Mrs. Drable’s expression turned sour. “Her last employer. . . the husband behaved badly. The poor girl was fending off the man almost every day. I had placed a cook in the household, and she came by to inform me. Tell her to leave, I said. Send her to me. She has lived here ever since while I try to find another situation. However . . .” She turned her hands up in a gesture of futility.

“Does she come here every evening after her duties at the house?”

“They are not demanding that this little itinerant army of help stay there, although they will allow it if necessary. She prefers to return here. If you visit at nine o’clock, she should be back.”

Minerva stood. “I will return then. It was very good of you to take her in.”

“It is a story too often told. A young woman leaves home and comes up to town and finds a situation in a good house, only to discover one of the men is no gentleman. I cannot tell you how often I have had to extricate some girl from the clutches of a lothario.”

Minerva opened her reticule. “I am sure you have much to do, and I have another appointment. I will leave now. Before I do I want to give you some of my cards.” She plucked out five of her newly printed calling cards. “I am going to offer my services to others as I did to you, only in a formal and professional way. If you learn of someone in need of me, I hope you will give them one of these.”

Mrs. Drable eyed the card. “Normally men do this. A woman, however, will have appeal to other women. Some inquiries are rather delicate. I will give these out if I hear of anyone looking for your aid. You may use my name as a reference if you like.”

“I appreciate that more than you can know.”

She began to leave, but a sudden thought made her pause. She considered it quickly. It would be an outrageous thing for a woman of good birth to do, but also it would be an opportunity that the owner of Hepplewhite’s Office of Discreet Inquiries would be foolish to lose.

No one notices servants. Her best chance of learning about this family was to enter the duke’s household as one.

“I have one other request,” she added on impulse. “I would like you to recommend another brief hire to Hollinburgh’s housekeeper.”

“Who might that be?”

“Me. I assure you that I am capable of housemaid duties.”

Mrs. Drable frowned at her, then peered at the card. “I expect until this new enterprise gets on its legs you can use the coin, though it is a big step down for you. However, dabbling in service is not the same as becoming a servant forever, is it?”