Nessa looked over at Elise, who smiled and said, “Indeed, Mr Brownlee. I certainly cannot. Thank you.”
Unable to keep excitement buried any longer, Nessa asked, “When would you like me to start?”
Josiah Brownlee stared at her like she had asked where the sky was. “Right bleedin’ now, of course. Ye heard the missus, we need help with the grunt work.”
The ground got a little unsteady under Nessa’s feet.
Starting right now? No time to prepare or to get used to the idea?
Perhaps that was best, Nessa thought. Perhaps she should simply be thrown into it, much like the trip to Nightport.
She steadied herself. “All right. Will I need anything? Like clothing or tools?”
“No. I have it all right ‘ere. Although the apron is made for a man and might be a little big. No matter, I'm sure it won't be too heavy for a lass used to farm work.”
Nessa tried to look confident. “I think you're right there, Mr Brownlee. Let me have a minute to say goodbye to my companion, and then I'll be in and ready to start work.”
“All right. But don't be dawdlin’. We don't have all day.” With that, Josiah walked back in, slamming the door behind him.
Nessa turned to Elise. She was no longer hiding her excitement and probably looked like a child on its birthday. “We did it! I'm going to be glassblower. I'm so sorry that's not much coin to start with, but we have the capital you've brought and soon I'll be earning more. I’m sure of it.”
Elise grabbed her by the shoulders. “Of course. Besides, I will find a job, too. We will make ends meet. Please do not fret about that. You simply focus on becoming the best glassblower in Nightport.”
Nessa was trying to catch her breath, trying to wrap her head around this. “Well, I suppose I will eat something here for lunch and then see you tonight. Will you be all right on your own?”
Elise let go of her shoulders, smiling reassuringly. “Most certainly. I am going hunting for a job. In the bakery where I bought the bread rolls this morning, I spotted little notices about jobs in the window. I am going to have a look at them and see what is available.”
“Good thinking and well spotted. Good luck. And if you don't see something you would be happy doing, don't just take any old job. We will find something that you enjoy tomorrow or the next day.”
Elise quirked an eyebrow. “We? You will be busy learning a new craft. I have a feeling Secilia and Josiah are going to work you like a horse. You will be lucky to be home to dinner tonight.”
Nessa sighed but couldn't hide her grin. She didn't mind working hard if it was to learn something she would enjoy. Hard work was all she had ever known, but it had always been to help someone else. Today was the day her work would be for her own benefit. Her food. Her rent. Well, not only hers. Theirs.
She took Elise’s hand for a moment and pressed it. “Thank you for all your help. I couldn’t have achieved this without you pushing me and being bold for me.”
“I was glad to help. I like helping you, returning the favour so to speak. Congratulations on the new job. Oh and, please be careful around the fire. I will see you later,” Elise said before turning back towards Core Street.
Nessa watched her walk away. There was a strange, warm, buzzing feeling in her stomach. She would have to learn to ignore it. Elise wasn’t for her. She had to remember that.
Chapter 13
Wherein Elise Searches for a Job, But Finds an Acquaintance Instead
Elise was happy that Nessa finally found a place she belonged. More than that, she was relieved. She felt responsible for the other woman.
The problem right now was her own belonging. After she left Nessa, she walked over to that bakery and examined the notices in their window. Three of them asked for strong workers with experience carrying and lifting; the other two were for skilled labour.
Dead-end for a Noble woman on the run.
She rolled her eyes at her own melodrama but couldn’t stop the feeling taking root.
Since then, she had wandered the streets looking for more notices, occasionally stopping in shops and businesses that might want a highly schooled employee with no real experience. That had been just as much of a dead-end. In the end, she walked into a shop and bought some kohl and lip tint, borrowing a mirror and applying it in the shop. Anything to make herself feel a little more confident. It hadn’t worked.
She was tired, dejected, and her feet hurt. She rubbed her temples.
