Needing a bit of exercise, Bess walked around to the back of the store. Her back ached from sitting still for too long. When she was engrossed in her work, she tended to ignore her own discomfort. That discomfort would be increasing in the coming months and she would probably have to stop working eventually. William would insist on it, though she could always keep designing from home.

There would be many things to do before the birth. The nursery had already been decorated and furnished but a nurse needed to be hired, a luxury she had not enjoyed when her sons were born. There were perks to owning a prosperous business, including the ability to employ more servants. The St.Clairs now had two maids and a cook who had been with them since their marriage. Bess was thinking of hiring a part-time maid to help out as well.

The bell above the door chimed again. It looked as if she had either a customer or an applicant for the shop attendant job. Opening the back door that led into the workshop, she moved through it and into the store proper, smiling when she saw Mr. Koç perusing the merchandise with a list in his hand. One of the disadvantages of owning a popular jewelry store was theft and she had hired him to recover stolen items in the past. Their jewelry was distinctive in style and not so easy to sell on the black market. However, there were some pieces that had never been found.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Koç.” Bess walked over to him. “I hope you are doing well today.”