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Authors: Christine Trent

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Amelia kept her hands behind her back while owlishly inspecting the machinery from behind her wire-rimmed glasses, as though afraid it might reach out and grab her. “It's quite ... immense,” she finally proclaimed.
Belle laughed. “It is! And it will help me keep up with the other cloth manufacturers who can now supply far greater quantities to their London distributors. But enough about the shop; how's the vicar?”
“Papa's fine. He says it's high time we took you away from your servitude in the shop and had you up for tea. Come tomorrow?”
“Gladly.”
 
The following day, Belle was admitted to the rectory. Mr. Wood and Amelia greeted her and ushered her into their small parlor to wait for a tea tray. Mrs. Wood had died the year before Belle's parents, ensuring the two girls became close, different as they were. And despite Belle having her brother to look after her, Mr. Wood had stepped in as a sort of peevish uncle, determined to watch over her even if he didn't wholly approve of her taking over her parents' trade.
The tea was served scalding hot, exactly how Belle liked it. She blew gently on her cup while looking around the room.
“Belle, I see you're noticing our new portrait. A woman gave it to Papa as payment for officiating at her brother's funeral over in Huddersfield a few weeks ago.”
The small painting was a religious allegory and appeared to be quite old.
“It's beautiful, but may I make a recommendation?” Belle said over the rim of her teacup.
Amelia leaned forward. “Of course,” she said, pushing her glasses back against her face. Her glasses had been loose for some time, but despite Belle's urging, Amelia refused to see the optics man to have them fixed.
Belle put her cup down. “It's just that the portrait hangs too high upon the wall. It should come further down, like this.” She stood next to the portrait and gestured to show that the subject's eyes should be nearly level with the viewer's.
Mr. Wood nodded his head seriously. “I see. And what of the rest of the room? Have we put everything in good order?”
The draperies are too heavy and dark.
“Everything looks charming,” she said, sitting down again. “This pound cake is delicious, Amelia. Do I taste Madeira in it? You've outdone yourself.”
Her friend demurred graciously, willing to allow the subject change, but the vicar wasn't so pliable.
Shaking his head, Mr. Wood said, “Miss Stirling, you remind me more and more of your father each day. How proud—and yet exceedingly exasperated—he would be to see you now.”
“I think he would be proud of the new gig mill. Did Amelia tell you about it?”
He turned to his daughter with a look that sent Amelia to fiddling with a basket of sewing next to her chair. “Indeed she did not,” he said. “I suppose I'll have to take a walk down and admire it myself. Tell me, what has been the local reaction?”
“Approving, I think. Henry was an expert on it in no time, although he thinks it produces a poorer-quality product than what he can do with his hands. He's right, but it's foolish for me to have small batches of cloth finished by hand when I can have twice as much done in half the time.”
“Then I suppose you heard about what just happened over in Brighouse?” Mr. Wood's voice was even, but Belle sensed an underlying tension now between herself and the vicar. Amelia looked worriedly between her father and friend.
“Brighouse? No, why?”
“A horde of Luddites descended on the cloth mill of a man named William Cartwright. Cartwright had also installed some of that new cloth-finishing machinery. Some croppers, led by a devil named George Mellor, set out to destroy the mill and kill Cartwright.” Mr. Wood let his words hang in the air.
“Were they successful?” Belle asked.
“No. But only because Cartwright was ready for them. He garrisoned his mill with local militia and some of his own trusted workers, and had everything from pistols to acid ready to unleash on the gang. It was the first time the Luddites got a taste of their own medicine. Two of them were killed, Cartwright was unharmed.”
“Do you mean to say that they escaped from their crime?”
“Hardly. They attacked another large mill, and this time a hundred of them were rounded up. They sit awaiting trial now, but there can be no doubt of the outcome. As there can be no doubt of what will happen to you, Belle, if you insist on keeping that newfangled machinery in your shop.”
“But you said yourself that they're jailed. They can't do anything to me. To us.”
“Annabelle Stirling, that's just George Mellor and his mob that were caught. Think you that they are the only Luddites on the prowl right now?”
“Father, I'm sure Wesley will protect the shop,” Amelia ventured carefully.
“Wesley!” her father exploded. “You couldn't rely on Wesley to protect a hare from a three-legged fox. No, better to get rid of that machinery, young lady. You'll come to no good end with it.”
Belle choked down more tea to refrain from telling the vicar her opinion of his advice. How dare he instruct her in her shop's workings? Or suggest that her management of it was deficient in some way? Besides, Belle kept a pair of flintlock pistols hidden behind the counter, although she'd only practiced loading them on one occasion. Nevertheless, no ruffians would have an easy time of it if they broke into her shop. She'd see to it personally.
Taking Belle's silence for agreement, Mr. Wood pushed further. “And anyway, once you and Mr. Pryce are married, you'll have no need for the shop's income. He'll take care of you. An honest, respectable man Mr. Pryce is. You could not do better.”
Belle continued to bristle silently. The thought came unbidden to her mind that should she need protection, she was probably a better shot than Clive Pryce was, but she instantly chastised herself for such a thought about her betrothed. Certainly Clive was a good man. More important, he was her brother's most cherished friend, making him a welcome, if unexciting, addition to her life.
As welcome as he was, she had no intention of giving up the shop. It was the pride of Fafa's existence, and her own joy now. With her parents gone, she'd filled in whatever gaps in her knowledge she'd needed, and today there was almost nothing she didn't know about cloth. Consequently, Wesley was content to let her continue as she had, confident in her abilities to keep the shop profitable. And she'd done so, even coming up with her own plans for expansion and growth. Like with the new gig mill.
So now, five years later, what else was there to Annabelle Stirling's life but linen, wool, silk, and cotton?
She didn't mind that Wesley wasn't as interested in the shop as she was, for it allowed her an independence that she wouldn't otherwise have if he truly wanted to run things. But to what good purpose would she argue with a man who was not only the vicar but her best friend's father?
“Yes, Mr. Wood, I'm sure you're right about everything,” she said, putting down her cup to end this line of conversation.
He beamed broadly at Belle. “Of course I am, my dear. I am. I'm always telling Amelia that I know what's best for my womenfolk. And I do consider you under my care, Belle.”
Belle muttered her thanks and moved on to more innocuous topics to pass the time until she felt she'd stayed an acceptable amount of time.
Amelia followed her to the front door of the rectory to escort her out while Mr. Wood retreated to his study to work on that week's sermon.
“I'm sorry, Belle. Papa does mean well.” Amelia pushed her glasses back along the ridge of her nose again.
“I suppose he does.” She kissed her friend's cheek. “As enamored as he is of Clive, I think your father would rather have him as your husband than mine.”
Amelia flushed. “Oh no, I'm sure he thinks no such thing.”
“Amelia! I'm just teasing you.” She tweaked the other girl's nose, resulting in her wire frames slipping again. “Oh, sorry.”
“I don't mind.” Up they went again. “I should probably have them seen to, shouldn't I? Oh, I forgot to show you the dress I'm making to attend you at the church. Papa even said he would buy me a bonnet to go with it. Would you like to see it?”
“My apologies, but I need to get back to the shop. Maybe another time.” Belle hugged her friend warmly and said good-bye, pretending not to notice her friend's questioning look.
She decided to check the afternoon‘s progress on the new mill. While walking back to the shop through Upperhead Row, a formerly decrepit section of the town now being replaced with handsome new buildings and a wider street, all welcome improvements in Belle's mind, she thought that it was probably time she talked to Clive, to be sure he understood what she intended. A wife she would be. A cloth merchant she
must
be.
 