I have enough coin for at least a couple of weeks. I shall simply have to start my search over again tomorrow.
With heavy steps, Elise walked back to their rickety boarding house. It was a dry, windy day, and dust blew up from the cobblestones as carriages passed her. The entire walk, she thought about the shared bathtub at the end of their corridor. It was stained and small, but it would do to get her clean and relax her aching legs and feet. Hopefully she could get enough hot water for a long soak. She could only hope there wasn’t a queue.
If only we had the time and coin to find a better lodging house. Oh well. We needed a place to stay and I found us one. We shall make due. I must learn to make due with things.
It was while she was heading for the stairs that she looked down at her new boots, which chafed as they had yet to shape to her feet, causing her to nearly crash into a man.
He was slim, well-dressed, and his square jaw was perfectly shaven. He puffed, out of breath from running down the stairs, as he stopped and stared at her.
“Oh. I am terribly sorry about that. I am late for work.” Despite his apparent rush, he raked his eyes over her. “Say, are you new here? I am sure I would have remembered seeing someone so… striking here before.”
She looked back at him, aiming to appear neutral. She appreciated a good flirtation, but now was not the time. Besides, speaking to a strange man in a city known to be unsafe seemed imprudent even to her. She should tread carefully.
“Yes, we arrived in Nightport yesterday and rented a room here last night."
If the stranger picked up on that she was hinting that she was spoken for by saying ‘we,’ he gave no sign of it. He smoothed down his already perfect hair, which was blonde as wheat with a streak of black at the front. It was sleekly arranged in a long ponytail which his hands now clasped. He gave it a theatrical twirl and let it drop back against his red velvet frock coat.
He bowed with a flourish. “Welcome to Nightport and to 21 Miller Street. I hope your stay will be most enjoyable.”
Then he gifted her a rehearsed smile. One which he probably thought was roguishly charming, but which reminded Elise of a conman who had weaselled his way into court last year.
She noticed that this man’s teeth were unnaturally white and perfect. They looked as if they had been made in a factory. In fact, all of him gave that impression. Unnaturally flawless. It wasn’t purely his looks. The accent was unnatural, too. The words sounded like a midlands accent, almost Noble, but the cadence was all Nightport.
Normally she would have been intrigued, but now, she wanted to rest and have a bath. Or even better, a job so she wouldn’t have to let Nessa down.
He gave a polite cough and she realised that she hadn’t answered him.
“Thank you for your concern. I am certain my stay will be most enjoyable… if I can ever find some employment,” she muttered.
He straightened, seeming to have forgotten his haste. “Oh? You are in search of a job? I can help you there. I work for one of the biggest law firms in Nightport. I bring important messages to just about every business, factory, company, and politician in town. Even to the Nightport docks.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “So, you are an errand boy?”
The peacock of a man looked appalled. “Certainly not! I am an assistant to Mr Rudyard Hampton, the most important solicitor in Nightport.”
Elise realised that she had wounded his pride, something she guessed he had a lot of. Out of guilt, she decided to try to mend some of the injury.
“Ah, I see. As I say, I am new to the city. I meant no offence.”
The man squared his shoulders, puffed his chest out, and once more gave her that white-toothed, roguish smile. “No offence taken. Besides, it is only my day job. At night I have a more exotic position. But you are too new in town to hear about that, Miss…?”
Now that did pique her curiosity. A little.
“Elise Aelin. And you are?”
“Hunter Smith, at your service. Now, I must be hurrying to work, but I will return before nightfall. Perhaps then I can buy you a glass of ale here? The landlady serves bad ale and worse pies. All so she can claim to have food services at her lodging house. We can discuss what employment would fit you then?”
The smile on his face hinted that he wanted to do more than merely buy her a drink, but this was not mirrored in his body language. His feet were pointing away from her, his posture was stiff, and he was crossing his arms over his chest. Nearly hugging himself.
