The Girl with the Red Ribbon (27 page)

Rowan heard Louisa smother a very unladylike exclamation.

‘Don't worry, Mrs Parker. Your powers of observation are as acute as ever, as is Mrs Crawford's memory. I think
you will be suitably reassured when you see them both at the party. I take it you, too, have been invited?' Louisa asked solicitously. In a snap, Mrs Parker's gleeful look was replaced by a scowl.

‘I merely wished to acquaint you with my findings in case a mistake had occurred,' the woman muttered, giving an indignant sniff as she hurried from the shop.

‘If only you knew, Mrs Parker, if only you knew,' Louisa whispered, flopping back down on the chair.

‘She only came in to make mischief, didn't she?' Rowan asked.

Louisa nodded.

‘And you knew she wasn't invited to the soirée, didn't you?'

Louisa nodded again. ‘She is a nosy woman, inclined to spite. For obvious reasons, her presence is hardly ever requested at social gatherings. Still, that doesn't solve our problem, does it?'

‘I'm really sorry …' Rowan began, but Louisa interrupted.

‘No, it's my fault for not ensuring the bonnet was placed in the workroom ready for the ribbons to be changed. Well, it is time to close the shop for today. Let us go through and have something to eat. Maria will have left something ready. We can ponder a solution whilst we eat. If, indeed, there is one,' she said, looking despondent.

Rowan felt a pang when she saw how ashen her employer looked. Although she had been quite reasonable under the circumstances, Rowan was mortified to have caused her such anxiety.

The little maid had left a rabbit stew simmering on the open range and, despite her anxiety about their
predicament, the smell made Rowan's mouth water. There were freshly baked rolls to mop up the rich gravy, and although they ate in silence she felt her spirits reviving. Her imagination went into overdrive as she strove to find an answer. As her mind went over all the bonnets displayed in the shop, a vision of the two women popped into her head. Excitedly, she jumped to her feet.

‘That's it!' she exclaimed, making Louisa jump. ‘They're both so different.'

‘Sorry, Rowan, do you think you could elucidate?' Louisa asked, quite forgetting to call her Miss Rowena.

‘Mrs Crawford is quite petite, like me, while Lady Arlingham is tall and, well, a bit on the large side,' she said. ‘So I think I have the answer to the problem.'

‘Miss Rowena, just because you are the cause of this trouble, I don't think there's any need to be rude,' Louisa protested, looking aghast.

‘Oh, I'm not, Madame Louisa. Truly I'm not,' Rowan cried. ‘I merely meant that as Lady Arlingham is quite, well, regal, that bonnet would get lost on her head. The other one with the bigger crown – sorry, I've forgotten its name – would suit her better,' she said breathlessly.

‘You mean the Lady Anna cottage bonnet? Yes, I can see that its height and wider brim would be more appropriate for Lady Arlingham's stature. However, the one displayed in the window was the Lady Rachel model,' Louisa pointed out.

‘I know, but when she came into the shop, she only pointed to the window. She didn't actually look at the bonnet, did she?'

‘I'm sorry, Rowan, I'm not sure I take your point,' Louisa said.

‘If she only spotted it from her carriage, she would have seen just the front view. She didn't study it closely or try it on, did she? Were you to cover the Lady Anna bonnet in the same colours and trim it with those pink and white ribbons, it would look suitably like the one in the window. Mrs Crawford tried hers on so she knows what hers will look like, but with the change of ribbons we
discussed. If we were also to change the colour of that bit around the face on hers, they'd look completely different from the front, wouldn't they?'

‘The underbrim, you mean? Yes, I can picture what you say. Well, that might just solve our problems,' Louisa said, giving Rowan a warm smile. Relief flooded through her but her employer was already back in business mode. ‘Come along, Miss Rowena, I fear we have a long night ahead of us.' Louisa was already getting to her feet. ‘You are about to get an instant master class in millinery.'

Throughout that long night as the candles burned lower in their sticks, they sewed, pleated and frilled until finally the two bonnets were completed. As Louisa sat back and studied them carefully, Rowan held her breath. After all the trouble she'd caused, it would be dreadful if her employer found her stitching wanting.

‘Well, Miss Rowena,' she finally proclaimed, with a weary smile. ‘I think we have created two suitably diverse May Day bonnets that I hope will pass muster. Fingers crossed we get away with our little subterfuge or my reputation will be in shreds.' She stifled a yawn, as she carefully packed them into two hatboxes lined with the softest tissue paper. As her signature scent wafted around the workroom, Rowan tried not to yawn herself. ‘Right, I'm going to snatch a few hours' sleep before our work is put to the test,' Louisa announced, getting to her feet.

