Georgie lowered her gaze as she admitted, “He was always rough with me, but the beatings didn’t start until after my father died.”
“I’m sorry you were forced to endure that.”
Bringing her gaze back up, Georgie said, “I will forever be in my household staff’s debt for freeing me from my prison.”
The coach came to a stop and dipped to the side as a footman stepped off his perch. The door opened and the footman extended his hand to offer his assistance.
As Georgie exited the coach, she kept the gowns draped over one arm and placed her hand into the footman’s. She stopped on the pavement, removed her hand, and stared at the scene in front of her. Vendors were standing around with tables and carts, hawking their goods as people milled around.
Evie came to stand next to her. “Stay close to me,” she said.
“I have every intention to,” Georgie replied as she followed Evie through the crowded square. The vendors shouted at them as they passed by, trying to entice them to stop and look at their goods.
A tall, older man with missing front teeth stepped in front of her and smiled. “Aren’t ye a pretty little thing?”
“If you will excuse me,” she said as she stepped to the side to go around him.
The man did the same, blocking her path. “What are ye looking for?” he asked. “Perhaps I can help you find it.”
To her relief, Evie appeared by her side. “She is with me.”
The man sneered. “Two pretty little things,” he said, taking a step closer to them. “It must be my lucky day.”
“If you do not let us pass, you will rue the day you crossed me,” Evie said as a dagger appeared in her right hand.
The man glanced down at the dagger. “Do you even know how to use that?”
“Do you really want to find out?” Evie asked.
The man hesitated before stepping to the side. “I hope you ladies find what you are looking for,” he said before he disappeared back into the crowd.
Evie put a hand on Georgie’s sleeve and said, “It isn’t much further.”
As they walked down the path, Georgie asked, “Would you really have stabbed him?”
“There are a different set of laws on the street than what we are taught in boarding school,” Evie said.
Georgie noticed that Evie didn’t answer her question but decided to drop the matter.
Evie led her towards a table in the corner of the square, piles of multi-colored fabric covering the surface. A woman with dark hair rose from her seat behind it as they approached.
“Evie!” she exclaimed. “How is my favorite customer?”
“I am well, Mrs. Taylor,” Evie replied as she fingered the material on the table. “My friend is selling a few of her gowns. Are you interested?”
“I am, especially if they are nearly as fine as the one she is wearing.” Mrs. Taylor addressed Georgie. “May I see them?”
Georgie extended the gowns towards her. “They were created by Madam Gallant.”
Mrs. Taylor set the gowns atop the fabric on the table and leaned closer to study them. “The stitching is exquisite, and I do not doubt the authenticity.”
Evie spoke up. “Miss Lloyd is headmistress at an orphanage and is selling her gowns to raise funds for the girls.”
“What a noble cause,” Mrs. Taylor replied, her eyes remaining on the gowns as she handled them. “I will take all of them.” She reached into her pocket and removed a handful of bills. “This should be sufficient.”
Georgie accepted the money and stared at it in disbelief. “This is far too generous.”
Mrs. Taylor smiled before shifting her gaze to Evie. “I can tell that your friend is not used to how things are done at the market.”
