Hidden in a Whisper Read Online Free PDF Page A

whatsoever. The puzzled look on her face made Ivy frown.
    â€œWhy did you come to this job, Faith?”
    The girl brightened a bit. “Because my family thought it would do me good.”
    â€œAnd has it?” Ivy asked, halting her brush long enough to consider Faith’s response.
    The girl shrugged. “I don’t know.”
    Ivy wondered if the girl had a single thought in her head that hadn’t been previously placed there by someone else.
    â€œWell, I wouldn’t count on it doing you much good, unless you’re looking for a husband. I certainly don’t intend to wait on people and serve meals the rest of my life, and frankly, polishing silver is something the servants will do when I have a home of my own.” She resumed her brushing, stroking the cornsilk-colored hair until it crackled. “And I will never again wear black and white, at least not in this capacity.”
    She put the brush down and finished undressing until she stood in nothing but her lace-edged chemise, silk corset, and drawers. Positioning her hands on her tiny waist, Ivy gave a twirl.
    â€œI won’t grow old in this town. I won’t be an ugly spinster and boss other girls around like Miss Taylor does. I shall have a beautiful mansion in St. Louis or Chicago and fifty servants to wait on me hand and foot.”
    Faith giggled. “And beautiful clothes of taffeta and silk.”
    Ivy stopped and smiled. “Yes, and jewels and lavish finery enough to make all of my friends green with envy. But first I have to find a proper husband, and I must have a position of merit at this resort.”
    â€œA position of merit?” Faith asked, reaching up to take her own hairnet off.
    â€œYes. I want to be the head waitress, and with my aunt’s help, I will be just that.”
    â€œBut Miss Taylor said—” “I don’t much care what Miss Taylor said,” Ivy retorted. “She may believe that plain little mouse Gwendolyn Carson is entitled to the position by right of her three years with the Harvey Company, but I shall see how she reacts when my aunt Esmeralda instructs her to give the position to me. My aunt is a powerful woman, and she will see things my way.”
    â€œHow exciting!” Faith declared. “When will you talk to her?”
    â€œAs soon as we manage to set up a little bit of a complication in the life of Gwendolyn Carson,” Ivy said, going to the closet to thumb through her regular clothes. She chose a pale pink dressing gown and slipped into it without saying another word.
    She would devise a plan—a plan that would put Gwen on poor terms with those around her. But how? Ivy mused over the problem for several minutes before coming up with a plan.
    â€œOf course,” she said with a smile. “Faith, I shall need your help.”
    â€œMy help?” the girl questioned, a stunned look on her face.
    Ivy rolled her eyes. “Yes. Your help. We need to make Gwen look bad, and I have the perfect solution. She will steal your hairbrush.”
    â€œ My hairbrush? But it’s right here in my drawer,” Faith said, getting up to open the drawer of her tiny dresser. She reached in and held it up for Ivy to see.
    â€œYes, I know it is,” Ivy replied in irritation. “But we shall hide it among Gwen’s things, then declare it missing. When Miss Taylor searches the rooms, she will find it, and Gwen will no longer be quite so favored.” Ivy knit her brows together as she continued to consider this. “Of course, that might not be enough. We might have to do this several times. Maybe we could find something really valuable and hide it in Gwen’s room. Maybe some jewelry from one of the guests.”
    Faith’s expression revealed her confusion. “Steal from the guests?”
    â€œIf we need to,” Ivy replied, finishing up the buttons on her gown. “Look, give me your brush and I’ll sneak across the hall