Read Online Christmas At Timberwoods by Fern Michaels - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Fern Michaels
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anger was building. “I won’t stand for any more. Not another thing. If Murray had let me get her help when I wanted to, this wouldn’t be happening now. It was for her own good, but oh no, he couldn’t see it. If I’d done what I intended, I wouldn’t be getting these migraine headaches.” She continued her muttered tirade against her absent husband and daughter until she came to her exit.
She would never make it back to the city now for her dinner engagement with the Mosses. She had waited so long for the invitation, and now—it was spoiled by Angela, who managed to spoil everything. The girl needed a strong hand, someone to put a stop to her mischief. And while they were at it, they might see to her scruffy appearance, too. Sylvia would pay extra if she had to.
The sleek Lincoln purred to a stop outside the house, and Sylvia noted the line of cars and trucks. She suppressed a moan as she slid from the car.
She threw open the door and stood outlined in the doorway. She bit into her full lower lip as her eyes swept around the brightly lit foyer, taking in the sodden powder-blue carpet. The water was already seeping into her doeskin shoes.
Another claim for the insurance man. All this beautiful carpet would be impossible to replace. And the wooden floors underneath the thick carpeting—were they ruined, too? Probably. All it needed now was for the ceilings to collapse. When Angela did wrong she made a thorough job of it.
Sylvia’s face brightened momentarily. She couldn’t be expected to stay here. She would, oh, take a cruise or something. Let the insurance company take care of the repairs. If she complained long enough and loud enough, they would cave in to her demands. Or Murray could handle it. It was all his fault anyway. She would call him in London, tell him the situation, and make him come home and take charge. He’d damn well better listen!
“Mrs. Steinhart, there’s a lady and gentleman waiting to see you in the study. They came to visit Miss Angela, but she went out and left them sitting here.” Irma sounded agitated. She gestured toward the carpet. “I was out shopping when the pipes broke, and when I got back everything was flooded. I didn’t know what to do.”
“You did the right thing in calling me, Irma,” Sylvia said, trying to comfort her frazzled housekeeper, even though she felt she was the one who needed comforting. After all, it was her house that was ruined and her daughter who had ruined it.
“The insurance man you called is upstairs, along with a man from some cleaning crew. He’s drawing up an estimate of how much it will cost to clean the house. The plumber was here, too, but just left. The electrician is checking the wiring. He says there are several shorts and there could be a fire.”
“Does he mean we can’t stay here?”
“That’s what he said. Mrs. Steinhart, I hate to do this, but I have to give my notice.”
Sylvia nodded wearily. Another problem to deal with, thanks to Angela. “I understand. But if you would consider changing your mind, I’ll give you a raise and put you up at a motel until things are straightened out. I’ll pay your wages for as long as it takes. Please reconsider, Irma. You know how hopeless I am in the housekeeping department.”
“I just don’t know, Mrs. Steinhart. Let me think about it. Shall I tell the lady and gentleman that you’ll see them?”
“Tell them I don’t have time. If there’s one thing I don’t need right now, it’s a conversation with perfect strangers about Angela. Oh, and by the way, Irma, you don’t need to cover for her. I know she’s the one responsible for this mess.”
The housekeeper twisted her apron between her hands. “Please, Mrs. Steinhart, that’s one of the reasons I want to leave. Now, don’t get me wrong, Angela has always been respectful to me and even offered to help at times. I just feel that she needs—”
“You won’t have to worry about Angela much longer,” Sylvia
She would never make it back to the city now for her dinner engagement with the Mosses. She had waited so long for the invitation, and now—it was spoiled by Angela, who managed to spoil everything. The girl needed a strong hand, someone to put a stop to her mischief. And while they were at it, they might see to her scruffy appearance, too. Sylvia would pay extra if she had to.
The sleek Lincoln purred to a stop outside the house, and Sylvia noted the line of cars and trucks. She suppressed a moan as she slid from the car.
She threw open the door and stood outlined in the doorway. She bit into her full lower lip as her eyes swept around the brightly lit foyer, taking in the sodden powder-blue carpet. The water was already seeping into her doeskin shoes.
Another claim for the insurance man. All this beautiful carpet would be impossible to replace. And the wooden floors underneath the thick carpeting—were they ruined, too? Probably. All it needed now was for the ceilings to collapse. When Angela did wrong she made a thorough job of it.
Sylvia’s face brightened momentarily. She couldn’t be expected to stay here. She would, oh, take a cruise or something. Let the insurance company take care of the repairs. If she complained long enough and loud enough, they would cave in to her demands. Or Murray could handle it. It was all his fault anyway. She would call him in London, tell him the situation, and make him come home and take charge. He’d damn well better listen!
“Mrs. Steinhart, there’s a lady and gentleman waiting to see you in the study. They came to visit Miss Angela, but she went out and left them sitting here.” Irma sounded agitated. She gestured toward the carpet. “I was out shopping when the pipes broke, and when I got back everything was flooded. I didn’t know what to do.”
“You did the right thing in calling me, Irma,” Sylvia said, trying to comfort her frazzled housekeeper, even though she felt she was the one who needed comforting. After all, it was her house that was ruined and her daughter who had ruined it.
“The insurance man you called is upstairs, along with a man from some cleaning crew. He’s drawing up an estimate of how much it will cost to clean the house. The plumber was here, too, but just left. The electrician is checking the wiring. He says there are several shorts and there could be a fire.”
“Does he mean we can’t stay here?”
“That’s what he said. Mrs. Steinhart, I hate to do this, but I have to give my notice.”
Sylvia nodded wearily. Another problem to deal with, thanks to Angela. “I understand. But if you would consider changing your mind, I’ll give you a raise and put you up at a motel until things are straightened out. I’ll pay your wages for as long as it takes. Please reconsider, Irma. You know how hopeless I am in the housekeeping department.”
“I just don’t know, Mrs. Steinhart. Let me think about it. Shall I tell the lady and gentleman that you’ll see them?”
“Tell them I don’t have time. If there’s one thing I don’t need right now, it’s a conversation with perfect strangers about Angela. Oh, and by the way, Irma, you don’t need to cover for her. I know she’s the one responsible for this mess.”
The housekeeper twisted her apron between her hands. “Please, Mrs. Steinhart, that’s one of the reasons I want to leave. Now, don’t get me wrong, Angela has always been respectful to me and even offered to help at times. I just feel that she needs—”
“You won’t have to worry about Angela much longer,” Sylvia
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