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Violet nodded, then her eyes narrowed as she took in Caroline’s appearance. “But what’s up with you?” she demanded. “Where’s all your pretty color gone? And your new dress? A proper picture you looked before you went out and now look at you!”
To Caroline’s embarrassment her eyes welled up with tears. “Well…”
“’E’s never trying to give you the brush-off, is he?” Vi gasped indignantly. “Not after you had him moaning and groaning for you last night, fit to raise the roof! I said to the girls, well it’s plain to see she knows what she’s doing. No wonder you had all them soldiers after you back home. I wouldn’t have settled for a captain neither if I had your skills.”
Caroline felt herself turn very red. Perhaps living in the attics next the barmaids was not such a good idea after all. “Oh, well…” she said weakly.
“That ungrateful bastard!” Vi seethed. “Took you somewhere nice so’s you couldn’t make a scene! I know the scheme!”
“No, no,” Caroline protested. “It’s not that at all. He’s not done with me. Not yet anyway.”
Vi looked frankly unconvinced. “What you crying for then?”
“Well, it’s just…when we were out, I happened to see someone I know from back home.”
A look of comprehension dawned in Vi’s eye. “Oh, I see,” she said, reaching for the teapot. “I’ll pour. They gave you short shrift, I expect,” she carried on breezily. “Well, when you deviates from the righteous path, that’s what happens, luv. No point crying over spilt milk, now, is there, not a practical creature like yourself.”
Caroline hesitated. “Yes, I suppose that is true,” she agreed.
“First Effie, then you,” Violet sighed.
“Has Effie been crying?”
“She was this morning. Tried to hide it but not a lot gets past me.”
“It’s not the burdens of the new job, is it?”
“Lord bless you! No, it ain’t,” Vi snorted, passing Caroline a cup and saucer. “Enjoying herself vastly Effie is, ordering all of us around and showing us what’s what. Nah, it’s Jeb,” she said. “She swore she was done with him, but he pulled out a ring last night and asked her to marry ’im.”
Caroline took a gulp of tea. “Did she—?”
“Told him where to stick it,” Vi answered with grim satisfaction. “Told ’im it was five years too late, but then afterward she cried herself to sleep.”
“Poor Effie.”
“Jeb looked a little red around the eyes this morning too, but he’s been like that ever since she walked out on ’im.”
“Do you think—?” Caroline hesitated. “I mean, do you think she’s doing the right thing in refusing him?”
“Course I bleedin’ don’t! That Cherry’s been fawning over him all morning, not that he noticed, but someone’s sure to snap him up if she don’t. He’s a fine figure of a man, if nothing else. A bit surly like”—Vi shrugged—“but they can’t all be rays of sunshine.” She directed a frank look at Caroline. “I expect some days even you regrets leaving that captain of yours behind. The love of an honest man and all that.”
Caroline shifted in her seat uncomfortably. “Well…”
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m not sittin’ in judgment over you,” Vi hurried to explain. “You’re living in high style here, but well…” She shrugged. “I’m sure you know it can’t last. If nothing else, he’ll have to marry for duty someday.”
Caroline stiffened for a moment before she could stop herself. “Oh, well, as to that, I don’t think Gervaise has a particularly strong sense of duty,” she said slowly. “He pretty much seems to please himself.”
“Must be nice,” Vi sniffed.
“Yes.” Caroline leaned forward. “Vi…”
“Yes? What is it?” The other woman tipped her head to one side. “Want to ask me a favor?” she asked shrewdly.
Caroline took a deep breath. “Do you know of anyone who would be willing to wander around The Temple region of London with me tomorrow morning while his lordship and Mr. Carstairs are out?”
Vi’s eyes opened wide. “It’s opening day tomorrow, Caroline,” she reminded her. “Had you forgotten? We’ll be all hands on deck.”
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