Bertha sniffed. "He's ruined."

Annabet sent her an angry look. "That's very helpful of you." She considered the blotches on the floor. "Tomorrow. Tomorrow, I will think more clearly. Today, we will clean this up."

Johann crossed his arms, trying to look as forbidding as their father. "No. You will stay out of this!"

Annabet just looked at him. "You are not Papa to order me around. You are not my betrothed, either. You are just my baby brother, and you need help." A tear slid out of the corner of her eye. "I need something to work toward, something to hope for." She took a deep breath. "Please?"

Johann swore. "Fine." He uncrossed his arms and went back to work.

Bertha just patted him on the shoulder as she went to look for a mop. "You're a good boy. Stupid, but good."

Annabet met Johann when he came home the next night. He had no more bruises, but he did have a fresh scowl. He slammed the door behind him.

"What's wrong, now?" she asked.

He kicked a chair. "No one will give me paper or ink on credit. I have nothing to print on."

"You will." Annabet took the heavy purse she'd been carrying all day out of her apron pocket. "I want to go into business with you. I want to be a full partner and not just your clerk."

"What do you mean?"

"I sold all the linens from my dowry chest," she said. "One of the cooks where Bertha works is fumbled-fingered when it comes to fancy work. But she's thrifty and has plenty of coin instead. She's also in love, and her sweetheart just made master. He's ready to marry, and her dower chest was half empty. I emptied mine and filled hers for a good price. That, added to the money I earned working for Frau Koch. .." She grinned while he gawped. "I will buy the paper and ink and give you half for your Committees of Correspondence. You will use the rest to print patterns for me."

Johann stared at her. "Why?"