Chapter Three

Minerva waited while Mrs. Drable considered the request presented to her.

Mrs. Drable fingered the white fichu at her dress’s neckline, her slender fingers straying on occasion to the cameo pendant that dangled below her throat. Although at least fifty years in age, Mrs. Drable appeared younger, due in part to her soft complexion and her vivid red hair. A neighbor for whom Minerva had done a good turn, they had met today for a professional reason.

“There is one young woman,” Mrs. Drable finally said. “I think she would do. She currently is without a situation, and I despair of finding her a new one. She is educated enough to write and read, and she has a decent hand. She has, however, no experience in what you describe.”

“Where is she now? I will visit her if you arrange it.” This young woman’s experience or education were secondary to her spirit. Minerva required someone with a bit of adventure in her blood. Hepplewhite’s Office of Discreet Inquiries would be no ordinary situation.

“She just started on a short hire. A week at most. The new Duke of Hollinburgh is hosting a family gathering and the housekeeper asked their usual service to supply extra servants just for that. They are woefully short of staff due to servants leaving with their pensions.”

That explained why Jeremy had found work there so easily. He had only hoped to be taken on for occasional service, but had been offered daily work once they saw he knew the labor.

Mrs. Drable sighed. “Well, it is not the sort of thing we do, is it? Nor are there many decent servants available for such a brief duty. So the word went out to all of us. Elise was available and I sent her over. That is her name. Elise Turner.”

By “us” Mrs. Drable meant those in the business of supplying servants to the better homes in London. Mrs. Drable owned one of the smaller, more discreet such offices. Minerva had come to know her as a neighbor and friend, but had stepped in when Mrs. Drable confided she needed help discerning who had pilfered money from her. The suspicion immediately fell on a housemaid recently hired, but Minerva had proven the culprit was instead Mrs. Drable’s own nephew.

It had not been information well received, but Mrs. Drable was grateful to learn the truth. She had come close to accusing the wrong person, and claimed a debt to Minerva for sparing her that.

“She has no reference from her last employer. I need to tell you that. Hollinburgh’s housekeeper only accepted her on my personal recommendation and because they are all but desperate.”

“Why has she no reference?”