The Last Honest Seamstress (28 page)

"After what, Coral?"

Coral bit her lower lip. "I would have warned you if he'd come in before the wedding."

Fayth was stunned. She knew it showed.

"See, now you're upset, and for what? I can attest to Mabel's observation. I never saw him with any of the girls. He did visit Lou in private, but we can't go making assumptions about people's character or motives without all the facts. Don't judge him, Fayth. At least give him a chance to defend himself." Coral sighed. "Many of the important businessmen in Seattle frequent Lou's. And most only to conduct business. Half the Council agenda is voted on at Lou's. You know that. The savvy man who wants to succeed would have to go to Lou's."

Fayth had stopped listening. Her head spun. Who was the man she had married? One she thought she could trust? Or another?

The rest of the afternoon passed slowly as Fayth waited for the Captain to come home from the wharf. Her emotions danced awkwardly to an angry tune, faltering between hope and abject fear. She had to confront him. Finally, she heard the front door open, followed by his happy humming. She heard Coral greet him, then scurry away, presumably to her room. Wise girl. If only Fayth could hide.

Fayth rose and met the Captain as he came around in front of the parlor.

"Fayth." He wore his usual smile, and looked blissfully unconcerned.

"Where have you been?" Not the best way to greet a husband, she realized. Her tone came out harsh and unnecessarily accusing. If only he didn't fluster her so.

"The wharf, darling. And then Lou's." His smile deepened in concert with his dimples. Oh, wretched man. He watched her reaction with an intense, amused look. How could he have known what was on her mind? Could he read her so easily? But who could have warned him of her distress? Certainly not Coral.

Her mouth fell open at his easy admission, more from feeling intellectually naked in front of him than anything else. When she spoke, her voice rasped. "Lou's?"

He laughed. "Close your mouth, Fayth darling. It does not become you to look so surprised. You wound me with your obvious train of thought." He reached out to her and took her chin in his hand. Mesmerized by his touch and the humor in his eyes, she could not pull away. "If I had been there for that reason, would I admit it so readily?"

"I didn't—"

"Ah, but I think you did." He took a step closer to her. "So you know, I've been there for the reason any wise businessman in town goes—to get business. Unfortunately, Lou's has been adopted as the place where deals are made." He dropped his hand from her chin and shrugged. Only inches separated them. She half wished he would touch her again. Intelligent eyes and wry smiles had always intrigued her.

"It's not the first time I've been," he said. "Knowing how you feel about Lou's, I kept it from you. I may have been wrong. I apologize. It wasn't my intention to deceive you."

What could she do? She stammered an acceptance, accompanied by her own apology. By her own rules of the relationship, she had no right to interfere in his business practices. None at all.

He looked suddenly sheepish. "I don't owe you forgiveness, Fayth." He laughed again. "And though I hate to admit it, I'm not as honorable as I seem. One of my business associates caught hell—" He grinned again. "Pardon me. Had trouble with his wife when she found out where he'd been. His troubles gave me the idea to confess. I didn't want you looking foolish around the other women."

His words, his manner, were completely believable. His concern for her, touching. Guilt over her own thoughts crept over her.

"One further admission." He paused.
 

Her heart palpitated wildly.
 

"I'm in a unique position in that I'm frequently away from town. That leaves me out of touch with what is happening here." He paused again. "I don't know how to say it, other than straight out. Lou Gramm knows everything that goes on. On occasion, I've met privately with her and she's been gracious enough to fill me in."

Gracious was not the word that came to Fayth's mind. Exacting. Fayth was certain that Lou had extracted a price for her help—passage for one of her girls on the
Aurnia,
perhaps?

Though Fayth didn't like it, the Captain had done nothing more than she had herself. Bare inches separated them. A slight lean forward and she would be in his arms. Did she dare? Where would it lead? If only she didn't need time to digest this new information, to be certain—

Olive bounded into the room. Inserting herself between them, Olive cuddled the Captain's legs, meowing and flirting in a manner unbecoming to a man-hating cat.

Fayth looked down and stepped back. "You have an admirer."

"Do I?" He didn't sound like he meant Olive. He reached down and scooped up the cat, returning the animal's affection.

"Fayth, I want you to trust me." His gaze held hers, dark and penetrating.

"I will. I mean . . ." Fayth couldn't finish. Her own answer had given her away. He was stroking Olive tenderly. Suddenly, she wished for him to lavish such attention on her, knowing he would, if only she'd let him. When she knew she could trust him . . .
 

To divert herself, she told him about Mabel's visit, carefully omitting Mabel's accusations.

The next day, forced by Mabel's visit, Fayth went to see Lou. She sat in Lou's office reviewing her arguments to convince Lou to release Coral. The door swung open and in walked Lou, . seating herself behind her desk.

"What brings you here, Fayth? There aren't any fittings today."

"I've come about Coral. I'm here to ask a favor and enlist your aid."

"I take it Coral is ready to return." Lou gave no indication as to whether she was inclined to grant a favor.

"Physically, yes. Emotionally, I don't know. She still seems fearful."

"Understandable, but irrational. The culprit has been punished, and I assure you, he will not enter this establishment again."

"I understand, but the fear remains. That it happened once, means it can again, worse. The house is no place for Coral. I've offered her an apprenticeship in my shop."

Lou didn't give away any emotion. "Ever the crusader. Has she accepted your offer of righteous employment?"

"She will if you release her. Coral's fond of you. She respects you. She's told me many times how you saved her from her abusive father."

"And you'd like me to what? Recommend to one of my best girls that she quit the business?"

"Exactly that, Miss Gramm. I know you care for her. Give her a chance at another life. Coral doesn't have the strength and business savvy required to become a madam. As soon as her beauty begins to fade she'll start the downward spiral toward the cribs. She'll end up dying young of some dreadful, occupational disease. That's if she doesn't commit suicide first.

