us?”
“Don’t be silly. Just your portion. It’s a fair amount. But I’ll need your answer right away, because I’ll have to put an advertisement in the paper today if you decline.”
Ivy came around to my side. “I was just going to bring her to Cat’s to see if we could get jobs there. See this dress?” she said, pulling at my sleeve. “My sister made this dress last night. Out of a curtain. She’s very talented.”
Nell moved in for a closer look. “Yes, I see. The seams are tidy...the design is well thought out. I can arrange something with Cat. You two go meet with her, and I’ll call ahead. Impressive, Ms. Adams.”
“Thank you,” I said, unused to any sort of compliment.
Ivy took my wrist, and we moved toward the front doors.
“Oh, Rose? Santino left this for you. I almost forgot.” She fished a white envelope out of a deep dress pocket.
I took it. LADY ROSE ADAMS was printed across the white expanse in bold handwriting.
“Oh, looky looky! Rose, what have you been up to?” asked Ivy, grabbing the envelope and beginning to open it.
“It’s mine,” I said, taking it from her hands. I opened it as we wandered into the dining room.
“Aren’t you going to read your letter?”
“As we walk. That way I won’t have to look at the filth that surrounds us.”
“You’re such a stick-in-the-mud, Rose.”
We walked out into the stunning sunlight, and I was glad for a moment that I no longer had a high collar or laced-up boots. The day was already hot. Besides, the city was about to get much more interesting.
* * *
“It shouldn’t be very far. Viv even drew me a map,” said Ivy as I followed two steps behind her, opening my letter. She was rushing. Usually I’m the one ahead, with her lollygagging after me all transfixed with whatever beautiful, shiny new thing she saw.
We’d only just left Empire House, so I wondered about where we could be going. We passed the throngs of people in the streets. Everyone seemed to stare at Ivy. There was a store on the corner, Gilda’s Sweet Shop, and I made a mental note to purchase a sweet for Claudia when I made a little bit of money. It would be a good bribe to get her reading.
“So, what did you learn at the party last night?” I asked.
“Not much...”
“That’s it?” I asked.
“The party was riotous! Even you might have enjoyed yourself. These people are so much fun.”
“Did you ask about Asher?”
“In a way.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think we’re right. They’re all giving us the business, Rose. I just don’t know why. We need to tread carefully with these people. At least that’s what my gut’s telling me.”
“Well, Papa always said we had to listen to instinct.”
Ivy’s smile faded, and I was sorry I’d mentioned him.
“I feel there are a lot of secrets hiding in that attic, though...” I said, trying to lift the mood. It worked.
“Oh, yeah. There’s secrets a plenty at Empire House. And I’m gonna figure it all out. Starting with that note of yours!” she said, grabbing for it again, forgetting I was much taller. “Come on! What does that letter say? I’m dying!”
“You’re tiresome,” I said, unfolding the paper and tucking the envelope into my wrist purse. It was a poem:
I met a phantom on the stairs
With flowing hair and lamp-lit eyes
I’m glad I bounded up
And captured that surprise
I do so hope she’s not upset
To cry with lamp-lit eyes.
New friend, gladly welcome now
A poem in disguise
A flower under glass
A set of lamp-lit eyes
Come see me, phantom
In my dreams
On lakes and boats and corsets gone
Through miles and miles of endless trees
Through sorrow tides and windswept seas
I’ll be where flowers cannot grow
Meet me there, at dusk’s last stand
Perhaps you’ll let me hold your hand.
—The Poet
“It’s a poem,” I said.
Ivy was quick. She waited for me to lower my guard, and the paper, and then took it out of my shaking hands, reading it as we stood
“Don’t be silly. Just your portion. It’s a fair amount. But I’ll need your answer right away, because I’ll have to put an advertisement in the paper today if you decline.”
Ivy came around to my side. “I was just going to bring her to Cat’s to see if we could get jobs there. See this dress?” she said, pulling at my sleeve. “My sister made this dress last night. Out of a curtain. She’s very talented.”
Nell moved in for a closer look. “Yes, I see. The seams are tidy...the design is well thought out. I can arrange something with Cat. You two go meet with her, and I’ll call ahead. Impressive, Ms. Adams.”
“Thank you,” I said, unused to any sort of compliment.
Ivy took my wrist, and we moved toward the front doors.
“Oh, Rose? Santino left this for you. I almost forgot.” She fished a white envelope out of a deep dress pocket.
I took it. LADY ROSE ADAMS was printed across the white expanse in bold handwriting.
“Oh, looky looky! Rose, what have you been up to?” asked Ivy, grabbing the envelope and beginning to open it.
“It’s mine,” I said, taking it from her hands. I opened it as we wandered into the dining room.
“Aren’t you going to read your letter?”
“As we walk. That way I won’t have to look at the filth that surrounds us.”
“You’re such a stick-in-the-mud, Rose.”
We walked out into the stunning sunlight, and I was glad for a moment that I no longer had a high collar or laced-up boots. The day was already hot. Besides, the city was about to get much more interesting.
* * *
“It shouldn’t be very far. Viv even drew me a map,” said Ivy as I followed two steps behind her, opening my letter. She was rushing. Usually I’m the one ahead, with her lollygagging after me all transfixed with whatever beautiful, shiny new thing she saw.
We’d only just left Empire House, so I wondered about where we could be going. We passed the throngs of people in the streets. Everyone seemed to stare at Ivy. There was a store on the corner, Gilda’s Sweet Shop, and I made a mental note to purchase a sweet for Claudia when I made a little bit of money. It would be a good bribe to get her reading.
“So, what did you learn at the party last night?” I asked.
“Not much...”
“That’s it?” I asked.
“The party was riotous! Even you might have enjoyed yourself. These people are so much fun.”
“Did you ask about Asher?”
“In a way.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think we’re right. They’re all giving us the business, Rose. I just don’t know why. We need to tread carefully with these people. At least that’s what my gut’s telling me.”
“Well, Papa always said we had to listen to instinct.”
Ivy’s smile faded, and I was sorry I’d mentioned him.
“I feel there are a lot of secrets hiding in that attic, though...” I said, trying to lift the mood. It worked.
“Oh, yeah. There’s secrets a plenty at Empire House. And I’m gonna figure it all out. Starting with that note of yours!” she said, grabbing for it again, forgetting I was much taller. “Come on! What does that letter say? I’m dying!”
“You’re tiresome,” I said, unfolding the paper and tucking the envelope into my wrist purse. It was a poem:
I met a phantom on the stairs
With flowing hair and lamp-lit eyes
I’m glad I bounded up
And captured that surprise
I do so hope she’s not upset
To cry with lamp-lit eyes.
New friend, gladly welcome now
A poem in disguise
A flower under glass
A set of lamp-lit eyes
Come see me, phantom
In my dreams
On lakes and boats and corsets gone
Through miles and miles of endless trees
Through sorrow tides and windswept seas
I’ll be where flowers cannot grow
Meet me there, at dusk’s last stand
Perhaps you’ll let me hold your hand.
—The Poet
“It’s a poem,” I said.
Ivy was quick. She waited for me to lower my guard, and the paper, and then took it out of my shaking hands, reading it as we stood
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