An eternity of good fortune by the standards of a Naylor. “Keep the coin. Winter is long and coal is expensive.” Ellie passed the now-sleeping child to his mother. “Don’t you ever want better for your children, Pamela? Want them to grow up without the fear that their uncle might end up transported or worse?”

Ellie wanted better for her nieces and nephews, and for her sister and cousins.

“No, Ellie, I don’t. We were respectable a lifetime ago, and then, because the nobs can literally get away with anything, we weren’t respectable any more. We could all toil away, minding the rules, working ourselves to death, and maybe our grandchildren would someday be halfway acceptable. Then another earl or duke or even a bloody shop owner could start making accusations, and we’d be ruined again. That’s how it works. Enjoy your fancy coaches while they last.”

Ellie had no argument to that reasoning because it was based on experience and fact. “They aren’t my coaches.”

“They aren’t your fancy gents either,” Pamela said, passing Ellie her coat, “but not a one of us would begrudge you a little time spent lightening their pockets. We’d cheer you on, in fact.”

“It’s not like that.”

“Maybe it should be like that, Ellie. You ever think of that? If you’re not inclined to marry, you should at least enjoy the occasional frolic and be paid for your troubles. Nothing illegal in that, and the fancy gents have more coin than they know what to do with.”

“Frolics have consequences. I’ll keep my job at the bank, thank you very much.” Until some cousin or in-law ended up drenching the whole family in scandal once more.

“Come see us again soon,” Pamela said, offering Ellie a brief, one-armed squeeze. “Come around on a Sunday, and we’ll set a place for you.”

Ellie left without committing to that plan, because another mouth to feed was another mouth to feed. She’d made it two streets past the corner before Jack fell in step beside her, looking every inch the modest clerk.

“So who’s the new fancy gent, Eleanora? Have you taken to collecting dukes now?”

“None of your business, and I’ll thank you not to spy on me. Don’t bother begging me to hand an innocent young woman into your keeping either, Jack Naylor.”

“I didn’t want to trouble the woman, only borrow her purse for a bit. Though as to that, an older lady might have more jewels and coin. I’m not particular about the lady as long as the purse is worth my while.”