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Authors: Carré White
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Miss Hampton.”
“My, aren’t you the pampered one.” Paulina eyed the metal covered dishes. “Room service for lunch.”
“And dinner.”
“I can see why you’re so happy here now. Who does the washing?”
“The maid.” I grinned. “Shush, don’t tell anyone. This is a marvelous job, and I’m trying my best not to anger my employer so I can keep it.”
“I was told you earned five dollars a week.”
“I do, and I hardly get my hands dirty. I’ve even had a bath. A real bath.”
Her eyes widened. “With Mr. Carlyle present?”
“They brought in a screen. He saw nothing, I can assure you. I took Rosalind in with me. It was great fun.”
“I see.” She folded her arms over her chest. “You are thoroughly enjoying yourself.”
“I’m up at night with her. It’s not all peaches and roses.”
“But, you’re hardly suffering.”
“I’m not. I hope it takes a great deal of time to secure the subscriptions for the rail line. I wouldn’t mind being here longer.”
“Well,” she glanced at the table, “your food’s arrived, and I shouldn’t keep you. I’ll see you on Sunday. Will you come to the house for brunch?”
“I hope so. I’d like to invite Mr. Carlyle and Megan and her children, if I could. Is that agreeable?”
“Certainly. We’ll have our famous roast pig. There will be plenty for everyone.” She hugged me. “I’m glad you’re happily situated. Jane was right about sending you to town. The change has been beneficial.”
“Thank you. I’m doing my best to take care of Rosalind, but it’s very easy. She’s an adorable baby and hardly any trouble at all.”
“Then enjoy it while it lasts.”
“I will.” I escorted her to the door. “See you on Sunday.”
Moments later, Megan returned with the paper, and she joined me at the table, although I held Rosalind in my arms, while I tried to eat. There was boiled venison in gravy with greens and potatoes, which were delicious. Rosalind managed to get her hands in the sauce, bringing the sticky fingers to her face.
“Oh, what a mess you’re making.” I tried to wipe her clean with a napkin, but she squirmed in my lap.
“I’m so happy about the cat,” exclaimed Judy. “I can’t wait to play with her.”
I glanced at my partner in crime. “You can see her when you’re done eating.” We had told Megan about our newest houseguest.
“I do believe we’re going to get away with this.” Judy smiled smugly. “No one will be the wiser, and all of us will have a soft plaything.”
Megan muttered, “No good will come from that cat, I tell you. As soon as Mr. Carlyle finds out about it, he’ll dismiss us all.”
“I’m sure that won’t happen,” I said. “From what little I’ve seen, he seems to be a rather accepting sort of man.”
“Every man has his breaking point, and, for some of ‘em, it don’t take much.”
“It’ll be on me, if he objects. It’s my responsibility either way. I can accept that.”
“You got family here.” Her look was stark. “You don't have to worry about being tossed into the streets, left to fend for yourself like some stray dog. I got two kids I gotta feed, and no safety net to speak of.”
I hadn’t thought of it that way. I placed my hand over hers. “Megan, I’ll bear the brunt of whatever censure might come, I promise. You had nothing to do with this.”
She harrumphed. “It’s all so easy for you. It’s clear he favors you. I’d be surprised, if he didn’t offer for you.”
My mouth fell open. “As in marriage? That type of offer?”
“Yes, marriage.”
I was speechless, yet there was a small part of me that dared to hope…for someone like Mr. Carlyle.
Chapter Eight
The afternoon was surprisingly quiet. I had put Rosalind down for a nap, while Judy played with the new cat. She had named her Paws, which I couldn’t object to in the least. We had begun to teach her how to use the sand box to do her “business”, and we had
“My, aren’t you the pampered one.” Paulina eyed the metal covered dishes. “Room service for lunch.”
“And dinner.”
“I can see why you’re so happy here now. Who does the washing?”
“The maid.” I grinned. “Shush, don’t tell anyone. This is a marvelous job, and I’m trying my best not to anger my employer so I can keep it.”
“I was told you earned five dollars a week.”
“I do, and I hardly get my hands dirty. I’ve even had a bath. A real bath.”
Her eyes widened. “With Mr. Carlyle present?”
“They brought in a screen. He saw nothing, I can assure you. I took Rosalind in with me. It was great fun.”
“I see.” She folded her arms over her chest. “You are thoroughly enjoying yourself.”
“I’m up at night with her. It’s not all peaches and roses.”
“But, you’re hardly suffering.”
“I’m not. I hope it takes a great deal of time to secure the subscriptions for the rail line. I wouldn’t mind being here longer.”
“Well,” she glanced at the table, “your food’s arrived, and I shouldn’t keep you. I’ll see you on Sunday. Will you come to the house for brunch?”
“I hope so. I’d like to invite Mr. Carlyle and Megan and her children, if I could. Is that agreeable?”
“Certainly. We’ll have our famous roast pig. There will be plenty for everyone.” She hugged me. “I’m glad you’re happily situated. Jane was right about sending you to town. The change has been beneficial.”
“Thank you. I’m doing my best to take care of Rosalind, but it’s very easy. She’s an adorable baby and hardly any trouble at all.”
“Then enjoy it while it lasts.”
“I will.” I escorted her to the door. “See you on Sunday.”
Moments later, Megan returned with the paper, and she joined me at the table, although I held Rosalind in my arms, while I tried to eat. There was boiled venison in gravy with greens and potatoes, which were delicious. Rosalind managed to get her hands in the sauce, bringing the sticky fingers to her face.
“Oh, what a mess you’re making.” I tried to wipe her clean with a napkin, but she squirmed in my lap.
“I’m so happy about the cat,” exclaimed Judy. “I can’t wait to play with her.”
I glanced at my partner in crime. “You can see her when you’re done eating.” We had told Megan about our newest houseguest.
“I do believe we’re going to get away with this.” Judy smiled smugly. “No one will be the wiser, and all of us will have a soft plaything.”
Megan muttered, “No good will come from that cat, I tell you. As soon as Mr. Carlyle finds out about it, he’ll dismiss us all.”
“I’m sure that won’t happen,” I said. “From what little I’ve seen, he seems to be a rather accepting sort of man.”
“Every man has his breaking point, and, for some of ‘em, it don’t take much.”
“It’ll be on me, if he objects. It’s my responsibility either way. I can accept that.”
“You got family here.” Her look was stark. “You don't have to worry about being tossed into the streets, left to fend for yourself like some stray dog. I got two kids I gotta feed, and no safety net to speak of.”
I hadn’t thought of it that way. I placed my hand over hers. “Megan, I’ll bear the brunt of whatever censure might come, I promise. You had nothing to do with this.”
She harrumphed. “It’s all so easy for you. It’s clear he favors you. I’d be surprised, if he didn’t offer for you.”
My mouth fell open. “As in marriage? That type of offer?”
“Yes, marriage.”
I was speechless, yet there was a small part of me that dared to hope…for someone like Mr. Carlyle.
Chapter Eight
The afternoon was surprisingly quiet. I had put Rosalind down for a nap, while Judy played with the new cat. She had named her Paws, which I couldn’t object to in the least. We had begun to teach her how to use the sand box to do her “business”, and we had
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