Page 82 of The Best-Kept Secrets
A flicker of hope in her heart told her the answer. “If you’re willing.”
“More than willing.”
Eve straightened her shoulders and nodded. There was no point in delaying any longer. The ladies were watching her expectantly.
“Do sit with us.” Mater motioned her over.
Eve took the offered seat next to Mater. Duke remained standing, placing himself near the windows.
“I’m certain you’ve sorted out that my family’s not well off,” Eve said. “But—and this bit isn’t widely known, so I’d appreciate it not being whispered about.”
“Of course,” Mater said.
The other ladies nodded their agreement as well.
“Our situation has grown worse lately. And now, with Nia being ill and facing months of needing a doctor’s care and treatments, things are dire.” Eve took a deep breath, pushing it out slowly. “I need to find a position that will earn me a bit of money that I can send back to my family. I am hoping that you three might know of a lady looking to take on a companion. I realize I am hardly in a position to be particular, but I would prefer a lady who isn’t cruel or inclined to be too much of a taskmaster.”
“I think you are entitled to greater consideration than that, Miss O’Doyle,” Mrs. Greenberry said.
“I haven’t the luxury of waiting for an ideal option.”
Duke was watching her with a pained look from his place near the window. “You’ll at least wait for one that isn’t abysmal, won’t you?”
“That is why I wanted to talk with”—she looked at the three ladies—“the three of you. You know more people than I do.”
Mme Fortier laughed, the sound fittingly graceful. “We know moreolderpeople, I believe you mean.”
Eve shrugged. “I wasn’t going to actually say it out loud.”
The ladies all laughed at that. Duke smiled a little.
“Your mother might know ladies nearer to your family home,” Mrs. Greenberry said.
Eve’s heart dropped. “She might, but she doesn’t know the change in Nia’s health, so she wouldn’t realize how urgently I need to make whatever arrangements for employment I can.”
“You haven’t written to her?” Mrs. Greenberry asked.
Eve shook her head. “My family couldn’t possibly pay the postage on a letter.”
“Eve, my uncle is a member of Parliament,” Duke said. “He can frank letters. Your family would not have to pay any postage to receive them.”
She swallowed down a surge of emotion. “Do you think he would do that for me?”
“Absolutely,” Mrs. Greenberry said.
“I’ve wanted to send a letter, but I couldn’t strain the family finances that way.”
Duke crossed to the door. “I will have the arrangements seen to immediately.” And on that firm declaration, he stepped from the room.
“In your letter,” Mrs. Greenberry said, “be certain to tell your mother that we have room enough for her to stay here and be with your sister. She needn’t worry about that.”
“We cannot afford to receive letters,” Eve reminded them. “There isn’t money enough for a journey. Even if there were, she needs to be at Tulleyloch with my brothers. And I need to sort out a means of seeing my family through these painfully lean times.”
“Well, Julia,” Mrs. Greenberry said, “I suspect I know what you’re thinking, but I do have to wonder what you think the chances of success are this time.”
“Considering I haven’t managed the thing in more than thirty years of trying...” Mater made a show of deep pondering. “I can see no reason not to expect absolute success.”
Eve looked at each of them in turn, confused.
