Read Online The Young Nightingales by Mary Whistler - Free Book Online Page B

recent sorrow. But now that you are here, I shall not refer to it again for some time, and I hope that you will find so many distractions here that you won’t even think of what has happened very often. After all, you are young. You have your life before you, and Roger is most anxious that I shall help you to forget. Indeed, I have been given careful instructions as t o how I am to handle you, and if I make any mistakes I’m sure he will find it hard to forgive me.”
    “But—” At this point Jane thought she ought to say something about the reason why she had arrived at the Villa Magnolia. “I haven’t come here just to forget. Roger said you needed someone like myself to live with you and act the part of a companion, and perhaps do a certain amount of secretarial work for you. He said that you were actually looking for someone...”
    “And so I was, child, so I was.” The other nodded comfortably. “But I’ve been looking for someone for years, and until now she hasn’t turned up. I was quite reconciled to living here alone with Florence and Andre—who is my chauffeur-gardener—and writing my letters myself. But now perhaps you won’t mind doing them for me, and you can read to me sometimes in the evenings, and perhaps play bezique. Do you play bezique, my dear?” putting on a pair of old-fashioned spectacles the better to peer at her.
    “I’ve played once or twice with my father. But I’m better at chess,” Jane admitted.
    “Then we’ll play chess, and you shall teach me, because I’ve never played it in my life. However, it’s always fun doing something new.”
    Jane felt a little uncertain.
    “It seems that you’ve created this position for me, Mrs. Bowman,” she said.
    The other waved a beringed hand.
    “Think nothing of it,” she returned. “I’m always only too happy to do something for my nephew ... who is my only nephew, you know! And naturally, when I heard about you I wanted to help you, too. I was most anxious to do all I could for you !”
    “Thank you,” Jane said again, rather feebly, realising that this put her in a somewhat awkward position. She couldn’t possibly accept a salary if the job was to be a kind of sinecure.
    And yet she needed some sort of recompense if she was to help Toby ...
    Mrs. Bowman must have read her thoughts, and read them swiftly.
    “ Of course I’ll pay you a salary,” she said. “I’m a very rich old woman, and money is nothing to me, so you must have whatever you want. As a matter of fact, I agreed with Roger that I would pay you monthly in advance, and I’ll give you a cheque to-morrow.”
    “Oh, but I couldn’t possibly—” Jane was beginning, when the beringed hand fluttered again.
    “Don’t be silly, my dear. I hope you’ll be very happy here, but it is also a purely business arrangement. Now,” she touched a silver bell on the table, “I’m going to ring for Florence and get her to show you your room. If you don’t like it you must choose another, because there are lots of rooms in the villa. I do so want you to be comfortable,” beaming on the new arrival. “I want you to settle down and make this your home, at any rate for a few months.”
    “Thank you,” Jane heard herself say, yet again. And then she added with genuine warmth: “You are very kind, Mrs. Bowman.”
    “Not at all, child. I shall si m ply love having a young thing like you about the house. Besides, you hardly know me yet, and you may find I’m not in the least kind by the time you’ve lived with me a month.”
    “I don’t think so.”
    Florence arrived and looked highly disapproving because she said her mistress looked tired, and she must certainly have a nap before lunch. As soon as she had shown Miss Nightingale her room she would settle her comfortably in the conservatory.
    Jane followed Florence upstairs, and was pleased to discover that her room was completely uncluttered and furnished very simply and charmingly in cool tones of green and cream.