"She's a young romantic girl who dreams of her prince charming. She won't find him working for you. The best she might hope for is to become mistress to an established, and lonely, older gentleman, and even that could be only temporary."

Lou arched a brow. "You paint a bleak picture."

Fayth nodded. "It is a bleak picture. Miss Gramm, I'm appealing to your sense of compassion."

Fayth watched Lou consider her request. At last Lou spoke, "I will speak to Coral, urge her to consider your offer carefully, but the decision will be hers. But she's welcome back anytime. I'll tell her that as well.

"One other small matter. Coral owes me money." Lou grabbed a sheet of writing paper, dipped her pen and scribbled something, turning it toward Fayth when she finished. "I expect this amount to be repaid. Installments are fine." She tapped at another figure on the page. "This amount, the first of each month. Or Coral's back here on her back."

The sum was ludicrous. How could Coral have run up such debt? Lou's face was set, her eyes hard. Arguing with her would be futile.

"You'll speak with her soon?" Fayth tucked the paper into her purse.

"I have some time tomorrow. Send her to me in the afternoon."

"Thank you." Fayth rose to leave.

"Mrs. O'Neill, I am a cynic. I applaud your efforts to save Coral, but I don't believe for a minute you'll succeed. Coral will in all probability be back in my fold before a year has passed. But you have my word not to meddle. Good day."

When Fayth got home, Con sat at the kitchen table poring over a contract.

"What are you up to?" She unpinned her hat and set it on the table.

"Looking over my new government mail contract. They pay well, but the only runs available are local, little short things. Think you'll mind having me around more?" He seemed to watch her carefully.

She smiled absently, lost in her own thoughts. She was beginning to think not. "No, of course not."

"Something bothering you, Fayth?" He read her too well.

"I just came from Lou Gramm's. Tomorrow she's going to talk to Coral about staying with us, working in the shop."

"You don't look happy."

"Miss Gramm never gives anything away. Look at this." She handed him the paper Lou had given her. "Coral owes Lou a great deal of money. That's how Lou keeps her girls. They're always in debt to her. Never take a cent from that woman; you'll be in debt the rest of your life."

She shook her head. "I would never have imagined. Just the monthly installments Lou wants are more than the salary I expected to pay Coral. Fortunately, not much more." Fayth took a deep breath. "But how will Coral ever become self-sufficient? It'll take her years to pay Lou off."

Fayth slumped into a chair. "I'm sorry. When I took Coral in, I just didn't realize. I thought, a month, two? She'd be on her own." She didn't miss the hopeful look in his eyes.

"How did she amass this great debt?"

She shook her head gently. "Oh, don't get me started. I confronted Coral. Accused her of frivolous spending. Her response nearly made me cry.

"Lou uses those girls. She requires them to pay for room and board and charges them outrageous prices. And most of those poor girls are scared, insecure. They've no place else to go. What can they do but pay?

"On top of that, they're required to buy new clothes each month. Wouldn't want the men to get bored with their wardrobes. In my stupid ignorance, I thought they all were frivolous girls who simply loved getting new clothes and spent their paychecks for vanity's sake. I had no idea they were
forced
to buy new dresses from me every month." She clenched her fists. "I've been vain in my own way, thinking they so loved my creations they simply had to have more of them." She shook her head again. Why hadn't she seen through it before? "Lou does all the buying, floats them loans, as she calls it. Then she charges the girls for their individual purchases.
 

"I should have been suspicious of her business practices from the beginning. The only payments I ever receive are from Lou. I just thought she was making it easier for me by collecting the money and passing it along in one sum."

She pushed a tendril of hair out of her face. "Do you know, she charges them two, sometimes three times the price I bill her for the gowns I make? In addition, she charges them interest tantamount to usury! If I'd known how she worked, I'd have contracted with the girls directly. I'd have insisted on it. I'm sure the girls hate me for the prices I supposedly charge them." She let out a long breath. "Lou's been using me as well. I call myself a businesswoman, but I've been such a fool."

"Fayth—"

"No. Don't try to make me feel better." She shook her head. "I deserve to feel badly. I've been trying to help, but only harming. The girls are caught in an inescapable cycle and I inadvertently contributed to it." Her tone pitched high with fury by the time she finished speaking. She stood and paced. "I won't sew for that woman again! Not if I go bankrupt. Thank goodness my business is growing and I have a loan from a legitimate bank."

The look he gave her confused her. What did she read there? Worry? For whom? Why? Hadn't he confessed all?

"Show Miss Gramm. Make your business the most successful dress shop in Seattle. Save Coral. Sew only for whom you want." His words were calm and reassuring, the fleeting look of worry gone. She smiled at him.

"Thank you, Captain. I believe I will."

The Captain left the next day, on the last of his long runs before he began the mail route contract he'd won. To distract herself during his absence, Fayth, along with the other merchants on Washington Street, waged a battle against the city council, demanding covered sidewalks. The Council capitulated and authorized construction, touting the new sidewalks as a feat of modern engineering. Sturdy concrete arches were constructed to support the weight of the sidewalk and pedestrians above, with steps and spiral staircases installed. Had the lobbying of the honest, taxpaying merchants gotten results, or had Lou Gramm's free drinks and easy ear to local powers-that-be prevailed? Lou and her lower-class sisters in prostitution benefited most by the new sidewalks.

 
The city ingeniously solved the problem of lighting by installing skylights made of clear glass blocks in the upper walks. A quick view of a woman's petticoats as she scrambled up a ladder became passé. Standing under a skylight, a man got all the sight of a woman's anatomy he desired.