In Diana's Shadow (Constance Grey Mysteries Book 1) by Liz Helfrich

Author:Liz Helfrich [Helfrich, Liz]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Constant Headway LLC
Published: 2022-04-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Saturday, July 17, 1920

Cloudy, rain likely.

After the events of the previous day, Constance was relieved to come into work the following morning and tend to her accounts in peace. The back of the shop was quiet all around. One of the chattiest seamstresses had fallen ill, and the workroom was unusually subdued in her absence. Viviane closeted herself every second either in the fitting room with clients or in one corner of the workroom with Therese, trying to work out who would create which maquette for the fall line and how quickly they could have the models ready. With far fewer interruptions than usual, Constance found herself with her work completed early, and began tending to long-neglected tasks such as inventorying the stamp supply. Once finished with even these minor chores, she pulled the book on tarot cards out of her satchel and tried studying it again.

“I still think those illustrations are uncanny!” Viviane exclaimed from over Constance’s shoulder, making her jump. She perched a stack of papers precariously on the edge of her desk.

“They are and I can’t make heads or tails of them,” Constance replied.

“Well, invite Olga over and get her to explain them to you. Why are you so interested, anyway?” Viviane asked.

“Scientific inquiry,” Constance replied. She couldn’t explain it more than that, even to herself.

“I’ll call Olga and ask her!” Viviane picked up the telephone. “Olga? It’s Viviane Grey. Fine, thank you. My sister Constance is developing an interest in tarot, and I wondered if you’d be able to pop over and give her a reading or a lesson or something. What about tonight? Half-past? Thank you, darling!” She hung up. “Olga can come at half past eight tonight, and she’ll give you a demonstration. Good gracious, look how tidy your desk is!” The papers she had shoved onto the only clean corner of her own desk chose that moment to cascade onto the floor. “Oh dear!”

With nothing more to keep her at the shop, Constance felt no guilt leaving a bit early that afternoon for an appointment with her hairdresser. Although she often reflected that there was little she missed about her old life, Constance did admit that there was one luxury she would return to, if she could. Having a lady’s maid had meant that she could have her hair washed and arranged daily, if she liked, and she often did. Mrs. Harrogate still assisted their mother with her hair, but she professed herself incapable of dealing with the new, shorter hairstyles, and really hadn’t enough time to serve as ladies’ maid to the two sisters as well as their mother and run the household. Constance had tried doing her own hair, but the results were so disastrous that Viviane banned her from the shop until it was sorted out. At university Constance had the funds to go to the hairdresser as often as she liked, at least until that last dreadful term when everything had fallen apart. Afterwards, Constance had resolved to make do with once visit a week.

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