Chapter 2 #2
“An excellent solution, I think,” Grace rushed on.
“As it is, you could only sit behind the stall on Thursdays, but Hannah says there are far many more shoppers on Saturdays. If you bake all week and bring the things on Thursdays, then I will sell whatever is left on Friday and Saturday. That way, nothing goes to waste.”
Grace’s hands moved in exuberance as she outlined this scheme. She must have been thinking this through since the day Joanna told her the news.
“You will stand behind a market stall all of Friday and Saturday?” I asked. “Alone? Is that not rather risky, not to mention tiring?”
“Hannah will be nearby, as will her son. They will keep an eye on me and spell me when I need a rest.”
I had to wonder if she’d nipped to Portobello Road and discussed this with Hannah already.
Hannah Dunnett had once been a maid in a house I’d worked in, and I’d discovered that she was an accomplished thief as well as a practiced liar.
Once we’d resolved those quandaries, we’d become good friends, but she had not entirely left her old ways behind.
These days, Hannah ran a market stall, selling cheap trinkets she used her gift of the gab to talk gullible customers into buying.
I’d bought a few things from her myself, though I’d scrutinized them carefully and refused to give her anything but a fair price.
But though Hannah could still be unscrupulous, she had a good heart.
“What will you do on Sundays?” I asked, as though considering Grace’s idea. “When the market is shut.”
“I’ll travel to Aunt Joanna’s new house on Saturday night. I do not wish to abandon her or Jane altogether. I will stay with them until Monday, when I will return to London for our afternoon out. Tuesdays and Wednesdays I will assist Hannah at her stall, and then Thursday we start all over again.”
Grace smiled broadly, happy she’d worked out a satisfactory arrangement.
“But you will have the expense of train tickets,” I pointed out. “Which you objected to for me. Down and back twice each week? I had planned to travel only on Thursdays.”
“I will save a little of what we make on the market stall for that,” Grace said readily. “Hannah can pay me a bit for helping at her stall as well.”
“And what will you do for room and board?” I asked. “I cannot smuggle you into my chamber in Mount Street, as much as I’d like to. We would be quickly found out, and Mrs. Bywater would give me the sack.”
The mistress of the Mount Street house was ever trying to find a reason to rid herself of me, and discovering I had a daughter would justify all her misgivings about my character.
“I would live with Hannah,” Grace answered at once. “Do you remember the last time we spoke with her? She said she had enough room for the two of us if you ever wanted to chuck your position. I could stay with her and work for my keep. I’m old enough now that I don’t need much looking after.”
“Oh, Grace.”
I pulled her into the doorway of an empty shop, away from any prying ears.
Grace met my gaze defiantly, knowing I was about to reject her scheme. “You told me we should not hold Hannah’s past against her,” she argued before I could begin. “As she’s had to struggle to survive. She is thriving now, and so kind.”
“Yes, but you are thirteen, Hannah is not a relation or your guardian, and I can hardly thrust you into her care.”
“But I wouldn’t have to leave London,” Grace said imploringly. “I don’t want to, Mum. I love Joanna, and I’m happy for Sam, but I am not their daughter. I am yours.”
It healed many wounds in my heart to hear her say this.
A secret fear I had every day was that Grace would grow so fond of Sam and Joanna that she wouldn’t give any more thought for her mother.
I’d had to be too absent from her life, and while there was little I could do about that, it was difficult for both of us.
Grace’s clear awareness that she and I were family made my burden grow lighter.
“You are my dear sweet girl,” I told her, squeezing her shoulders.
“The last thing I want is you living so far away from me. But staying with Hannah is not the answer. She will not have time to look after you, not properly. Her own son runs wild in the streets, and I certainly do not want you to imitate him.”
Grace deflated, blinking back tears. “I knew you would say such things, Mum. But it’s just that I’m afraid.”
“Of what?” I asked in surprise. “You are a brave lass. Surely walks in the country will not be so intimidating. I hear there are badgers in the lanes but they are fine if you leave them be.”
Grace did not laugh. “I am afraid that you will find it less and less convenient to travel to see me every Thursday. That you will cease coming altogether. That you will forget all about me.”
“Oh, my darling child.” I dragged Grace into my arms. “I could never, ever forget you even if I spent forty years at the ends of the earth. I’ve thought of nothing but you since the midwife handed you to me.” The lady had scowled, disapproving of me, but I’d ignored her, enraptured with Grace.
“I’m also afraid of missing you too much.” Grace sniffled into my shoulder. “It’s easier knowing you are only a few miles away. Not fifty. I looked up the distance in an atlas.”
“Is it that far?” I quailed but told myself I must remain steadfast. “As I said to Joanna, your sojourn in the country will be only until Daniel and I are wed and settled.”
Grace’s head popped up. “Can you not wed him now? Or at least before October? We will leave then.”