Betsy’d had that kind of job, once. Besides, she had a question she wanted to ask Irene. “Would you like a cup of coffee?”

“No, I rather hoped Rosemary would be here. I wanted to ask her about that Appleton wool she bought, if she liked it. Since she isn’t, I think I’ll just go home—”

Godwin sang “Good Night, Irene!” and this time it was Betsy who glared at him.

“Irene,” said Betsy, trying at least to get her to come back soon, “Margot said I should see some of your work, that it was wonderful.”

“She said that?”

“People tell me you win prizes with it all the time.”

Irene nodded, her dark eyes glowing. “Yes, I do. Very well, I’ll bring some to show you, maybe tomorrow. Perhaps you should hire me to teach a course on needlepoint, everyone in the class would end up with a finished project.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t afford to hire another person right now. And if I could, the person I’d hire is someone to advise me, a consultant, someone to give me more advice like the kind you just gave me.”

Irene’s dark eyes glittered. “A consultant?”

“Someone like you, who knows how to run a small business, and also knows all about needlework. Look, are you sure you wouldn’t like a cup of coffee?”

Irene said slyly, “A consultant’s job would pay better than working the register, wouldn’t it?”

“Much better, because it’s more important. Do you take cream or—”

“Just black,” said Irene.

“Fine, I’ll be right back.”

When Betsy returned, Irene was trying to convince a customer that she could use DMC floss rather than the silks she wanted for a small doorstop canvas, while Godwin made futile attempts to intervene.

“Irene,” said Betsy, forcing the smile now, “here’s your coffee.”

“Just a minute,” said Irene. “I’m consulting with this customer.”

“Irene,” said Betsy, allowing a warning note to creep in, “if you consult with the customers, then I will think you are on their side, not mine.”

Irene turned toward her, mouth open, but changed her mind about whatever she was going to say. Instead, she turned back to the customer and said, “But perhaps I am wrong. I think Godwin here can help you. Excuse me?” and went to the table, where Betsy was setting down a pair of pretty china cups.

After the customer left with her selection of silks, Betsy remarked, “I’m surprised Margot didn’t think of you as a consultant.”

“Oh, Margot thought she knew everything already,” said Irene.

“Well, she did know a whole lot more than I do.”

“Naturally.” Irene shrugged. Then she looked up at Betsy and smiled without a trace of rancor or wickedness in her eyes, and Betsy, with sudden compassion, realized that Irene truly had no understanding of the human heart.