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was, much against his better judgment, going to have to seek out Miss Longfellow and beg her—on bended knee and with flowers, no doubt—to come work for him.

3

    W ith bubbles tickling her nose, Millie leaned her head back against the rim of the clawfoot tub, appreciating the luxury of taking an honest-to-goodness bubble bath. Before Abigail Hart had come barreling into Millie’s life almost two months before, along with the lives of her friends, Miss Harriet Peabody and Miss Lucetta Plum, she’d never had the opportunity to slide into a tub filled with bubbles. There could be no denying that there were many luxuries available to her now that she’d accepted Abigail’s offer of a permanent place to live when she wasn’t working, but Millie certainly didn’t take any of them for granted.
    The reasoning behind Abigail welcoming her into her home was still a bit of a mystery. Abigail claimed she’d done so because she owed Reverend Thomas Gilmore a favor, but Millie didn’t think that was the only reason behind the woman’s extreme generosity. Abigail, from what little Millie had learned about the lady, seemed to have numerous regrets from her past. Those regrets, more than any favors owed, were most likelywhat had prompted Abigail to take three young ladies out of the tenement slums and see them settled in Washington Square.
    While Millie was incredibly grateful for the generosity offered her, she couldn’t help feeling just a smidgen of wariness about her current situation, especially because Abigail seemed to have a distinct propensity for . . . plotting. Abigail’s last plot had revolved around getting Miss Harriet Peabody and Mr. Oliver Addleshaw well settled. Since Abigail had met with great success in that endeavor, Millie was quickly coming to the conclusion that the dear woman was now in search of fresh prey. Which meant—
    “Ah, wonderful, I was hoping to find you in the tub,” Abigail said, strolling right into the very midst of the bathing chamber. Moving over to a dainty chair gilded in gold, she took her seat, glancing around the room. “Do you like the improvements I had done while you were off with that horrible Cutling woman?”
    Sinking ever so slowly down into the bubbles, Millie managed to summon up a smile. “Everything is delightful. Although I’m not really sure why you had so many chairs brought in here.”
    “I needed to make certain I’d have a place to sit.”
    Millie’s smile disappeared in a flash. “I know I still have much to learn about etiquette and the peculiar ways of people with wealth, Abigail, but I don’t recall working for a society family who liked to congregate for conversation in the bathing chamber.”
    “We in society share the bathing chamber quite often, my dear. Why, most society ladies your age have their own personal maids, and those maids are responsible for helping their young ladies bathe, as well as helping them into their clothing numerous times per day.”
    “Well, yes, I did know that, but I don’t believe those maidspull up a chair and settle in for a long duration during bath time.”
    “Which is a most excellent point, but I’ll have you know that when my daughter was growing up, she and I shared the most interesting conversations when she was in her bath.”
    “Because she wasn’t able to escape while she was bathing?”
    “Exactly.” Abigail settled back in the chair. “Now then, tell me, are you quite certain you don’t want me to have a little chat with Mrs. Cutling?”
    “While I appreciate the offer, Abigail, I don’t think that’s necessary. I really just want to put that unfortunate incident behind me and move on with my life.”
    “How lovely, and do know that I’m more than happy to assist you with that moving on with your life business. In fact, I insist on lending you my invaluable advice.”
    Not caring at all for the distinct note of glee in Abigail’s voice, Millie dunked under the bubbles, hoping that if she