Tamed by the Marquess by Scarlett Osborne

Author:Scarlett Osborne [Osborne, Scarlett]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-07-13T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 24

Two Respectable Widows

Joanna happened upon new employment by lucky chance. She was desperate to leave King John’s Reward—desperate to keep her little daughter safe from the casual cruelty of women like Gwenda and Betty.

On her afternoon off, she had left Covent Garden and was walking about a nicer part of the city. Hannah was holding her hand. They passed a tea shop, a frilly little place designed to attract women who spent their days in endless shopping.

There was a hand-printed sign in the window. “Authentic Gypsy Fortune Telling. Tea Leaves, Palms, and Tarot Cards. Learn Your Fate Over a Cup of Our Delicious East India Tea.” Intrigued, Joanna went inside, with Hannah following obediently.

It was the afternoon lull, and the shop was not busy. The proprietress, a pleasant, motherly sort who looked like she baked good scones and biscuits, offered to seat them.

Once she had a pot of tea in front of her—with wholesome milk for Hannah—Joanna sought the attention of the matron. “You have a gypsy who tells people’s fortunes?”

“Well, not a real one. Just a swarthy, dark-haired woman who dressed in colored drapings and faked a foreign accent!” the lady confided. “But it was a great line of business while it lasted. Ladies out for the afternoon loved to come in here and learn about their futures.”

“She’s gone now, though. A pity! It really brought customers in the door. I guess I just never got around to taking down the sign.”

Joanna smiled mysteriously. “How would you like to replace her with the genuine article?”

“Wouldn’t I love that! But how—?”

“I’m a real gypsy, Madam. I was raised as one of the Travelling folk. I’m no charlatan. I actually have The Gift, the second sight.”

“Really? My word!” Had Joanna said she was a South Sea Islander, the woman could not have looked more shocked.

“I could make you a great deal of money, Madam. But it happens I’m in dire straits. The place I live and work now is not safe for my little girl. I’d do a lot to get into a situation where I didn’t have to fear for her every moment.”

The shopkeeper was good-hearted. She had fallen in love with Hannah in an instant. “She’s a beautiful little girl, Missus. I can understand why you’d worry for her, with the folks that are out there these days.”

“Lovey, would you like a sweet biscuit?” she asked Hannah. The child’s eyes grew wide with delight. Chuckling, the woman bustled off to get Hannah a treat.

“Look here, I like your idea. I’m Violet—people call me Missus Vi—and I’ve owned this place for years. It’s hard to keep it open, unless you’ve got some sort of gimmick that distinguishes you from all the other tea shops around here. There are rooms above the shop. Could you and the little girl share one? I wouldn’t mind if she were around the shop all day—the customers would be charmed by her.”

They agreed on an appropriate commission for Joanna out of whatever business she brought in.

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