There was something going on with this man, but she was too tired and dejected to care. Maybe after she had managed to get some sleep. Preferably next to Nessa’s warm, soft body.
“Perhaps. I am very tired and not sure I shall be here when you return. I might be out with my companion. She does so like to treat me.” Elise added a meaning wink to her last words, hoping that this Hunter Smith would take the hint this time.
Although, there was a distinct possibility that even if he did, he would still press his luck. He behaved like the sort of person who thought that they could have any lover they wanted. In short, he behaved as a Noble. In everything but his body language, which was still strangely standoffish.
He looked at her for a few heartbeats. “I see. Even better! Perhaps we can all have a glass of ale around eight tonight? But now I really must hurry. I am monstrously late.”
He rushed past her and out the door.
Elise heard chuckling and looked over the desk by the wall. The landlady was there. She was the one who had upset Nessa by informing her of how much it would cost to get a room with two beds. Now, she was looking in the direction of the door, shaking her head. Elise wondered if she had overheard what Hunter said about her ale and pies.
She caught Elise looking. “Beg ye pardon, Miss. He’s just such a silly lad. Pretendin’ like that.”
Elise blinked a few times. “Do you mean the accent?”
“Well, no. Although that is all pretendin’, too. Likes to think he sound like a Noble, he does. Sounds plain silly, right? No, I was thinkin’ that it’s so funny to see ‘im strut and prance around young beauties. Like he wasn't all smoke an’ no fire.”
“What do you mean?”
The landlady made an unpleasant snorting noise. “I mean that Mr Smith takes on the role of famous man ‘bout town an’ reckons that this means he’s to flirt with everyone he sees. Especially if they happen to be attractive or important. Except, most people in Nightport whisper that he prefers a lonely bed.”
“A lonely bed?”
The landlady gave her a lopsided grin. “Aye. The pretty specimen of a man doesn't like the… well, ye know… the pleasures of the flesh.” The last couple of words were whispered. She continued with eyes twinkling. “But he pretends real hard an’ thinks that no one sees through it. All the while, most of Nightport knows that he won't actually bed his conquests. He tends to find a way out before things get… juicy. Broke quite a few hearts in the first few months, he did. That’s why I’m tellin’ ye this, to keep yer heart safe, Miss Aelin.”
Elise shook her head. “No need to worry about me. My interests do not include men.”
The landlady looked taken aback but then smirked. “Ah, I see. Keep to grey-eyed girls, do ye?”
Elise gave her a filthy look. “I am not certain that is any of your business. Neither are Mr Smith’s sexual habits, surely. Nevertheless, I thank you for informing me, as I am now more likely to take him up on his offer to help me find employment.”
The landlady put her hands at the small of her back and stretched. “Aye, I suggest ye do exactly that. He might be a sad case of all smoke an’ no fire, but he does know his way around town, an’ all the people in it. Get him to set ye up with a job so ye can keep payin’ me the rent.”
Elise muttered that she’d try and began walking up the stairs. That bath would have to wait. The bed in their room was calling her name, and even though it was only late afternoon, she was going to answer it.
* * *
Some hours later, Nessa opened the door. Her noisy fumbling with her keys woke Elise from her slumber. Keys and locks hadn’t caught on much in Ground Hollow. Elise really wished they had.
“Oh. I'm sorry! I didn't know you were asleep.”
Elise yawned and smiled up at her. “That is quite all right, I was just catching up on some rest.”
Nessa closed the door behind her. “Does that mean your job search didn't bear fruit?”
“I am afraid that is exactly what it means,” Elise said, rubbing her eyes before remembering that she had applied kohl.
Splendid. Now you look like a black-eyed racoon.
Nessa sat down on the bed. “Don't worry. Tomorrow is a new day. I’m confident you will find the perfect thing for you then. Maybe I can ask Josiah if he knows of someone employing well-schooled women?”
