A Farewell Draws Near

In one stroke, Gloria gave up the plan she’d been savoring, of breezing through the luxury boutique and gleefully scooping up all of this month’s new arrivals.

Honestly — who in the world is out there scribbling rot like this?

The hand gripping the newspaper shook violently. When she flung that same hand out, paper and all, to hail a carriage in her haste, the delivery boy sprawled on the ground mumbled up at her.

“Um, my lady. About the payment for that paper…”
“Ugh, just my rotten luck. Will you clear off this instant?”
“B-but if the count of the papers...