“I have, though when I last visited, someone different told me that it washershop,” said the slightly taller woman.
“That must have been one of my aunts. Do you remember her name?”
“It was Cristobel. She had just opened the shop, as I remember.”
Aurelia’s heart skipped in excitement.
“Really? I haven’t met many people who knew her way back then. I’d love to ask you about her if you wouldn’t mind? She was my great-great aunt, and I never had a chance to meet her.”
“A-hem,” Julia interrupted.
“What?” Aurelia asked, distracted.
“As my aunt said, I’m Julia. And you are?”
“Oh, right,” Aurelia said with a laugh. “I’m sorry, I didn’t ask your name.”
“Emma Knightley,” the woman said with a slight curtsy. “And this is my dear friend Harriet Smith.”
Harriet gave a curtsy too.
“Very good to meet you,” Aurelia said, smiling as she took in the two best friends. From what Aurelia could remember, Harriet had been almost as flighty as Kitty—but maybe, like Kitty, there was more to Harriet than Aurelia had realized. And Emma had been a bit of a schemer, though some of her schemes had actually worked.
“Dear me!” Emma said suddenly. “I keep forgetting. She is Harriet Smith no longer but is Harriet Martin now. She is newly married, as am I!”
“Aunt Aurelia, you’re going to have that problem soon.” Julia grinned. “You should start using Oliver’s last name now, so you can get used to it.”
“But Aureliaisnewly married,” Kitty said, looking confused.
“They’re not married yet,” Julia told her. “Their wedding’s in a few weeks.”
Aurelia’s eyes widened. She hadn’t thought to fill Julia in on her white lie.
“Not yet married?” Mrs. Jamieson sounded scandalized. “But I thought you said he lives upstairs with you?”
Emma and Harriet leaned in to whisper to one another, both seeming to enjoy the sudden drama.
“No, Julia misspoke—” Aurelia began.
“He does,” Julia explained. “He moved in with her last year.”
“Youlivetogether? Yet the wedding is not for some weeks yet?” Blanche drew her hand to her chest, though Aurelia thought she saw a quirk of a smile on her face.
Miss Clack was similarly pleased at the hint of a scandal as she said, “Far be it from me to judge others, but I do believe this tract of mine might help you find your way out of this sinful arrangement.”
From her purse she drew out a printed booklet with the title,Fallen Woman: Defy Your Sinful Ways and Arise!Aurelia began to roll her eyes but instead ran them around the room to avoid being rude.
“Thank you, Miss Clack, but you’re forgetting that I can’t touch you or anything you bring into the shop. This is just a misunderstanding. Julia—can I speak with you for a moment?”
Aurelia motioned to the back of the shop and Julia followed her there.
“You can’t tell them that Oliver and I aren’t married yet!” Aurelia whispered irritably. “They’re from a time when unmarried women couldn’t be alone in the same room with a man without a chaperone, let alone live together. Hearing that I’m living with Oliver before marriage is like… Well, it’s like telling them I’m a prostitute!”
Julia started laughing and then, at a look from Aurelia, said, “Okay, sorry.” She put on a serious face but couldn’t help letting out another laugh.
Turning back to the characters, who—aside from an unfazed Cuff—were clustered together and whispering, Aurelia caught sight of Miss Clack sliding one of her tracts onto Aurelia’s desk. Once again resisting the urge to roll her eyes, Aurelia pulled Julia back toward their circle.
“I’m sorry,” Julia said waving her hands as though to dispel her faux pas. “Aurelia and Oliver are married. It’s myotheraunt who’s getting married in a few weeks.” At a look of disbelief from Blanche, Julia continued. “No, theyaremarried—I was there and everything.”