Elise hummed. “Perhaps that would be a good idea. It certainly cannot hurt. That reminds me, I promised a flirtatious young man whom I ran into downstairs that we would have a couple of ales with him tonight. He claimed to know of employers here in town, and the landlady confirmed that he has an extensive catalogue of contacts.”
Nessa edged closer, looking sceptical and stern as she did so. “I see. Are you sure that he won't want something in return for this information?”
Elise leaned closer, wanting to flirt and greedy for more of the warmth coming off Nessa’s body. She arched an eyebrow and smirked. “Is that concern or… jealousy I hear in your voice?”
That voice. Nessa’s incredibly clear, beautiful voice. Why do I never tire of listening to that gods-forsakenly enchanting voice?
Nessa snorted. “Don’t be silly. I just worry about sitting down with some stranger you ran into in a notoriously dangerous city. Especially one who was flirty and promised you something that you desperately needed. Bound to be shady.”
With that, all flirtation was cut off. Elise sat back, dropping her eyebrow and ending the smirk. She was trying very hard to not feel hurt by Nessa’s reaction to the notion of being jealous. Or the overbearing tone in her voice. “I know. I was joking. No need to worry, I can read people and am very well aware that such a person might be ‘shady.’ However, the young man in question will not pose a danger to us. At least not in a sexually predatory way.”
Nessa stretched. “Really? May I ask how you know that?”
Elise tilted her head. “You know what? I believe it would be more entertaining to let you guess when you meet him.”
Nessa’s eyes narrowed, suddenly paying more attention. “You want me to just trust your judgement about this man? Without any explanations?”
Elise ran her fingers under her eyelids and looked at them to see how much of the black paint she had smudged over her eyes. “Yes. That is the point of our friendship, is it not? We both contribute something that the other one does not have and can advise each other because we come from different circumstances.”
She got up to check her eyes in the mirror, wiping away the worst of the kohl as she continued. “I know about people, you know. Especially men who try to take advantage. Highmere was filled with them. When I spoke to this man, he seemed to be trying too hard to be something he could not quite pull off. Our landlady confirmed as much right after he left. Humour me, try to spot the secret he is hiding when we see him tonight.”
Nessa chewed her lower lip. “And if I can't? Will you mock me?”
Elise looked past her own reflection, catching Nessa’s eye in the mirror. “Of course not.”
N
essa was still chewing her lip and now averting her eyes. Elise walked over to her and brushed a few strands of soot-stained hair away from her pale face. “I would never do that. If you cannot guess right away I will tell you. I simply believe it will be a good challenge to see if you can see through him, and if you cannot, it will be a starter lesson in reading people. You will need that skill in the city. There will be no wrong answers, and I will never mock you. Tease you about things you do not mind being teased about? Yes. Mock you? Never.”
Nessa gave a brief smile. “All right, I will give your game a go. I bet I can guess, right away. Is he like you? Bedding solely his own gender?”
“No, no. None of that. No clues. You are going to have to read him yourself.”
Nessa began to undo her braid. “As you wish. For now, I plan to wash up, change clothes, and try to find a big meal. I need it.”
“Oh, of course! Tell me everything about your first day. Did you get to make any glass?”
“No. But I got to sweep floors, clean tools, and handle any customers who came in. At least until they had tricky questions. In between all that, I was given instructions on how to behave in the hot shop to prevent injury to people or any of the materials. Secilia says I will be ready to handle the glass and the furnace in a few days. Josiah thinks it might be longer.”
Elise could see the impatience and disappointment on Nessa’s face. “I am sorry to hear that.”
Nessa combed her fingers through her loose hair. “It's all right. It seems to be common practice when you take an apprentice. I’m glad to know that they are concerned about my welfare and about me learning how to behave in the workshop before I take on any dangerous tasks.”
Nessa walked over to the basin. She began to undo the buttons on her dirty shirt, taking it off while talking about the customers who were coming to have glasswork made.
Making a Tinderbox (The Tinderbox Tales Book 1) Page 11