12. Zeth
Zeth
“Thank you for looking,” I said politely to the third person this morning who declined to buy Mum’s dresser.
This woman had actually turned her nose up at it.
That made being nice a challenge, but Mum would be proud of me as I waved the woman goodbye without hitting the rude bitch with the door on the way out.
Once she was gone, Millie entered the room from the stairwell and limped past the counter to join me on the dim sales floor. Her gaze flew to the sale sign and then to me. “No luck?”
I sighed. “None. We have a grand total of nine ‘no thank yous’ since it got moved downstairs.”
That was two days ago since I kicked Amby out for flirting the truth out of me.
One day since I ran into him with Anna. I still couldn’t believe he won.
He made me so furious, the selfish brat.
Inconsiderate rapscallion. Greedy rich boy.
Uncaring snot. Rubbing my nose, I tamped down twenty-two additional phrases that occurred to me for former friends and lovers who tricked you and stole your only chance for security.
Millie, on the other hand, hummed a little ditty as she opened the door and held it, waiting.
I followed and locked it behind us. I was glad to find the day sunny and the sidewalk bustling.
“Well, if nothing else, it’s encouraging how much business this location gets.
That’s a good selling point for the laundry.
The new owner can have a successful little business here. So… on to shopping for clothes?”
She held her arm out to me, like she wished to escort me, so I huffed and accepted her gentlemanly offer. “Aye, lead the way.”
What she really needed was my support to walk straight.
Her ankle was still healing. I wouldn’t have suggested the outing, but my best suit went for a swim in a lake, so I needed something that wasn’t stained.
Millie suggested the tailor shop mentioned in her news clipping about Anna.
Without money, that was today’s challenge.
“Do you really think they’ll give us credit?” Millie asked.
I stood straighter and glanced ahead. “I can only hope. How else will I look good for Anna?”
I didn’t have the heart to tell Millie that Amby ruined our con. Or how I ruined our con. There was nothing to be done about it now. I had to start searching for a new target, a new man or woman to dupe into marrying me and taking us into their home. And I needed to appear rich enough to marry.
“I’ll shop for new clothes too,” Millie added. “Perhaps some pants this time.”
I had enough to deal with already, so I glared at her with my we-talked-about-this face. “You still have the white lace dress.”
“That’s a picnic dress,” she whined.
“Which you refused to wear to the picnic, so you can still use it.”
Millie pouted over the dress.
When we passed a few town citizens, I tipped my cap to them all, and Millie politely nodded. Everyone seemed nice, and even curious, but went about their busy way.
Once we reached the shop, Millie opened the door with a playful taunt while I walked in with a swagger that said I didn’t care that my wallet was empty.
What I expected to find inside was the tailor, along with lots of fabric and readily available suits and dresses.
And if I was lucky, a new elite to become my spouse.
What I didn’t expect to find was Amby sitting in a blue-cushioned chair with his legs crossed and a book balanced in one of his hands. He acted like he owned the place. I wouldn’t be surprised if his bank did own the property.
His sister Hattie was there too, modeling a dress in front of a mirror, and Amby’s twin, Emiline, bent beside her with a measuring tape in her hand.
Three Somerset siblings all turned to stare at me. Amby was the most surprised I’d seen him since coming to Everdeen. What, did he think I didn’t go shopping?
I finished strolling in and ignored Amby, speaking to Hattie instead, “What a nice surprise meeting you here, Hattie darling. And in such a lovely ensemble. That rose quartz color suits you. And Emiline, it’s wonderful to see you again.
” I turned back and motioned to my sister, who was doing her best to mimic my stroll.
I only hoped I looked so debonair. “You remember Millie, I’m sure. ”
Emiline relaxed and got quickly to her feet. Her face brightened as she stepped forward and grabbed my hand. She always seemed to be the most welcoming one of the bunch, and it was clear on her friendly face that she at least wanted me here.
“It’s so good to see you, Zeth, and Millie.” She nodded at us. The auburn curls that escaped her braid annoyed me. I didn’t like how similar they were to a certain brother. “What can I do for you today?”
I couldn’t help but seek out those matching curls a few feet away, and found Amby scowling at me from behind his book. I inhaled and met Emiline’s waiting gaze, which still appeared so inviting.
