A Heart Most Worthy Read Online Free PDF Page A

second story workshop to the third floor of the building. “This is where you will work.”
    Luciana peered around Madame’s shoulder and saw two girls sitting at a long table, looking back at her. One of them was staring, eyes lit with challenge. She raked Luciana with a gaze before returning to her work. The other glanced up and then immediately returned her attentions to her work. “Julietta. And Annamaria.”
    “Buon giorno.”
    Neither of the girls replied, though Annamaria smiled, for just an instant.
    Madame Fortier continued the introductions. “This is – ” Madame paused in her speech, rather surprised that she hadn’t even thought to ask the new girl’s name.
    “Luciana.”
    “This is Luciana. She’s to take over the beading.”
    “Grazie a Dio!” Thank God! Julietta had been afraid she’d have to do it herself. Which was why she’d been progressing on her embroidery with such uncharacteristic slowness. “You have to have the patience of a saint for that.”
    Annamaria smiled once more, though her meticulous stitches were the only witness. She was normally the sole audience for Julietta’s many and varied opinions. She usually only half-listened to the chatter, but still, it would be nice to share that burden with someone else.
    Madame Fortier led Luciana around the worktable. “We are working on the gowns for an autumn wedding.” She wished she could start the girl on the wedding gown itself, but that would have been too risky. What if she had lied? What if she couldn’t perform the magic she had promised? Madame would know soon. She would be able to tell from the lay of the beads and the pull of the fabric. “You’ll start with the collar of one of the attendant’s gowns. I’ve based it on this illustration.” She pushed a page from a sample book over to Luciana. The girl took it up. It was a simple gown. And the beading on the collar was equally as plain. “In bugle beads?”
    “Seed beads. Of alabaster.”
    “And the fabric? Is it georgette?”
    “Messaline.”
    Luciana frowned. Georgette would have taken the beads better. Messaline was slippery and not as easy to work with.
    Madame Fortier had said that very thing, in fact, to her client. But the bride’s mother had settled upon messaline and messaline it would have to be. No amount of coaxing had moved her from that decision. Mrs. Henry Haywood’s daughter had been married the previous year with bridesmaids in messaline and it seemed that nothing else would do.
    “What is to be used for the lining?”
    “Sarcenet.”
    Sarcenet. That was correct. Luciana shot a glance up at Madame. “It will have to be several thicknesses then.”
    Julietta raised a brow at the girl’s words. And her boldness! Even Julietta had never presumed to advise Madame on anything having to do with the gowns.
    But Madame only smiled. “Sì.” Exactly. The new girl understood exactly.
    Luciana nodded. “Do you have the collar? I’ll start it now.” And then she could have the whole afternoon to figure out how to ask for an advance on her pay.

    Sometime around noon, Julietta and Annamaria put down their work. They cleared the table of scissors and thread, pincushions and yarn. And then they retrieved their lunches from a cupboard. Julietta’s had bread, a not-too-pungent hunk of smoky provola cheese, and a juicy tomato to go with it. Annamaria had brought a slice of ham to go with her own bread. But she eyed Julietta’s tomato with something very near envy.
    “Mama hasn’t been able to find any good tomatoes.”
    “In July? In the city? Where’s she looking?” No good tomatoes? Annamaria’s mama had to be blind!
    Annamaria shrugged. “Maglione’s frutta e verdura. On North Street.”
    “Then she should come over to Hull.”
    Julietta and Annamaria were both Avellino by birth, but they came from two different villages. Those from Julietta’s village had settled at the northernmost tip of the North End. Those from Annamaria’s village