Ivy flashed Peggy a thankful look, yanked the ornate pin from her hair, and shoved it into Peggy's waiting palm.
"Peggy, you're irreplaceable. Without you here, I'd be completely lost," Ivy whispered.
The delicate hairpin gleamed with gold plating and lustrous pearls—clearly worth a fortune.
Peggy's gaze sparkled with avarice. "Miss Fairfax, this is far too generous," she stammered.
Yet her grip tightened around the precious ornament, refusing to release it.
Ivy caught that greedy gleam and felt a surge of disgust.
Putting on her most earnest face, Ivy told Peggy, "You're not my servant—you're like family. I can count on you completely, right?"
Peggy's chest swelled with emotion at the heartfelt words, and she bobbed her head eagerly. "My loyalty belongs entirely to you, Miss Fairfax. Nothing could shake that," she declared.
Privately, she mused, 'Once Miss Fairfax marries into the Thorne household, life will get so much sweeter for me.'
