The Crimson Thread (Once Upon a Time) by Mahlon F. Craft Suzanne Weyn

Author:Mahlon F. Craft Suzanne Weyn [Suzanne Weyn, Mahlon F. Craft]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Published: 2009-10-16T06:00:00+00:00

When they arrived at the townhouse, George and James tried to persuade her to go with them to a party, but Bertie declined. Instead she went directly to the sewing room and ripped the top off one of the crates of fabric stacked in the corner. The packing material was just the same as it had been in the other crate. She could use it to make designs now that she’d seen how Ray had done it. She didn’t need him.

Flipping through the pattern books, she searched for dresses that would be suitable for Catherine and Alice. At least here she could fit them on their dressmaker’s dummies, which would save time in alterations. Plus, she had the sewing machine, which would be invaluable to her.

Lighting the gas lamps in the room, she got to work.

In the morning she was still at her task. Bertie didn’t relish the idea of going back to her apartment for fear that Ray would pop out at her when she least expected it, as was his habit. Instead she had Seamus go downtown to ask Maria if she could stay until Monday. “Tell her she’s the best friend in the world for doing this,” she instructed Seamus, “and someday I will find a way to repay her.”

Upon his return, Seamus reported that Maria was delighted to stay, since her own apartment was always noisy and cramped with her parents, grandparents, and eight brothers and sisters all living there. “She says she loves Liam and Eileen, and you never have to think of repaying her.”

“She’s the truest friend,” said Bertie.

“I’d do it myself, but Da has me looking after the horses with him,” he said. “Mr. Wellington is going to start paying me a wage too.”

“Good for you,” she praised him, draping her arm over his shoulders.

“Of course, if you don’t do a good job on these dresses, Da says we’re all getting the sack,” he added.

“I’ll do a fine job,” she assured him. “Don’t you worry.”

“I know you will.” He smiled at her and then remembered something. “I met that friend of yours, the short fellow with the dark hair.”

“Did you speak to him?” she questioned.

Seamus nodded. “He wanted to know where you were.”

“Did you tell him?”

“I said you were at work.”

Bertie wasn’t sure if he knew exactly where she worked. “Did he say anything else?”

“No. He gave me a peppermint candy and left,” Seamus reported.

All Friday, Bertie worked while Margaret went about her own task of altering the first dress to fit Elizabeth, on Elizabeth’s dummy. She was glad to have Margaret there to advise her. “Don’t give Alice a high-waisted dress. It makes her appear chubby,” she said at one point. “Raise that neckline on Catherine’s dress or Mr. Wellington won’t allow her to wear it,” she said later.

Before finishing for the day, Bertie could tell that Margaret wanted to talk. She’d been cutting out tissue-paper patterns on the pattern table, but stopped to hear what Margaret had to say.

Margaret perched on a high stool and spoke directly.

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