Audrey moved closer to thecandle to better see the tiny pearls she was sewing on the silk gown. Her mother’s old modiste, Mrs. Beaumont, had taken a chance on her when Audrey asked for some piecework. Audrey had been afraid to approach her before now, thinking she didn’t have the talent to be hired, but the modiste was pleasantly surprised at her skill with a needle. Now Audrey had more work than she could ever finish, but she kept at it diligently, trying to finish this particular dress this evening. They could definitely use the extra funds, as the larder was growing bare.
“Here you go. I found another candle. Is that better?” Grace asked, lighting the candle and placing it on the table beside Audrey.
“Oh, Grace. That’s just what I needed. Thank you.”
“Are you done for the evening yet?” Mia asked, walking into the parlor.
“Almost, dearest. One more row of pearls, and I’llbe able to deliver the dress to Mrs. Beaumont in the morning.”
Mia knew that interrupting Audrey’s progress would only cause her to work longer into the night.
“Perhaps I can help with some of the sewing,” Grace said.
“I’m nearly finished with this one, but there’s a blue day dress that needs a few repairs. Do you think you can handle that?”
Grace nodded. “Of course. No one will ever see where the dress originally ripped.”
“That would be most helpful, Grace. The dress is on the chair in my bedchamber. Then we shall get paid for both of these dresses tomorrow.”
“I’ll fetch it. Be right back,” Grace said as she sailed out of the parlor.
“Audrey, are you happy?” Mia asked, taking a seat on the sofa beside her.
Audrey looked up from her work. “That’s a strange question. Why do you ask?”
“You seem so sad of late. Do you still wish you had a Season? Is that what’s bothering you?”
Audrey shook her head. “No. I’m afraid there will be no Seasons for us. That dream was gone when Mama passed. Now I just want us to be warm and well-fed, with perhaps a little left over to pay Mrs. Culbert and Beckwith. That will make me happy.”
“I’m five and ten and could certainly help more if you’d tell me what you need.”
“Mia, I know how hard you try, but at the moment, your stitching is not quite up to what Mrs. Beaumont is looking for. Continue with your lessons and practice your needlework and the pianoforte. In the meantime, I can teach you how to run a proper household. I’ve started teaching Grace, but it’s time you were included as well. Every woman needs to know how to run a household.”
“Really? I can have those lessons too?”
“Of course, dearest, but make no mistake, there’s nothing glamorous about running an efficient and well-maintained home. Learning how to manage a less-than-stellar budget is the hardest thing you’ll ever have to figure out.”
“Well, I’m excited to find out how to do it. Thank you, Audrey, for not treating me like a child.”
“My darling girl, you’re no longer a child, but a beautiful young woman on the cusp of taking on the world. Heaven help us all,” Audrey said with a giggle.
That made Mia laugh as well.
“What’s so funny?” Grace asked, walking back into the parlor.
“Audrey is going to teach me how to run a proper household,” Mia said.
“Oh, I see. Well, I can tell you there’s not much to giggle about, especially trying to spend our meager funds in the most appropriate places. like buying coal or food.”
“So Audrey was telling me.”
Grace sat down in the chair beside the sofa so shecould share the double candlelight. “This tear is quite extensive. What was the lady doing to cause this?”
“Grace, it’s not our place to question things like that. We’re paid to repair any damage, not gossip about how it happened.”
“Understood. It will take a bit of fussing to fix this, though.”
“Do what you can, and if you get stuck, I can finish it,” Audrey said. “I’m almost finished with these pearls.”