“Someone stained my suit, so I find myself in need of a new one. I was hoping that I might…” Feeling the silence of the room, I leaned in closer to Emiline and whispered, “Could I commission a suit on loan? Something nice, but not too nice. My funds… are tied up with investments.”
The embarrassment that blew through my cheeks almost made me turn around and leave. I didn’t want the rest of the Somersets to know our circumstances, if Amby didn’t tell them already. No one needed to witness my failures written in red ink, filling my ledger columns.
“Oh, of course,” Emiline whispered back with a dash of mischief that reminded me of Amby.
She wanted to help me? I never felt so grateful.
“Just give me a moment.” When she whisked away, I tried not to take it personally.
It wasn’t her fault that slipping into a rear door meant abandoning me to a room full of people trying to translate what just happened.
So, I ignored them. I offered my arm to Millie, so she wouldn’t limp, and led her over to some fabrics in a back corner. As soon as we got there, I lifted a corner of velvet from a tall bolt and showed it to her, while also listening for voices.
Emiline was indeed in a second room asking someone for permission.
She spoke so softly, I didn’t catch everything, but I heard enough to feel like a beggar.
My arm tightened against Millie’s, ready to flee.
However, she caught my eye and sent me a I’ll-beat-them-up-for-you look. Bless my crazy sister.
“How is your foot, Millie?” Hattie asked as she continued to admire her dress in the mirror. “It was quite a nasty fall the other day at the picnic.”
“It’s healing nicely, thank you. So kind of you to ask,” Millie replied so politely over her shoulder, I checked to make sure she hadn’t been replaced.
And then I heard—we all heard—the answer to Emiline’s question in a voice so masculine and deep that the answer nearly broke down the door, “Certainly, we can help poor Zeth!” Poor Zeth? Now I definitely wanted to leave. “He can pay us back in trade, or—”
“Hattie!” my sister suddenly yelled so loud I flinched away from her. “Zeth wasn’t lying about that color. It’s charming on you.”
“Thank you!” Hattie yelled back. One would think the girls stood miles apart instead of standing a few feet away.
Amby smiled from behind his book. Was he enjoying my humiliation?
I fumed at him as Hattie yelled between us, “I chose pink because it means affection and kindness, like one of the ribbons at the Founders Day Festival coming up in a few weeks!”
She was so loud, I could no longer hear the man’s voice through the door.
The girls were saving me from complete humiliation, bless them.
Thankfully, this drama didn’t last long because the door opened and a towering, beefy fellow with broad shoulders, chestnut brown hair, and bushy beard entered the sales floor.
He found me instantly with kind green eyes and clamped my shoulder as if we were best friends.
Actually… we had been friends. Good friends.
I let go of Millie to slap the tailor’s solid shoulder. “Arthur Honeycutt? Is that you, old rascal? You’re a giant. Now I know how everyone feels seeing me again. What are they feeding you?”
“Brussels sprouts.” Arthur’s laugh reached into his eyes, bringing back so many memories of playground tussles and king of the hill games.
He was a year older than us, but never used age to his advantage.
He was always the loudest out of Amby and me, and always the biggest. Now, he was practically a bear.
“Zeth Washer, it’s been too long. How are you? ”
I pretended to punch his shoulder before I answered, “I’ve been well enough, but you’re thriving, clearly.” My arm gesture swept out to include the shop and Emiline, whom Arthur used to pine after as kids. Then I poked his belly. “Maybe too well.”
Arthur proudly patted his belly while Emiline teased him, “That’s what you get for letting my brother hook you on beer and games at the pub every Friday.”
Were they married? I didn’t see a ring, but the way she gazed at her boss made it clear the two had become close.
“What can I say?” Amby added, coming up beside her and speaking for the first time since I’d arrived. “I’m a master at tempting people. You could even call me a conman.” He eyed me before straightening his jacket with a snide expression.
I huffed at him. He wanted to rub his deception in my face, and bring up mine? In front of our families. That was bold.
“Well, even so, I’m grateful our card games led Em to take this job,” Arthur said.
I was surprised a Somerset was working outside the bank. “Why are you working here?”
My question was rude, yet Emiline confidently planted her hands on her hips. “Fashion is my expertise. Don’t we all have that one thing we’re really good at? To do what I love for a living is a dream.”