Page 4 of Murder at Madame Chambon's
“You want her to be fluent in French?”she clarified.“But you are English?”Lily could hear the faintest trace of an accent with certain words.
“Yes, my former lady’s maid, Mimi, was French.She used to prattle away in French and although it irritated me at the time, I now realise it’s a comfort that I miss.”
“You left her behind in France?”
“She died.She was killed.”The young woman dropped her gaze and her hands trembled.“In the train accident last week.”
Lily drew in her breath, her gaze flying to the healing cut above the young woman’s eye.“You were with her and you… survived?”she surmised.“Oh, my dear Miss Tarot, I am so sorry to hear it.”She sent another perceptive look across the table, adding, “And it is lonely arriving in a large city without the help of someone trusted who has been with you for so long.Of course, we want to help you find just the right lady’s maid.One who is skillful in matters of dress and hair arrangement, and—in your instance—who understands the curiosities of English society, but who is also companionable.”Lily drew in a breath and said expansively, “Miss Tarot, you are doing such a service by choosing us.We started our business only this last month and we rely on the goodness of people—women—like you who are willing to offer a second chance to life’s more unfortunate who may not otherwise find respectable employment.The only difficulty is that there are none I know of who can speak French, either fluently or badly.”Lily stopped when she saw that the young woman was looking at her oddly.
“I don’t understand what you mean,” replied Miss Tarot.“I was directed here when I asked for the name of an establishment that could help me find another lady’s maid.My … sponsor, Lady Perry… the woman who is chaperoning me this season, posed the question in the presence of her housekeeper, who furnished her with this name.Manners and Morals,she said, were an exemplary magazine.She said that an associated employment agency—yours — would be a fitting place to begin my search.”
Lily pondered her response.There were many she’d spoken to who lauded the concept of offering life’s unfortunates a second chance.They just didn’t want to do this themselves—like this young woman whose concern was entirely what she expected in such circumstances.
Clearly Miss Tarot was not as philanthropic as Lily had thought, but she was here, and she needed a lady’s maid.Now was Lily’s chance to win her over.
“Perhaps it is better to have a lady’s maid who does not, in fact, speak French,” Lily suggested.“You have indicated you were fond of your maid.Would it not be better to have as few memories that will make you sad or have you comparing?”She would not labor the fact that the women she offered were fallen women.Best to forge ahead.“And I gather you need to find someone at the earliest opportunity since you are about to sally forth for your season.”
The girl gave a cautious nod, her expression still suggesting she wasn’t sure she was in the right place.“My chaperone had intended accompanying me to your office, but as I wished to find someone today, if possible, and she had a prior engagement, she walked me here and will have someone waiting for me in half an hour.Is it possible to employ someone today?You, of course, would check her credentials.”
“Today.”Lily nodded, her mind racing.“Yes, we can find someone today.I have several excellent candidates and will send them over to you for assessment.This evening, perhaps?Naturally, if neither was suitable, you would be free to continue your search through another employment service.”
Lily certainly hoped she could find what Miss Tarot was looking for.None of the girls she had on her books were suited to employment as a lady’s maid, but she knew just the kind of girl whom she believed would be ideal for this serious, ambitious young woman.
When Hamish’s calm tones interrupted her reverie after Miss Tarot had left, Lily jumped.“I take it you’ve notched up another success?But why so glum?”
Lily glanced up, tapping her fingers on the desktop.“I’m not sure I was as truthful as I should have been.The young lady had not realized that we take such a … charitable approach towards our employees.She assumed that the moral outlook of our employees is aligned with the readership ofManners and Morals.”
“She is a subscriber?”
Lily shook her head, distracted.“She’s lived most of her life in Paris and it was only due to her patroness, who is a subscriber, that she was directed here.Miss Tarot seemed cautious but then said that as long as the girl was moral and honest, that’s all she cared about.”
Hamish scratched his chin.“Moral?Well, that could be interpreted in various ways, I suppose.Most of these girls were brought up to be moral and upright, but were forced into immorality against their will.You’ll have to find a way to navigate that one.Perhaps she’s not the client for you after all, my love.”
Lily shook her head energetically.“I have found a way to navigate that.I’m sending her Kitty.”
“Kitty?Is there a Kitty on the books?”
Again, Lily shook her head.“No, but I intend to ask Kitty, who is Madame Chambon’s maid.She’s worked at the brothel for years, but she’s never worked as the girls have.Too skinny and too plain, Madame would say.And Kitty would not have … done what the other girls did.She was just happy to have employment, but she told me she’d happily leave if a better position was offered.Yes, I’ll send a note around to her now.”
Chapter2
Evelina cast a critical eye at her reflection in the mirror.
Or, rather, at the young maid braiding her hair.For such a plain, skinny little creature, young Kitty was remarkably deft.Creative.
Evelina liked that.When the girl had initially appeared on her doorstep, Evelina had been inclined to decline her services on the spot.Mimi had been so stylish, so … French.
But perhaps Lady Bradden was right.Best to have someone as least like Mimi as possible so that she’d not be reminded.
She shuddered, remembering the horror of the accident, the noise, the screeching, the acrid smell of the smoke.
And the young man who had rescued her and who, in turn, had helped her to rescue the young boy.William.
Except that it was William—the man—she thought of now as she nodded her approval to Kitty, looking in the cheval glass and murmuring, “I like the combination of braids and ringlets.”
“It suits you, miss, with your high cheekbones and eyes like almonds.The ladies I worked for liked to accentuate their eyes to make them look like yours.You don’t have to trouble yourself cos you’re a natural beauty.”
A glow of warmth surged through Evelina.No one had ever told her that.Certainly not the disapproving nuns at the convent who had taught her in place of the mother she barely knew.
