Page 19 of A Season for Scandal

“If that is the case, please inform me,” Mrs Finch said crisply. “The Aviary will absorb any cost in that area.”

It seemed that working for the Aviary was also going to help Bloom’s grow too. It felt almost miraculous given the state of affairs only days ago.

“I know that Izzy is a duchess, but will people really believe she needs Marigold running around at all hours on some sort of flower emergency?” Winnie said, wrinkling her nose.

I laughed. “That part is absolutely foolproof. You wouldn’t believe some of the requests we get from the aristocracy, and the higher up they are, the more eccentric they can be. A duchess with a personal florist on retainer for all hours of the day and night? If anything, she’ll set the fashion.” An idea occurred to me. “And as part of the cover, I’ll make sure her house is full of beautiful arrangements.”

That may well end up bringing more business our way too, I thought. My mind raced ahead. If we did well, perhaps I’d be able to convince Grandfather to retire fully. He and Mother and Daisy could have a holiday – somewhere relaxing outside the city, with clean sea air, where he could get strong and healthy again… I wondered whether I might be able to drop them a small hint as to the truth of our good fortune.

“Your work at the Aviary must be kept secret, Marigold. You will not be able to reveal the truth to anyone else, not even your family,” Mrs Finch said with that strange ability of hers to know just what I was thinking.

I twisted my hands in my lap. Here was the hardest part of the bargain. “I am not terribly good at lying,” I admitted.

“You will learn,” Sylla said, her words brooking no argument.

“I know it’s necessary,” I said quietly, “but lying to my family … I’ve never really done that before.”

Sylla propped her elbow on the arm of her chair and rested her chin in her hands. Her dark eyes were sharp on my face. “Really?” she asked softly. “You didn’t pretend that you were pleased to be engaged to that fool, Simon Earnshaw? You haven’t protected them from hard realities about the business? Made difficult choices alone to spare their feelings?”

“I – I—” I stammered over this. It seemed that Sylla knew it all. “Those things were small omissions, for their own good.”

“I believe your honesty is an admirable quality.” Sylla leaned back in the chair, watching me. “But the work we do here is vital. It is not hyperbole to suggest that the Aviary saves lives. In all things we must measure the cost against the reward – you should understand this – you are a businesswoman, after all. Keeping secrets from your family may be difficult.” Here, something like pain flickered across her expression, though it passed quickly. “However, those secrets are for their safety, as much as the safety of those we work to protect. You will lie because it is the right thing to do.”

“Is it worth it?” I asked, looking at the women in front of me.

“Yes,” Maud said instantly.

“Yes.” Winnie’s hand pressed mine.

“Absolutely.” Sylla spoke the word with utter conviction.

Mrs Finch was watching us all closely. “What is your next question, Marigold?” she asked.

I took a deep breath, met her eyes and saw the spark burning there. Something settled over me then, a curious feeling of calm.

“Where do we begin?” I asked.

PART TWO

London

Almost six months later

CHAPTER ELEVEN

I may have misjudged this, I thought as I shouldered the weight of the unconscious gentleman who was draped against me in the stairwell of the gambling den.

“Now, here’s a fair prospect,” the man slurred suddenly, briefly raising his head and gawping down the front of my gown. “Got a few coins to spend on a pretty thing like you. Show you a verrrry nice time.” His watery blue eyes lifted to mine, and he scrunched them closed for a moment before opening them and looking at me expectantly.

“Are you … trying to wink?” I huffed, adjusting his weight.

His meaty fingers reached for the lace-edged mask that was tied around my eyes, the kind that were worn by the female guests who came to gamble and enjoy themselves here at the Penny, and I glared at him. “Stop that right now.”

“Is he awake again?” Maud asked, appearing beside me.

“Got a friend?” the man guffawed, delighted. “Two lovely ladies just for me. My lucky night. Told ’em all it was my lucky night, didn’t I?”

“You mean before you lost almost a hundred pounds at cards?” Maud muttered. “Oh yes, very lucky.”