May 1812
 
Wesley Stirling was satisfied with his day.
First was his great success at ninepins in the alley behind the Pack Horse Inn. A group of about twenty spectators had gathered in the cobbled courtyard between the inn and its outbuildings: the kitchen, stable, laundry house, and necessary. This last building was particularly odiferous on such a warm day, but it was of no moment, for he'd collected a nice pouch of coins from those who foolishly bet he couldn't strike all the pins from forty feet away. Even Clive had bet against him.
Well, Clive was lighter by a penny or two now, wasn't he?
The two men had gone back to the cloth shop afterwards, because Wesley had promised Belle he'd take a load of cloth to Leeds Bridge for loading on a ship bound for London. Or was it Norwich? No matter. After Clive had finished flirting with Belle—who, Wesley had to say, was in an ill temper on such a beautiful day—the men had scurried back to the Pack Horse for a darts competition.
Their game resulted in more success when Wesley was able to hit the center of the painted barrel bottom hung on the wall with his back turned, throwing the dart over his shoulder. Even Phyllis Roland, who'd been little impressed with Wesley's recent attempts to astonish her with his feats of strength and cleverness, had finally taken notice of him when he'd carelessly tossed the dart behind him and struck the center of the red circle painted on the barrel. And who knew where her interest might lead?
He pushed away his empty plate, leaned back in his chair, and crossed his ankles in contentment, sipping from his tankard. Yes, today had been profitable in more ways than one.
His winnings from the day were mostly spent buying rounds of ale for his friends. But he still had a crown left. He contemplated what to do with it. Belle had been grousing lately about the shop needing a bigger window cut into the front, to make her silly little arrangements more visible. Perhaps he should turn everything over to her.
Or not.
He was distracted from his thoughts by Clive's good-natured kick on his shin.
“Blast you, Pryce. What are you about?” Wesley said.
“Time to wake up. There's still more to be done today.”
“What do you mean? My belly's full”—Wesley patted it for emphasis—“and so are my pockets. Well, they're not quite as full, but I'm in good comfort and cheer. I've no intention of doing anything else today.”
“We need to do something for Belle.”
“I already carted off a load of cloth for her today. Isn't that enough?”
“No. I had a ring made for her and I need to pick it up.”
“What kind of ring?”
“It's silver, with a locket on top to hold a clipping of my hair. My mother is braiding it for me. What?”
Wesley grinned. “Nothing, nothing. I do believe you've gone completely soft over my sister. I don't think you've figured out yet what a harridan you're getting.”
“If she's a harridan, it's only because you've never used a firm hand with her since your parents died. She'll be different once we're married.”
“Undoubtedly.”
“You won't tell her about the ring? It's a surprise.”
“I'll be silent as the grave.”
Clive scowled at him, but wasn't so irritated as to give up the topic.
“My mother has written to all of her cousins to invite them to the wedding breakfast. It will be a locust plague to put Pharaoh's to shame.”
“I guess I'll have to provide extra barrels of buttered ale to wash everything down, then, won't I? When will banns be read?”
“Starting the first Sunday in June for three weeks. Hasn't Belle told you this? Has she even been talking about our wedding?”
“My sister? You must be joking. She's far more concerned with the cut of the latest printed damask for a sofa than a silk for her dress. Don't know that she's even started making it.”

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