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Casey said, “Surely you can’t do all the sewing for a household this large?”
“No, we use seamstresses and tailors,” Naomi said. “But I do love helping people decide what they like and how they choose to be seen.”
“That is so reasonable!” Casey exclaimed. In a softer voice, she said, “Everyone I’ve met here has been so kind.”
Naomi smiled. “Since the world often isn’t, we need to be kind to each other. Every member of the Tribe of Tremayne has a story about how we arrived here.”
“I’m sure that some of those stories don’t bear repeating.” Casey sensed that was true for Naomi.
“Indeed.” Naomi pulled out pieces of fabric in different shades of blue. “Hold these up to your face one at a time and look in the mirror. The color will enhance your pretty silvery blue eyes.”
Casey followed the instructions, starting with a soft, sky-blue fabric that felt as lovely as it looked. She brushed it against her cheek. “If this is female fun, I like it!”
“This is only the beginning!” Naomi said with a laugh. “Next we’ll talk about shoes and boots.”
CHAPTER 10
After leaving Casey with Naomi, Cameron returned to his parents’ private parlor. Rhys was there petting Gentleman Jack with one hand and Lord Stripes with the other. “Your lady friend has a fine cat,” he commented. “Would you like another cup of tea, perhaps with something extra added?”
“I certainly would. It’s been a demanding several days.” Cameron took a bottle of brandy from the cabinet. “Shall I enliven your tea as well?”
“Please.”
After their cups of tea had been enhanced, Cameron sank wearily into one of the chairs opposite the sofa. Gentleman Jack promptly left Rhys and came to sprawl on Cam’s lap. “Saving Sir Samuel was a very near thing. If we’d been a couple of minutes slower, he and a young apprentice would have died.”
“But they didn’t. Enjoy your success.” Rhys sipped at his tea. “Do you have any idea what Casey wants to do now?”
“She’s delighted to meet more gifted people. She’s been very alone since her foster father, Jamie Harris, died.” Cameron took a deep swallow of his tea. “In her position at the dockyard, she worked with numbers and accounting and apparently is very good with them.”
“I could use help with that kind of work,” Rhys said with interest. “Do you know what her gifts are?”
“She has an ability rather like Bran’s, to put bits of information together to find an underlying pattern. She’s also good at sensing people’s emotions. She’s very strong and might have other abilities I haven’t seen yet.”
“Would she benefit from more training?”
“Yes, though her foster father gave her a good foundation. I think she’s hungry to learn more. To discover everything that she has been denied for so many years. To ride a horse as she did when she was a child and to visit Astley’s Amphitheatre and go to theaters and to see the famous sights of London.”
“And so she shall.” Rhys’s brows arched. “Am I wrong in thinking that you have a more than brotherly interest in her?”
Cameron made a face. “It’s impossible to conceal anything from you or Gwyn. But it’s much too soon to act on that interest.”
“True, but you’ll be working together to find the man behind the plot against Sir Samuel.” Rhys’s eyes twinkled. “Not to mention showing her the sights of the city.”
“Why do I bother to have thoughts of my own?” Cameron said with amusement. “I can just wait for you or Gwyn to tell me what I’m thinking.”
Rhys laughed. “It’s not very difficult to read your mind at the moment. Did you observe anything else we should know about the dockyard?”
“As you probably know, Chatham dockyard has expanded since my last visit, which is good for the Royal Navy. With Napoleon conquering most of the Continent, we must rule the seas or start learning to speak French.”
“You already speak French, but you’re right that the Royal Navy is critical to our future. We need engineers like Sir Samuel, as well as sailors and soldiers.” Rhys covered a yawn. “It’s getting late. Sleep well.”
Cameron glanced down at the purring cat on his lap. “I’ll take Gentleman Jack up to Casey’s room. He might have trouble finding his way to her.”
“It’s a good excuse to say good night to Casey,” Rhys said, his voice sober but his eyes amused.
“Indeed it is.” Cameron hoisted Gentleman Jack over his shoulder. “See you in the morning.”
He climbed to the third floor and turned along the left corridor. At the end, a crack of light showed under the door to Casey’s room, so he knocked lightly.
