Hattie Glover’s Millinery

in situations like these. Where love is involved, someone will eventually get hurt.”
Guy removed the towel from around his neck and started to walk toward the Carmody house. “When did you become so wise in the ways of love?”
Will fell in step beside him. “I’ve read many a novel containing a great love. If you read more, you’d know what to expect.”
“And what precisely is that?”
“Chills, fever, night sweats, indigestion, melancholia, upset stomach, basically all the symptoms of influenza,” Will listed in a deadpan tone.
Guy leaned over to tousle his friend’s floppy hair. “So now you’ve become the one with the smart remarks. That was always my role in our friendship.”
“I’ve been waiting in the wings, practicing all this time. How did I do?”
“Too well. And you’ve given me far too much to consider.”
“You’ll do all right. I have faith in your better nature. Just listen to your inner voice of conscience.”
Of Bettina, who was currently telling Guy to give Hattie a day’s time to breathe and not rush back to the shop that very instant. All right, he would hold back and remain patient, even though patience was about as much a part of his nature as it was for a mosquito.
“Got any plans for supper?” he asked Will. “We could stay and visit with your parents. Maybe play a game of mah-jongg this evening. Your mother likes that.”
“For you, I will submit to an entire evening spent with my parents, even though Mother will hound me with names of eligible debutantes. That is what one does for a friend in need.”
Keeping himself occupied was the ticket, Guy decided. Probably tomorrow, he would arrange to meet Hattie again, and not because he was in love with her. He simply liked her company very much.

Chapter Nine
The sound of Jennifer Pruett’s sobbing was becoming far too familiar, like having only one disc to play on one’s Victrola. Hattie selfishly wished she’d never comforted the girl, for now she’d become her constant shoulder to cry on.
One ought not become too familiar with emotional persons, for such passions demonstrate weakness of character.
Once again, Miss Pruett had entered the shop puffy-eyed and cast Hattie a wounded look from across the room. Hattie hastily handed off the customer she was attending to Rose and directed Jennifer into the workroom once more. There the girl moaned her customary question, “Oh, Mrs. Glover, what am I to do?” and broke into tears.
“Are you still being pressured to marry?”
“Yes, but something even worse has happened. Randall James is nowhere to be found. I went to our meeting spot and he never arrived. I was counting on him to elope with me. Now I fear I cannot avoid accepting Lord Bellamy.”
The news about James did not surprise Hattie for Mr. Hardy had sent a note to inform her Randall James no longer lived at the address Rumsfield had given. James had moved without paying his bill. Hardy had not embellished this note to Hattie with any thoughts about the evening they’d spent together. Nor had he asked her to meet with him again.
Hattie took a slow breath and gave Miss Pruett the advice she’d been preparing. “If you truly cannot countenance the match, you may have to become more firm in your refusal.”
“I have tried. Father continues to hold the threat of a sanitarium above my head and Mother does nothing to aide me. I could not survive such treatments.”
Hattie chose her next words carefully. “It is possible for a woman to live on her own. To chart her own course in life, one may have to take risks and make difficult choices.”
“What are you talking about? I’ve already taken risks by meeting Mr. James. If I can’t elope, what else am I to do, run away from home and take a job of some sort?” Miss Pruett said it as if Hattie suggested she grow wings and fly.
“You might have to if you truly mean to defy your parents’ expectations.”
“I was never a good student so I couldn’t become a governess like Jane Eyre. I have no skills beyond playing piano and painting teacups. Although, I am quite artistic and might be of use, perhaps, in a milliner’s shop.”
Hattie quickly disabused her of the notion. “I am sorry, but I have all the help I need just now. I can’t afford to hire more staff.” Certainly not the daughter of a family that would ruin my business for taking her in.
Jennifer leaned her elbows on the table and cradled her forehead in her hands. “Anyway, employment of any sort is out of the question. I may have to marry Bellamy for a far graver reason. I fear”—she gulped—“I fear I may be with child. If I marry his lordship now, I might be able to pass it off as his.”
Pregnant was sometimes the most horrifying word in a woman’s vocabulary. A dire diagnosis or a funeral toll. Yet, only a few days before, the girl had assured Hattie she and her young man had merely kissed. Either she had lied, or she’d met him again in the intervening days.
“How long have you suspected this?” Hattie asked gently.
“It only occurred to me during the hours I waited for Randall. My heart broke as I began to realize he might not ever come, and then I became afraid I might be in a family way. Without Randall to marry me, what would I do?”
Hattie soothed her, “There, there. I must ask you a few questions now. How long ago were you with Mr. James?”
“I told you, last week just before Lord Bellamy offered his suit. At the time, I felt quite certain Randall was on the verge of proposing.”
“Where did you meet?”
“We have a special spot in the park, underneath the branches of a willow tree. It is a private trysting spot lovers use.”
“From there you accompanied Mr. James to his boarding house?” Hattie asked.
With a gasp, Miss Pruett straightened to stare at her. “Of