Davenport House 7: Hard Times by Marie Silk

Author:Marie Silk [Silk, Marie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Marie Silk Publishing
Published: 2017-08-03T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

The next morning, Mrs. Spencer walked into the dining room just as Mary was finishing her breakfast. “Miss Clara asks for you to meet her in the upstairs sitting room,” she said with a smile.

Mary went up the grand staircase, but paused as she reached the landing. She could hear the sound of laughter coming from the sitting room. It was Clara. Mary realized it was the first time she heard Clara laugh in delight since long before the wedding was to take place. Mary entered the room with Mrs. Spencer following not far behind. Clara was seated in front of the fireplace. “Good morning, Clara,” Mary greeted her. “You are looking well.”

“Thank you, Mary,” Clara replied. “Mrs. Spencer and Jane were just introducing Jimmy, the newest member of our household staff.”

Mary stared in surprise at the young boy who stood beside Jane. He looked to be about twelve years old. “Oh—hello, Jimmy,” she greeted.

“How do you do, Mrs. Hamilton?” he said politely.

“I am very well,” Mary said with a giggle.

“Now Jane will take you downstairs and you will have a tour of the whole house,” Clara said to Jimmy. The housemaid left with the boy and Mrs. Spencer laid out tea for Mary and Clara.

“Will there be anything else, Miss Clara?” she asked.

“No thank you, Mrs. Spencer,” Clara answered.

After Mrs. Spencer left, Mary turned to Clara. “I am glad to see you feeling better,” she said quietly. She decided it was not the time to mention the visit from Mrs. Davenport the previous day. Mary had broken into a run to the Valentis’ land the instant she recognized the mother who raised her. But Mary did have something else on her mind to say to Clara. “I’m a little confused about why you have hired a new servant,” she began.

“Oh I know that poor Jane has been overworked and waiting for a new maid, so I told Mrs. Spencer we must have more help,” she answered plainly.

“But—aren’t you planning to sell the house? Where will the servants go when we move?”

“Oh that,” Clara said with a laugh. “I changed my mind about selling the house, Mary. I was not thinking clearly when I said those things. I suppose the idea of starting over someplace new has lost its appeal for now. This house is all I’ve ever known and I’m quite comfortable staying here until the end of my days.”

Mary breathed in relief. “I am glad you won’t sell the house, but I should tell you that I’ve already spoken to William and we’ve discussed relocating to Philadelphia.”

“You want to leave?” Clara asked, suddenly appearing as though she might cry.

“It’s not that we want to leave, Clara. William applied for a position at the new hospital, but the board of directors declined him. With the majority of the town’s business going to a well-staffed hospital, we may need to close the clinic for good.”

Clara looked down at her lap. “I see,” she replied sorrowfully. “I hope you don’t have to go, Mary.

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