Page 47 of The Sisters of Sea View
“Henshall...?”
“Yes. A Scotsman.”
Her mother’s brow furrowed. “That name seems vaguely familiar, although I can’t remember why.”
“Never mind, Mamma.” Sarah kissed her forehead. “May I do anything else for you before I see about the tea?”
“No, my dear. I have all I need.”
A short while later, they all sat together in Mamma’s room, the sisters gathered around Fran Stirling, their friend and former lady’s maid. Miss Stirling was well-dressed as usual with every dark hair precisely in place.
Viola joined them from the dressing room that now served as her bedchamber, comfortable enough with Miss Stirling to leave her face uncovered.
Sarah handed their guest the first cup of tea. “And how are things going for you at Broadbridge’s?”
“Oh, well enough. The house isn’t half as grand as Sea View, but at least it is conveniently situated in the marketplace. Many guests stay for the location alone, so I am usually quite busy.”
As Sarah served the others, Miss Stirling sipped her tea and helped herself to one of the jam tarts Sarah had made. “These are delicious! Are they from the pastry chef in town?”
“No, he’s too expensive,” Sarah said. “I have begun doing some baking myself to ease Mrs. Besley’s load.”
“Well done. She was always rather heavy-handed with pastry, as I recall.” Miss Stirling took another bite, then looked from face to face. “And how is it going here?”
Sarah sat down. “I believe we are off to a good start. We have sixguests staying presently: one married couple, one father-daughter pair, and two men traveling alone.”
“Only two females? That seems a disproportionately high number of men.” Miss Stirling gave a sly grin. “Unless ... are these eligible young gentlemen who have heard of the beauty of the Summers sisters?”
Sarah shook her head. “Only Mr. Stanley matches that description. Mr. Hornbeam is a dear but at least sixty.”
Emily said, “You forget Mr. Henshall. He is a widower, but he is notsoold.”
Georgiana looked at her aghast. “He must be at least five and thirty!”
Mamma chuckled. “Good heavens. As ancient as that?”
“Well, at least all of our guests seem genteel,” Sarah said. “Mr. and Mrs. Elton promise to write to their friends and recommend Sea View. She seems to have a great many respectable friends.”
Emily said, “She is certainly impressed with her own self-importance. Let us hope she is a woman of her word.”
“In any case,” Sarah said, “I think we are doing well, so far. Thank you again for all your help and advice.”
Miss Stirling smiled. “My absolute pleasure.”
“Oh, and thank you for suggesting locks for the guest-room doors. One person wrote to inquire about that specifically.”
Fran nodded. “It is not that I am so wise, my dears, but simply the voice of experience. One of my guests said a valuable watch was stolen and tried to hold me accountable, since initially I had no locks on the doors. Thankfully, we found the watch in a laundry basket. Even so, I engaged Leslie ... er, Mr. Farrant ... to install locks that very week. I trust you were pleased with his work?”
“Yes, he was quick and polite.”
“Good.”
Emily said, “Do you know, Broadbridge’s is one of the few boarding and lodging houses listed by name in Mr. Butcher’s guide. How did you manage it?”
Miss Stirling shrugged. “I didn’t manage anything that I know of. One of my guests attended his church during his stay. This man wrote me a kind letter afterward and mentioned he had praised me to the author. That’s my best guess, anyway, as to why the minister mentioned the place.”
“So,” Emily mused, “we need one of our guests to praise us to Mr. Butcher. Any likely candidates?”
Miss Stirling raised a palm. “Be careful. I understand he doesn’t like to be pressured. Prefers to include only those establishments he thinks worthy. So it wouldn’t do to be too direct with him. If a guest praised you, it would have to be unstudied and sincere and not a gentleman obviously smitten with one of you.” She grinned from girl to girl once more.
