‘Then I have enough to move to a fashionable watering place, Bath or perhaps Harrogate nearer to my child and become fashionable once more. Two years and a half is all that I need.’ Violette’s hands were clutched around her delicate lawn handkerchief in a demonstration of will.
‘With the help of my new venture, perhaps not so long.’ Francine dove into her reticule and removed a sheet of paper. It was an advertisement torn from The Gentlemen’s Review:
The perils of an unsuitable match are life-long. The families of many young ladies are taken in by men who misrepresent their character, breeding or financial worth. Discreet inquiries into prospective husbands undertaken for diligent parents. Contact PO Box 532, London, in the first instance.
Violette and Francine had often discussed that the trouble with genteel families is that they treat their daughters like a ladder: towards wealth perhaps (the settlements) or towards social enhancement (marry above your own station). But Francine knew, from experience, that there were many families who entered as naively into marriage contracts as their daughters did. It was perfectly admissible in Francine’s morality to marry for advancement, but not to suffer degradation for the rest of your life.
For a moment she remembered her sad Lady Elizabeth, she hoped she could be persuaded to escape with the captain. Violette handed her a handkerchief discreetly.
It seemed to her that there was an opportunity here. An opportunity that would no longer necessitate one to rise at dawn and stay up until one’s lady arrived home from a ball in the wee small hours.
‘If Lady Elizabeth’s family had known about him perhaps,’ Violette said, ‘she would not have endured the life she has.’
‘I am not so sure. Her mother, at least, might have still taken the settlement money.’ She could not compete with rampant greed. ‘Well, I have caused this advert to be placed in all the county periodicals. I can save those I may. I have received twenty-seven enquiries already.’
‘But how on earth can you find out what the families can’t?’
‘Who knows a gentleman’s situation better than anyone?’
‘The servants!’
‘Indeed.’ Francine smoothed her gloves over her fingers. ‘And that will be the level of our contacts.’
‘Will you not be in danger of a diligent valet reporting you to his master?’
‘We shall first set someone on the gentleman to watch his habits. Visits to certain places in London will indicate character. We will observe how he treats his servants, for that is also an indication and lastly, we shall look for the most disaffected of servants and seal their tongues with shillings.’
‘What help can I give?’
‘Those gentlemen who do not pay their bills. Or who pay bills for more than one lady. There is always talk, is there not, amongst the dressmakers and tailors of the city? Don’t you hear tales?’
‘There was a tailor in the city, Sandler, who has had to flee his debtors this week. Brought down by Lord Whitelaw and his cronies. Ordered much and nary a one paid.’
‘It is too bad. I trust you keep a handle on your client’s bills?’
‘There are difficulties, but I have a number of solutions.’
‘Do tell…’
‘Well,’ said Violette with a little pride in her own machinations, ‘I assess the fashionability of the client. Lady Enderbury arrived for example, and I know from the conversation of the clients that her consequence is enormous. But her husband does not pay his debts.’
‘So?’
‘I of course make her all the hats she desires. It is not necessary to ask her to give my name. Her beauty is such that she will be asked.’
‘Not a loss then.’
‘Indeed. I have had countless clients as a result. For just the cost of nine hats. All ladies are treated wonderfully in the shop, but if enquiries indicate that a lady is one who does not pay, then I offer the hats to be delivered in three months.’
‘And they refuse of course. The season will be over.’
‘I apologise profusely and cite how very busy I have become. There are also, if needed, a couple of very ugly hats in the back room that we use on clients who obviously have very little means and intend to walk the park wearing garments that they have no intention of paying for. They leave looking for another milliner.’
Francine sat back and smiled. ‘You are a clever and wonderful woman.’ She paused. ‘I think, don’t you, that we could train a couple of girls as kitchen maids and infiltrate the homes of our suspected gentlemen.’
Violette’s eyes clouded. ‘Only if they carry a cosh.’
Francine held out her hand. ‘Agreed.’ They shook on it.
As she left the shop, she thought of Violette’s companions in the convent. Francine was no fool. Many of those girls might be too far from a clean working life for her to help. But the waste of women could not be supported.
A carriage halted her progress crossing the street. As it past, she saw a hat that Violette had trimmed, one with a lace veil in pale blue to match a handsome travelling dress that she herself had ironed two days ago. The carriage moved past and a little squeal went up. Two faces, one veiled in blue and one with handsome military whiskers leaned from the window. A hand flew up. A handkerchief waved. Francine fought down her joy lest she dance in the street.
She turned the street corner, calm once more. A band of women walked carrying a banner .Women’s Suffrage, it said.
Yes, thought Francine dispassionately, but meanwhile …
Read on:
Getbook.at/FrancineT
Also by Alicia Cameron
Audiobooks:
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Angelique USA
Beth: coming soon
Clarissa USA
Delphine USA
Honoria USA:
Felicity USA
Francine USA
Regency Romances:
Angelique and the Pursuit of Destiny
Beth and the Mistaken Identity (The Fentons Book 2)
Clarissa and the Poor Relations
Delphine and the Dangerous Arrangement
Euphemia and the Unexpected Enchantment
Felicity and the Damaged Reputation
Honoria and the Family Obligation (The Fentons, Book 1)
Edwardian/Victorian Romances:
Francine and the Art of Transformation (Francine Book 1)
Francine and the Cost of Love (Francine Book 2 - coming soon)
* * *
Euphemia and the Unexpected Enchantment: The Fentons Book 3 Page 8
