Page 18 of A Season for Scandal

“Yes, I’m interested in breeding new roses. It gives us a competitive edge with our clients.”

Winnie nodded. “A botanist then. And do you use Bennett’s methods?”

I started in surprise. “Yes.” I nodded, identifying a fellow enthusiast by the gleam in Winnie’s eyes. “Although recently there has been some interesting research out of—”

“France,” Winnie cut me off, her excitement clear. “I know, I read only the other day—”

“That’s enough, you two,” Maud broke in. “I can tell there’s going to be plenty for you to discuss but we have other priorities at the moment.”

Winnie beamed at me. “I must say I’m pleased to have someone to talk to about my experiments with the healing properties of plants … and their potential use as weapons too.”

“Poisons, do you mean?” I asked, intrigued. “Because I’ve been focusing on herbal remedies, but—”

“Stop! Stop!” Maud laughed. “Sylla will be waiting and you know how she is.”

Winnie made a quick sound of agreement at this, and the two of them ushered me out of the room.

We returned to Mrs Finch’s office, where we found the final member of my new charm deep in conversation with Mrs Finch.

And just like that, any small amount of confidence I had felt grow during my brief conversation with Winnie wilted.

“Ahh, Marigold, let me introduce the leader of your charm – Sylla Banaji,” Mrs Finch said.

I blinked. I knew Sylla Banaji. Well, I knewofher. Most people who came into contact with high society or the newspapers did.

The daughter of Lady Anne Stanton and Sir Dinshaw Banaji (she a member of a prominent family whose aristocratic roots can be traced back to the Norman conquest, he the Bombay-born, Oxford-educated, close personal friend of the Prince of Wales), Sylla was practically royalty. She was famous among the society gossips, an imperious beauty with a large following. Izzy may have been a duchess, but her unassuming manner had disarmed me. Sylla had all the regal bearing you’d expect of the queen herself.

I felt as though I should drop into a ridiculous curtsey but forced myself to stand straight under her scrutiny. And there was plenty of that.

Sylla stood in her beautiful ice-blue gown and eyed me the same way I scrutinized flowers at the market – weighing up if I was worth the asking price.

“So you’re Izzy’s florist,” she said finally. “I suppose we shall see what can be made of you.”

With that, she dropped gracefully into a chair, leaving Maud, Winnie and I to perch on the long, battered chesterfield sofa that took up one wall of the study. I exhaled slowly, knowing that I had just about scraped through some sort of test.

Mrs Finch settled herself behind her desk.

“As you know, we have been on the lookout for a new recruit to take Isobel’s place in the charm.” Mrs Finch twirled a pen between her fingers. “I feel confident we have found that person in Marigold. She has a unique set of skills that I think will add much to our organization.”

I felt myself straighten at that, even as Sylla made a small scoffing sound.

“To begin, Mari, we offer all new members a six-month probationary period, during which they undertake any training we deem necessary – shooting, fighting, lock picking, basic medical skills, et cetera,” Mrs Finch continued, as off-hand as if she were discussing the weather rather than arming me with weaponry. “During this period, the charm will take on smaller-scale jobs.”

Sylla gave a disgruntled murmur at this, and Mrs Finch’s eyes snapped to her. “A new recruit must be trained, Sylla. Asyouwere.”

Sylla gave an elegant shrug. “I certainly didn’t require half a year before I could be put into the field.”

“Yes you did,” Mrs Finch replied neutrally. “And we will extend Marigold the same courtesy. Now.” She turned to me. “You must have questions.”

“Thousands,” I said, glancing nervously at Sylla. “But I suppose the one weighing heaviest on me is how I will fit all this in. I have a business to run. My hours are not precisely my own, you see.”

“Many of the Aviary’s agents have other commitments. There is always a solution.” Mrs Finch steepled her fingers. “Our suggestion is that Izzy, as the new Duchess of Roxton, will open an account with Bloom’s. Anextremelylucrative account that will require your personal attention and availability. And that will also account for your new salary.” At this, Mrs Finch named a figure that had my jaw falling open.

Winnie and Sylla seemed unmoved, but Maud met my eye with a knowing smirk.

“Of course, this will mean you relinquishing some of your duties at the shop, delegating to others. Do you feel comfortable with that? It is no small thing for a woman to have built up the business you have, Marigold.”

I thought about that. She was right: giving up some of my control at the shop would be difficult, but the challenge that the Aviary represented felt like an opportunity I hadn’t even known I was waiting for. “I have employees I can trust to take on more responsibility.” My mind went instantly to Suzy. “And with the increase from this …new account… I could even hire another if need be.”