"Oh, you do know how I like to be first," she muses, resisting the urge to so much as glance at Beaudraste. This only works if they can sell it, and by the gods, Ness will not be the weak link in this particular chain.

Even without looking, Ness can tell Beaudraste still isn't fully convinced—she's just as likely to write them off as a waste of time as to capitulate, and they grow closer to the former with every extra second they spend talking. There's only one more shot to get this right, and no time to second-guess her instincts with hemming and hawwing.

"Still, Monsieur did say it makes no difference to him who the cushions come from, so long as the price is reasonable." She turns back to Beaudraste and gestures at the designs on display. "We know these would match the curtains in the new wing, as well. It would be so nice if it could be that simple, no?"

If the promise of guaranteed business in the form of decorating a whole wing doesn't persuade Beaudraste, Ness has absolutely no idea what will.