard in the cutting room on the highest floor of the building.
“I hope to receive this order before Easter, Mrs. Bellingham. My girls will be excessively disappointed if they do not have their new frocks by then,” said Cecilia Butters as she drew on her gloves.
“Yes ma’am, I will see to it personally.”
“And my bonnet? Can it be re-trimmed to match my new dress?”
“Certainly, Mrs. Butters. I am a milliner by training. Rest assured, your bonnet will look completely new once I have done with it.”
“That’s good to hear. Mrs. Bellingham, I must say I am quite satisfied with your services. You understand my tastes very well.”
“I thank you, ma’am. And it is a great pleasure to fit up your charming little daughters as well, as I myself have three sons, and no daughters to dress.”
“What!” Cecilia Butters exclaimed. “You have children? Three sons? And how can you endure to be without them while you are at work? Who, pray, takes care of them? It is not fit. It is not natural.”
Mrs. Bellingham wrung her hands nervously.
“Oh! Ma’am, they are presently in Liverpool, living with my aunt and uncle. My husband is unable to work, and I must earn a living, so that I may be able to pay for their education.”
“Oh. Well. How very unfortunate.”
“Ma’am, you are exceedingly kind to take such a warm interest, but I trust I will be reunited with my family before long. Necessity compels me to work for the present.”
“For the present? I should be sorry, after all, to lose your services.”
“Oh... Yes, thank you indeed, ma’am. Good day, ma’am.”
Cecilia Butters withdrew and descended the stairs to the classroom.
“Good day, Mrs. Butters,” said Fanny.
“Miss Price.”
“Good day, Mrs. Butters,” said Mrs. Blodgett.
“How are you today, my dear Mrs. Blodgett? I am exceedingly pleased to discover that Mrs. Bellingham is a milliner as well as a seamstress. Now I can bring my bonnets here to have them all re-trimmed.”
“It would be our pleasure, ma’am, I am sure.”
“And, ma’am, if you are satisfied with our services,” Fanny added, although a little startled at her own boldness, “we would be very much obliged if you could kindly inform your friends, so as to encourage more customers at our establishment.”
“Of course, Miss Price. Of course. You must keep your eye upon the money, mustn’t you? Good day to you, Mrs. Blodgett. I will be returning on Tuesday afternoon. Please remind Mrs. Bellingham.”
“I will ma’am, though I warrant there is no need.”
“Indeed not, only my girls would be excessively disappointed if they do not have their new frocks for Easter. But you are correct—I may rely upon Mrs. Bellingham.”
Fanny got up to escort their visitor downstairs, but Cecilia Butters waved her away.
“I can find my own way, thank you, Miss Price. You may as well stay at your employment. Good day.”
A moment’s silence, and then—
“Oh, that odious little creature! Poor Harriet is sadly put upon,” sighed Mrs. Blodgett.
Fanny could not contradict her companion’s estimation of Cecilia Butters, but only laughed and went to assist a girl in choosing her colours of embroidery floss for her project.
A few moments later —
“Where are my scissors? My good scissors?” Mrs. Blodgett exclaimed.
“Ma’am—”
“Who has stolen my scissors?”
“I think, ma’am—”
“Miss Price! Miss Price! Close the door! Search the cloakroom!”
“Ma’am, I believe your scissors are downstairs in the shop. Shall I fetch them for you?”
Fanny hurried down and searched behind the counter for Mrs. Blodgett’s scissors. Madame Orly, seeing her, rustled up to her confidingly.
“Que le bon dieu vous bénisse, Mademoiselle Price, pour nous avoir donné cette Madame Bellingham! Elle est un trésor!” Madame Orly exclaimed. “Et, savez-vous pourquoi?”
Madame Orly often spoke to Fanny in French in front of the Blodgetts, because they did not understand French and she enjoyed hearing them grumble about it.
Fanny smiled and replied in English, “I think I can guess why you are so pleased with Mrs. Bellingham. I believe she has bestowed a great deal of time upon Mrs. George Butters and her three daughters, has she not?”
“Mais oui!”
“For my part, I am happy to know I was able to render assistance to a respectable young woman in a desperate situation. She is very patient with the customers, is she not?”
“Patience! As patient as.... as the dear saints! Not I—not for Cecilia Butters. Non, not another moment can I speak to that dreadful woman! She has only just left us— ‘Be certain that my new gown is ready for Easter, do you hear?’ And out she goes! Do you know, Monsieur Blodgett sends all the bills to our Madame Butters, and the dear old woman pays for it?”
Fanny could only smile and shake her head. “I confess, I often need to bite my tongue when I am in company with Cecilia Butters.”
“But, she likes our Eliza Bellingham. I have told Madame Blodgett that we need Madame Bellingham’s assistance in the shop every morning, and Madame Bellingham, she says she would like to work the longer hours, as many hours as we can give her, but hélas, that obstinate old woman—”
“Oh! Perhaps we had better speak in French, Madame,” whispered Fanny.
Chapter Fourteen
In obedience to her parents’ wishes that she place herself in the way of as many eligible bachelors as possible, Julia Bertram returned to her cousins in Bedford Square, who brought her to one of Lady Delingpole’s Wednesday afternoon receptions.
Julia knew there was a chance, more than a chance, of