‘I'll clear up in here,' Rowan said, pointing to the table, which was strewn with scraps of material, ribbons and equipment.

‘One thing I feel I have to say before I go,' Louisa said, her voice so stern Rowan's heart lurched. Was she going
to be fired for her mistake, even after working so hard tonight? ‘What is the one thing you must never forget?'

‘Never place a bonnet that has been sold back in the window,' Rowan said.

‘Yes, and you must also remember the secrets of the milliner stay in the workroom. With any luck, both ladies will be so delighted with their creations it will never occur to them they have had the material pulled over their eyes,' Louisa said, her own eyes twinkling with amusement. ‘Now you go and get some rest, too. You can clear this little lot away whilst I am out on my appointments. That's after you've made a replacement hat for the window.'

‘What?' Rowan shrieked.

‘Just my little joke, Miss Rowena,' Louisa said, laughing as she left the workroom.

Despite not getting to bed until the early hours, Rowan was up at first light. A legacy from her life on the farm, she thought, wondering how her father and Sab were faring. Father should have received her letter by now and she hoped she'd receive a reply soon. Splashing her face with water from the jug Maria had left on the washstand, she dressed quickly and hurried downstairs and out to the yard. The privy was clean and quite serviceable, but as she watched the huge dark spiders scuttling up the walls to their webs that festooned the corners, she was glad she wasn't afraid of them.

Snatching up the broom, she hurried through the entry to sweep the pavement outside. Louisa was placing another elegant bonnet, this one of rose and gold, on its stand in the window, and she nodded in greeting. Obviously, Rowan was forgiven for her
faux pas
of the previous
day. Goodness, she was beginning to think in French like her employer now.

‘Good morning, Miss Rowena,' her employer trilled as she appeared in the shop. ‘Have you eaten yet?'

‘No, I thought I'd better tidy up the workroom first,' Rowan said, although her stomach was rumbling like a cart over cobbles.

‘I appreciate your diligence, but after your long night's work your body needs sustenance. Maria has made a pot of porridge so go and help yourself. When you've eaten, I will instruct you on what's to be done in my absence.'

Feeling better after breaking her fast, Rowan hurried back to the shop with renewed energy and enthusiasm.

‘Now, Miss Rowena,' Louisa said, ‘whilst I am out I would like you to tidy up the workroom and then label the ribbons with your flower names. It's occurred to me that we need to ensure we always call them by the same name, or confusion could occur.'

‘How shall I know what names you want to use?' Rowan asked, eager to get everything right today.

‘As you are familiar with the vernacular names, such as you have been using, I will be quite happy to go along with those you choose. It will be good for you to assume responsibility from the beginning of your apprenticeship, Miss Rowena, and I have the utmost faith in your abilities,' Louisa said, smiling.

‘What, after my
faux pas
yesterday?' Rowan asked.

Louisa gave one of her tinkling laughs. ‘I'm impressed by the way you're using French expressions. I think it lends an air of sophistication and we should work well together,' she said.

Rowan
smiled, not feeling it necessary to let on she only knew what Louisa had taught her.

‘As for yesterday, well, we all make mistakes. The thing to do is learn from them and move on. Now I shall deliver Mrs Crawford's bonnet and then call upon Miss Carruthers. If I have time to deliver it before noon, I will call back to collect Lady Arlingham's bonnet. Otherwise, it will have to wait until later this afternoon, after social visiting has finished.'

‘Social visiting?' Rowan asked.

‘Yes, between the hours of noon and three the ladies of Saltmouth pay their daily visits. Call upon their neighbours and friends,' Louisa elaborated, seeing Rowan's blank look.

‘You mean they stay for three whole hours?' she asked.

Louisa laughed. ‘No, silly. They stay for precisely fifteen minutes per visit and then move on to their next point of call.'

‘But supposing they are halfway through a sentence when their time is up?' Rowan asked, frowning.

This time Louisa's laugh was louder. ‘That would hardly be socially acceptable. No, these ladies have got their etiquette down to a fine art. I understand they merely pass the time of day with small talk.'

‘Well, it sounds stupid to me. Why don't they all get together in one house and save all that moving around?'

‘I can't say I disagree with your sentiment. However, that's how society works in Saltmouth, and it pays our business to respect this. Personally I find these quiet hours the perfect time to catch up on my bonnet making. Now,
whilst I am away, please deal with any client politely and efficiently. Take a note of their name, address and requirements in that red book on the counter. Tell them Madame Louisa will call upon them to fulfil their order as soon as she returns,' she said, gathering up her workbag and hatbox. Rowan hurried to open the door for her employer, nerves flitting like butterflies in her stomach. Did Louisa really think she could manage the shop in her absence?

