Miracle on Ladies' Mile by Joanna Shupe

Author:Joanna Shupe
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joanna Shupe

CHAPTER 7

I never meant to imply that you’re lacking in any way. I think you’re quite clever.

Grace floated through her work in the basement the next morning, still giddy over last night’s encounter with Alex. There was more than just friendship between them—at least she was beginning to hope as much. He made her feel so alive, so full of energy, and she thought he’d started to smile a bit more in her presence, no longer the dour man from the night they met.

Keep your feet firmly on the ground, her mother’s voice warned in Grace’s head. Fair enough, she was probably getting ahead of herself. However, it was her first outing in the biggest city in America—and to the Haymarket with Alex, no less. Wasn’t she allowed a little fanciful dreaming?

Indeed, if a girl conjured up the perfect evening with the perfect man, this would be it. So she would concentrate on tonight and not worry about the future. Nor would she look for hidden meaning in his every word and glance. She’d act sophisticated and worldly, not like a freckle-faced girl from Pennsylvania.

And if she tripped again and he had to catch her…well, then she’d do her best to enjoy the gentle cradle of his arms and the strong wall of his chest in that one moment.

Grinning at her foolish thoughts, she filled her arms with as many ducklings as she could manage and hurried toward the basement stairs. A small figure darted into her path, startling her.

“Hello, Grace!”

“Sarah. Goodness, you gave me a scare.” An older woman hovered nearby. A relative or governess? “Hello to you both.”

“Good morning, Miss Grace,” the woman said. “Pardon the disruption. I am Sarah’s governess, Mrs. Beadle. Sarah insisted on returning to Mac & Arm’s in order to assist you. She said the two of you discussed this at length yesterday.”

At length? Grace shot Sarah a knowing look. The little scamp. She’d wanted to escape to the store today and had used Grace to do it. Still, she didn’t have the heart to turn the girl away. “I’d be glad for her help, if it’s not a problem for you.” Lord knew the girl’s father wouldn’t mind. From what Sarah had said, he was anxious to wash his hands of his daughter.

“Yes, that would be fine. Her father has agreed to the occasional visit. Correct, Sarah?”

Sarah nodded eagerly—a little too eagerly. “Yes, he did. Thank you very much, Mrs. Beadle.”

“I have two windows to design today,” Grace told them, “so I’ll take Sarah upstairs with me most of the day. Would you care to wait here, Mrs. Beadle, or perhaps the café on the second floor?”

“If you don’t mind, I will visit my sister. She lives a few blocks away. What time shall I return to collect Sarah?”

“Let’s say four o’clock. In plenty of time to get washed up for supper, right?”

“Yes, I should say so. Sarah, mind Miss Grace and I’ll see you this afternoon. And please, try not to bother your father at work.

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