you have already supped. I will not believe it.”
“But, sir, you cannot keep feeding me.”
“Someone must, and it appears that privilege falls to me. Besides, I cannot have my new clerk fainting in the middle of filing.”
Raeni felt her cheeks heat. “I do apologize for that, Mr. Gaines. I think I moved too quickly.”
“No need to apologize—unless you do not intend to eat any of this food. Then I will be most put out.”
Too hungry to argue further, Raeni ate until her belly ached. Mr. Gaines was quiet, seeming content to merely sip his coffee in silence and watch her dine. He also watched the passersby and after one group paused to peer inside before moving on, he set his cup on the table. “I must confess I was rather unprepared for the number of patrons to the coffee room since we’ve opened. I instructed Mr. Miller to hire more servers and brought two of my waiters from Wapping until we can hire Londoners.”
“But why should you be surprised?” Raeni asked, dabbing her mouth with a napkin to remove any traces of cinnamon. “The aroma alone will attract people, and of course they are drawn to the pleasant aspect.”
“I suppose because it took some time for my coffee room in Wapping to turn a profit,” he answered. “But I’m learning that London is not Wapping.”
Having only a passing familiarity with Wapping, as her ship had docked there and she’d passed through it on a coach on the way to London, Raeni could not offer much insight. “It seems to me that London is a city of debutantes. My...” She caught herself before she referenced her father. “I have been told that there is a Season where young women are presented and attend dozens of balls so they might attract the attention of eligible suitors.”
“I’ve heard the same and understand it is one of the busiest times of year for the modistes and tailors in the area.”
An idea had occurred to Raeni, but she was not certain she should share it. Her father had not liked it when she showed too much cleverness. But Mr. Gaines was nothing like her father. “Then forgive me if I am too forward, but perhaps the best way for you to go about introducing your new business is to behave like a debutante and have a big come out.”
Mr. Gaines became very still, and Raeni worried she had said something wrong. “If that is a ridiculous notion, then I apologize—"
He held up a hand. “It is not ridiculous. I wonder I hadn’t thought of it myself.” He stood abruptly and paced across the room to the window and back again. “An opening celebration,” he said, his speech rapid and filled with obvious enthusiasm. “We will offer free food and coffee to encourage people to come to the shop and the coffee room. Once they have been here, they will return again. They will tell their friends.”
“That is the general idea.”
Mr. Gaines grasped her hands and pulled her out of her seat. “Miss Sawyer, you are a genius.” He swung her around, and she laughed as much from surprise as from the contagion of his own joy.
It was the first time she had laughed in months, not since she had learned she’d been sold and decided to run away. After the difficult days and nights in London she had felt as though she might never laugh again. But it seemed a natural thing to do with Mr. Gaines smiling down at her and spinning her around. She was pleased she could be of some help to him after he had been so kind to her yesterday.
She smiled up at him, staggering a little from dizziness when he ceased spinning her. He caught her with a hand on her waist before she could knock over a table, and she caught her breath as he held her just a fraction longer than necessary. His smile faded and his look turned intense.
He wanted to kiss her. She knew that look. And she wanted to kiss him back. She tilted her face up in invitation just as she heard the footsteps. Mr. Gaines must have heard them as well because he released her suddenly and stepped away from her, putting a good foot between them.
“Ah, Alfred,” he said. “Good morning.”
Raeni turned to smile at Alfred, who looked confused to see her there. “Do you want to look at the sales from yesterday, Mr. Gaines? Or if now is not a