He bought a bunch of them early Shakespeare books so he can put them on display. “Why on earth would your investor move you to New York?” Cleo asked.

And if I go over the sea, my babe will turn into an American, and my da will never speak to me again!” She threw her apron over her head and resumed sobbing loudly. “Then what would I do?” the young girl cried, lifting her head from the older seamstress’s shoulder. If you don’t want to come with us, you needn’t.” “I know, I know, I just forgot,” Martha said. “They won that war some twenty-five years ago.” Which is in the Americas, you know, in the colonies.” “He plans to move us, lock, stock, and barrel, to New York City. “Not just the West End, nor yet London, but England itself,” Martha said, wringing her hands. “Does your investor wish you to leave the West End?” I was so happy.” She stopped and wiped her eyes. “My solicitor found us an investor to give us a fixed amount every other month. But the lack of steady money tests the soul.” Sometimes my seamstresses just sit about, with nothing to do. If an actress leaves a company, I’ll have a new wardrobe made up for her understudy in no time. “Quimby’s prides ourselves in making up a gown within a week. “I can see that would pose a problem,” Cleo said sympathetically. Then they come back and need a bishop and four gowns for the lead actress within a fortnight.” She waved her hand toward the dress forms. They open for a season, travel about the country or Europe.

The theaters aren’t steady with payments, you see. “A few months ago, I decided to look for an investor, Miss Lewis. “I wish it was so simple,” Martha said, sighing. Her father had left her a number of plumbing establishments, and although her man of business dealt with many of the day-to-day activities, she had necessarily learned a great deal about leases.

How to Be a Wallflower by Eloisa James