I am pleased to have with us today Miss Meredith Thorn of the Fortune Employment Agency. The raven-haired, lavender-eyed Miss Thorn recently featured in my Never Doubt a Duke and Never Borrow a Baronet and will shortly be involved in Never Envy an Earl. She and her beloved pet Fortune consented to sit for a brief interview. Welcome, Miss Thorn and Fortune.
Miss T: A pleasure.
Fortune consents to have the top of her head rubbed.
19T: A lady of your breeding generally doesn’t trouble herself with matters of trade. What led you to start the Fortune Employment Agency?
Miss T: I observed that many young women ended up going into service, of a sort—governesses, companions, teachers, and the like. In some cases, they were well treated, becoming cherished members of the family or the institution they served. In others, their lives became nothing short of drudgery, with little hope of change. I determined to change that.
19T: There are other employment agencies. Why is yours special?
Fortune pulls away to regard me as if I have suddenly forgotten something important.
Miss T: The Fortune Employment Agency is special because Fortune and I take great care in matching the situation to a lady’s particular needs. For example, Jane Kimball had lost her husband in battle, and with him any chance of having a family. I introduced her into a household where she had every opportunity to find a family of her own.
19T: Yes, I understand she’s shortly to be married. I received the invitation just the other day. A duke, no less.
Miss T, smiling: Yes, quite.
Fortune seems to be smiling as well.
19T: Why did you name your agency after your cat?
Miss T, turning her smile on the gray cat, who gazes back with copper-colored eyes: I’ve found Fortune to be very wise when it comes to determining the character of a lady and a gentleman.
19T: More skilled than you?
Miss T: Decidedly so. My discernment has failed once or twice, with disastrous results. Fortune’s never fails.
19T: Never?
Fortune turns her back on me.
Miss T: Not that I have found. She picked the Duke of Wey for Jane and Sir Harry Atwood for Patience. And she was quite fond of the Earl of Carrolton.
19T: Oh, who has Fortune matched to the earl?
Miss T: I am not at liberty to say.
19T: Fine. Then let’s talk further about you. You take your duty quite seriously, I see. Did you have a difficult time in service yourself?
Miss T, adjusting the lace at the cuffs of her lavender gown: Something like that.
19T: And has Fortune matched you with a gentleman?
Fortune: Meow!
Miss T: Now, now, none of that. I’m merely considering the matter. He has a long way to go to prove himself to me after how we parted.
19T: Do tell!
Miss T: I really should be going. Perhaps another time.
So, it seems Miss Thorn still has a few secrets she will not share. Never fear, dear reader, we will unearth them.
And so can you, in Never Borrow a Baronet. Here are the links one last time:
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