Chapter Thirty-Eight
Upon deciding to hold their house party during the holy season, the Huntresses and Pack had made an unbreakable commitment to each other that absolutely no gifts would be exchanged.
Eve knew this was a way of saving those without financial means from feeling any pressure to obtain gifts and experiencing any embarrassment at being the only ones without offerings. But as Christmas morning gave way to Christmas afternoon, she knew with certainty that the arrangement hadn’t been a concession at all. Being together was the greatest gift she could think of. She was surrounded by her very best friends. Everyone was being thoughtful of Nia but not in a pitying or suffocating way. The holy day was peaceful while also filled with laughter. And Duke had spent the entirety of it with her, holding her hand, sitting beside her, talking about anything and everything.
She wouldn’t have him with her for long. He and his aunt and uncle were leaving for London in only a few more days. She wouldn’t follow for months. Months. Though she’d set a goal for herself not to dwell on his looming departure, she couldn’t entirely clear her thoughts of it. And she must not have kept her sorrow from her expression, as Duke regularly drew her closer and whispered, “I will miss you as well.”
They were sitting together, listening to Toss and Tobias trade entertaining tales from their various school experiences, when Artemis tiptoed over to Eve and Duke.
“I’ve come to steal you two for a moment,” she said quietly.
Careful not to disrupt the storytelling, they followed Artemis out of the drawing room and to the nearby sitting room. Charlie was inside, as was Mater. And Artemis shut the door behind them, which was decidedly unexpected.
“I have had yet another brilliant idea,” Artemis said, taking a seat beside Charlie. “There have been so many that I’m certain you have lost count.”
Charlie grinned at her, clearly delighted by his wife’s theatrics.
“But to share that brilliant idea,” Artemis continued, “I first need to make Duke aware of something few people know.”
“I am intrigued,” Duke said.
With a nod, Artemis answered, “You should be.”
Mater’s smile was as amused as Charlie’s but heavily infused with an undeniably maternal bent.
“This cannot go beyond this room,” Artemis warned Duke.
“My secret keeping can be depended on,” he said.
“As you know, the Huntresses are particularly fond of Miss Martinette’s dress shop.”
Duke shook his head. “I did not know that, but I do now.”
Artemis looked surprised. “We spent countless hours there during the Season.”
Eve jumped in. “And Duke spent only a week in London.”
“True.” Artemis nodded her head. “I suppose your ignorance on the matter can be tolerated this time.”
With that look in his eyes that Eve knew to be laughter, Duke said, “How magnanimous of you.”
“Miss Martinette’s is not merely the place for fashionable ladies to obtain unparalleled gowns,” Artemis said, “it is also overseen by a proprietress who does not actually own or run the shop.”
Was Artemis truly going to reveal this secret? It was so tightly kept that other than Charlie, none of the Pack had been told.
“You have met Rose Narang,” Artemis said.
“I have,” Duke answered.
“She and I secretly own and run Miss Martinette’s dress shop.”
Nothing but shock registered on Duke’s face. But his expression quickly shifted to one of a person sorting a puzzle. “If Society knew of your role at the shop, it would be a disaster for both of you.”
“And everyone connected to us,” Artemis added.
Duke turned to Charlie. “This is how your finances are stretching further. I was baffled, honestly. I didn’t think publishing mathematical papers came with much financial reward.”
“Fortunately,” Charlie said, “no one outside of our nearest and dearest had any idea that our budget was so strained to begin with, so they’ll have even less idea now or moving forward that anything has changed.”
Artemis was focused once more on Eve. “Rose and I have been discussing some changes at the dress shop.”
Eve nodded. “You said as much at the very beginning of this house party.”
“One of the changes we have considered is converting the alcove near the front door of the shop into a very exclusive tea room. Ladies who come to order dresses or for fittings could enjoy little delicacies while they wait, which would elevate their experience and further set our shop apart from others. But ladies could visit just the tea shop without an appointment at Miss Martinette’s, and in so doing would see our dresses and establishment in person, which we believe would encourage more people to place orders at the shop.”
Eve listened intently, feeling the undeniable sense that something was about to change for all of them.
“We had assumed that our best approach was to place a daily order with Gunter’s, as is often done.” Artemis shook her head. “But that rather undermines our aim of setting ourselves apart, to create an experience that can be had only at Miss Martinette’s. Then you confessed early in this gathering that you are, in fact, a baker, and I have tasted for myself how remarkable a baker you are.”
Duke, watching Artemis intently, squeezed Eve’s hand.
“I wrote to Rose that very day,” Artemis said. “We have developed a very extensive code, which allows us to discuss potentially sensitive topics with no fear that others will read or understand them. This secret of yours, Eve, remains safe.”
Eve could hardly breathe, excitement warring with her hesitation to open herself up to possible disappointment.
“The letter I received yesterday was from Rose,” Artemis said. “We would like to propose that you open a tea shop on the premises of Miss Martinette’s. It would be yours to guide and run, though you would likely need to do so with the same secrecy and misdirection that we utilize. Mr. Layton has been invaluable in sorting the complexities of our endeavor and has said he would be happy to do the same for a tea shop. And while I imagine a tremendous amount of tea will be served, Rose and I are of the opinion that it will become known as, in essence, a patisserie that also serves tea.”
Almost too amazed to speak, Eve whispered, “I would have my own patisserie.”
“You would have to be very secretive about that,” Artemis reminded her. “Being a lady’s companion is perfectly acceptable in Society. A lady running an actual business isn’t at all .” She leaned forward and took Eve’s free hand. “And though the first year will be leaner than those that follow, your patisserie would provide you income that you can add to what you receive as a companion. That will allow you to help your family give Nia the care she needs while still having money to set aside for other things.”
Eve took a quick breath, her mind and heart leaping about.
Charlie watched Duke. “Living with your aunt and uncle isn’t a terrible prospect, but it might be nice not to have to do that for the rest of your life. Eve’s income, combined with yours, could make that possible down the road.”
“Once we know how my parents will behave,” he said, his smile more amazement than anything else.
“In the meantime,” Mater said, “Eve would need to be in London from at least the beginning of March until the very end of the Season.”
“We’d have months together instead of weeks.” Eve swallowed down a lump of emotion.
Duke turned to Mater. “That would mean you would likely need to be there as well.”
“A change that will delight my friends to no end.”
“But will it delight you ?” Eve pressed, looking at her with concern. “That would mean far less time spent at Lampton Park.”
“I’ve needed something to nudge me into the next stage of my life, to discover what is next for me.” Mater actually looked a little excited. “I believe this is just the thing. And the traveling we wish to do could be undertaken in the autumn, after the ton has left Town for their country estates. It would work out rather well, actually.”
Eve could hardly believe how much had changed in one brief conversation.
She squeezed Duke’s hand. “We wouldn’t have to be apart for endless months.” Eve shook her head in stunned amazement. “I would be in London, spending time with our friends. And I could bake every day. Every single day.”
“Your dreamed-of future,” Duke said with a smile.
She leaned closer to him and whispered, “A future with you is my dream. Always.”
He kissed her forehead and wrapped his arms around her.
“While this path doesn’t come with a guarantee,” Mater said, “it comes with a great deal of hope. And hope combined with love, be it the love of family or friends or the person with whom you wish to spend all your life, is a powerful thing.”
From the moment Mother had told Eve of the painful change in the family’s situation, making do had been the best that had seemed possible. Making do. Getting by. Now she stood with Duke, looking ahead to a future filled with hope and love.