Page 8 of A Stormy Season

“Touché.”

Jane’s school friend had fallen on difficult times when her shop-owning husband had died of consumption. The couple had run the shop together, but when he was very sick and near death, the shop had done poorly, as Catherine had been unable to keep it open as much. With her husband’s medical bills, by the time he passed away she was nearly destitute and looking for someone to buy the business.

“Why don’t I buy half the business?” Jane had asked Catherine, after thinking it over for less than five minutes. “I have the inheritance my aunt left me, and this way we can be partners.”

Catherine looked astonished. “But Jane, are you sure? People will talk. They’ll say you’ve given up on finding a husband.”

“What do I care what people say? It’s none of their affair, and they should keep their noses out of other people’s business, both literally and figuratively speaking.”

Jane smirked and Catherine hid a laugh behind her hand.

“Besides,” Jane continued, “my aunt gave me that money, and she said she didn’t want me to feel as if I had no choice except to get married. She knew I’d hate marrying someone I didn’t love and respect.”

Aunt Madeline had not been very fortunate or happy in her own marriage. She had not been blessed with children, and Jane was a favorite of hers. Some said she and Jane were very alike.

“Better to have money and not need a husband than to marry out of necessity.” Catherine stared wistfully at the wall.

Catherine understood this better than most, as her husband had left her with no money, and she’d had to sell their house to pay off their debts. She was currently sleeping in the small room above the shop. Jane had begged her to come and stay in the townhouse she shared with her brother and mother, when they were in London, but Catherine was far too independent and worried that she might inconvenience Jane’s family.

“But a business is not a certainty,” Catherine continued. “It is possible that the shop will do poorly and you will lose your investment.”

“The shop is doing well and will continue to do so. We shall both work hard and make money hand over fist. You’ll see.”

Catherine laughed again and shook her head. “You are a godsend, Jane Gilchrist.”

“As are you, Catherine Cosworth.”

Jane had no thoughts of owning a shop until she discovered Catherine was looking for a part owner and investor, and she never imagined she’d enjoy being a shop owner so much. She’d once told Catherine, “Doing the accounts gives me something to do besides sit at home embroidering cushions.”

“As if you’ve ever embroidered a cushion in your life.” Catherine snorted, then covered her mouth with a horrified look.

Jane made no attempt to hide her laugh. “Thank the Lord I am not the only woman in England who is sometimes unladylike.”

She remembered Catherine turning pink but then smiling good-naturedly. She was a sweet, shy girl—quite unlike Jane—but the two young women had always gotten along well. Catherine was certainly trustworthy, and Jane had not hesitated to go into business with her as a partner.

Besides, Jane quite liked the idea that a young, never-married woman owning a business would be considered a bit scandalous, even unfeminine, and brand her unmarriageable. But her mother and brother had both said, “It suits you.”

As Jane finished up the accounts, the time having flown by as it always did when she was so occupied, Catherine came into the room with a contented smile.

“How was business today?” Jane asked as she closed the ledger.

Catherine handed over the money tray and receipts and she put them in their proper place.

“Very brisk for a Wednesday. It seems we shall have another good week.”

“Thanks to your savvy sense of fashion.” Jane smiled.

“You are much too complimentary of me and my fashion and business sense.” Catherine shook her head.

“And you’re much too modest. When someone compliments you, just say, ‘Thank you.’ Besides, I sincerely doubt that you’ve ever been given a compliment that you didn’t deserve.”

“Well, I shall remember your advice for the next time someone compliments me.” Catherine turned aside and said, “Thank you,” smirking and curtsying to an unseen bearer of compliments.

Jane laughed as she stood and prepared to leave. “We are a pair, are we not? I defy any man not to want to marry us.”

Catherine shook her head again, but there was a bit of sadness in her expression, which seemed to disappear as quickly as it came.

The lamplighters were just climbing their ladders to light the streetlamps as Jane started to walk home in the waning light, until she saw that Henry had sent the carriage for her.