the one that dug through the supplies and found more. No job was too big or small for her. In the few days that she’d been there, she’d offered a couple of her own embroidery designs. They were bold and striking, and Kat had immediately loved them. She planned to incorporate them into a new line of linens.
But that wasn’t all. Beth was aware of Kat’s constant concern about finances, so she’d shared a few ideas she’d developed at her brother’s estate on how to control inventory. It would save at least ten pounds a month in expenses.
Simply put, Beth was a treasure. And Kat had no idea how she’d managed without her for so long. Without her help, Katherine wouldn’t be able to concentrate on the secretary’s visit and assist Christian at the same time.
“I posted a letter to my brother’s solicitor and asked that he keep me informed of my brother’s travels,” Beth said as she picked up several samples that had fallen on the floor. “Do you think Randford would mind if I have any response forwarded to Mr. Hanes’s office?”
“I can’t imagine he would.” Katherine walked to Beth’s side. “Any clue when your brother might arrive back in London?”
“No.” Beth straightened the samples into an orderly pile on Kat’s desk. “I hope he stays in Austria for at least several months … until things are settled.” She swallowed, then smoothed her hand down her throat in obvious unease.
“What do you think will happen when he returns?” Kat took her friend’s hand in hers.
“He’ll probably try to marry me off as soon as possible.” She squeezed Kat’s hand. “I won’t do it again.”
“Was marriage to Meri so horrible?” Kat asked softly.
“No. But he wasn’t interested in me. I can see that now.” Beth lowered her voice. “I think I’m the type of person who would prefer to live on my own. I need at least part of my fortune to do that.”
“I understand. But what about companionship?”
The brief glimpse of pain in her friend’s eyes was quickly replaced with resolution. “I have you and Constance. We’ll be friends for life, don’t you think?”
Kat nodded with a smile. “You’re welcome to stay with me and Willa forever if you’d like.”
“Thank you.” Beth leaned close to Katherine. “As long as you let me keep working for you.”
“It’s a promise.” Kat laughed.
By then, they’d walked out of Kat’s office and were standing on a second-floor balcony that provided an excellent view of the operation below. Ten employees, all women, worked steadily on the latest orders of feather duvets and pillows. Several of them worked by the windows as they embroidered the pillowcases that would be delivered by the end of the week. Some of the designs were family initials, some aristocratic family crests. One thing Katherine had noticed was the lower the title, the more likely the order would be for linens to feature the embroidered design of the crest. It was as if the lady of the house wanted to remind everyone the position they held in society.
How different her friend Helen’s decorating tastes were from the others’. She’d only wanted her first initial intertwined with her husband’s first initial on the linens. Helen had said it was a sweet sentiment to their love.
A sudden image of a K and a C intertwined like lovers popped into her thoughts. She wanted to do that for her husband someday.
She’d never once considered doing that for her and Meriwether.
Immediately, such thoughts vanished as her gaze caught on a person who walked as if he were the owner of the factory instead of her. “Why is Marlen Skeats walking our floor?”
Beth discreetly shook her head while she watched his every step. “I saw him outside the other day. This makes the third time this week he’s been in the neighborhood. He thinks because he’s the biggest supplier of linens in England, he should automatically win the contract. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what he wants. He must have heard the secretary has an appointment to see our goods.”
“His product is inferior to ours.” Katherine sniffed, then added for good measure, “The way he treats his workers should be outlawed. A rabid dog is given more respect than he gives his employees.”
“When we’re awarded the contract, we should hire them,” Beth said.
“Excellent idea. I’m going downstairs,” Kat declared.
“Do you mind if I wait in your office?” Beth turned so her back was to the floor. “In the off chance he