She busied herself tidying the workroom and then, in her neatest handwriting, began penning the labels for the ribbons, as Louisa had instructed. Gradually, as she became absorbed in her task, her nerves subsided and she began to enjoy herself. She was just deliberating between buttercup and primrose for the shiny yellow, when the shop bell tinkled. Smoothing down her apron, she hurried through the dividing curtain.

‘Well, hello there. And who do we have here?' a smartly dressed gentleman boomed in a voice far too loud for the small room. He stood there for a full moment, blatantly eyeing her up and down. With his brown hair, short legs and portly stomach protruding from his waistcoat, he reminded Rowan of a weasel from the woods.

‘Good morning, sir. How may I be of help?' Rowan asked, willing her own voice not to squeak.

‘Amos Acland at your service, my dear,' he boomed, doffing his top hat. ‘I have called by to see that daughter of mine, Louisa.'

‘I'm afraid Madame Louisa is out visiting a client. May I give her a message?' Rowan enquired, hoping to keep his visit as short as possible.

‘Madame
Louisa, eh?' he laughed. ‘And what may I call you, young lady?'

‘Miss Rowena, sir,' she said. ‘Madam is likely to be some time so if you'd like to state your business, I shall, of course, see that she gets your message.'

‘If I were to tell you what I'd like my business to be, it would bring a blush to that pretty little face of yours,' he smirked.

Rowan shuddered and took a step backwards. Surely sweet Mrs Acland couldn't be married to this insidious little creep? But then, he had said he was Louisa's father. With great difficulty, she fought down the urge to slap the sickly smile off his shiny face. Taking a deep breath, she forced a smile.

‘Your message, sir?' she asked, pleased to hear her voice sounded firmer this time.

‘Don't worry, Miss Rowena. I shall call again – very soon,' he added, his grey-blue eyes glittering. Then, with another doff of his hat, he went out to his carriage, which was drawn up outside.

With her legs trembling, Rowan collapsed on to the chair. What a truly obnoxious man. She couldn't believe he was married to the refined Mrs Acland, or that he was father of the gentlemanly Alexander and ladylike Louisa. Then she remembered what Louisa had said about his philandering ways and shuddered. The tinkling of the bell roused her from her reverie. Jumping to her feet, she pasted on a smile and then nearly groaned aloud when she saw Mrs Parker bustling through the door.

‘Was that Mr Acland's carriage I saw leaving?' she asked, her eyes bright with curiosity.

‘Good
morning, Mrs Parker, how may I help you?' Rowan asked, ignoring the question.

The woman glanced around the shop. ‘Is Madame Louisa not here?'

‘Not unless she's hiding in a hatbox,' Rowan said. Then, not wanting the woman to think she was being rude, she smiled. ‘Sorry, Mrs Parker, just my little joke.'

‘Well, I'm not daft, dear. She would never fit inside one, would she?'

Rowan raised her eyebrows. It was going to be a long morning.

‘Anyway, not to worry, I'll call another time,' Mrs Parker said, pausing to look at the bonnet in the window. ‘I think that one is far more tasteful than the one Mrs Crawford has purchased. All those pink and white ribbons will do nothing for her complexion,' she said, grinning gleefully, as she bustled out of the shop again.

Clearly Mrs Crawford hadn't chosen to share the fact that she was having the colours of her ribbons changed, Rowan thought, smiling as she took herself back to the workroom and resumed her task. Having neatly labelled the rolls of ribbons, she then arranged them on the shelves in their colour bands. She had just finished and was admiring her handiwork when Louisa appeared in a rustle of petticoats. Placing her workbag on the work table, she turned to look at Rowan.

‘Everything all right, Miss Rowena?' she asked. Rowan thought again how elegantly presented her employer was in her sapphire dress with its pin-tucked bodice and dome-shaped skirts. Her bonnet, with its toning ties and single egret feather, tastefully completed the ensemble.
Rowan wondered if she could ever achieve such a sophisticated appearance. Probably not, with her mop of copper curls to manage, she decided.

‘Has anything upset you, Rowan? You look, I don't know, quite remote somehow,' her employer said, forgetting her shop title as she gave her a searching look.

‘Everything's fine,' Rowan reassured her.

‘I see you have taken it upon yourself to rearrange my ribbons as well as labelling them,' Louisa frowned.

‘I just thought they looked more harmonious arranged in their contrasting colours but I can change it back if you don't like it,' Rowan replied quickly.

‘No, it's all right. I agree they are far more pleasing to the eye like that. Obviously, I need to get used to someone else having a say around here,' Louisa said with a laugh that didn't quite reach her eyes. ‘Now then, have we had any clients this morning?'