Where the Light Enters by Sara Donati

Author:Sara Donati
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2019-09-09T16:00:00+00:00

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SOPHIE, WHO HAD thought she would dedicate her life to medicine and thus never considered what it meant to be mistress of her own household, now found herself in that position. Though she didn’t like to admit it, even to herself, it was a fussy and complicated affair, keeping a household in running order, and challenging in ways she hadn’t considered.

Most daunting was the fact that she would shortly have four people dependent on her for their livelihood. In addition to Sam Reason and Noah Hunter, Lena Tolliver would be starting very soon, helping Laura Lee with the house and taking on the laundry and ironing. Mrs. Lee had recommended Mrs. Tolliver, who was friendly, careful, and hardworking: the highest praise the fastidious Mrs. Lee could confer. Another point in her favor was that she had a family and would go home to them in the evenings.

It was at this point that it had occurred to Sophie that Laura Lee had yet to take a day off.

“You will run yourself ragged,” she said. “I should have realized from the beginning. Sundays and one afternoon a week free, I think. Some flexibility on the weekday would be useful, if possible. And you know if there is something pressing that you need to do, you only need to let me know.”

Laura Lee raised an eyebrow at this announcement, a sure sign that she was uneasy.

“Don’t you want time off?” Sophie asked her. “I can handle things on my own for short periods of time.”

The brow remained high on her forehead, and was now joined by pursing of the mouth.

“What do you imagine I’ll do, starve or set the house on fire?”

Laura Lee said, “What about the others?”

Sophie was unable to hide her irritation. “Of course the others will have the same. Work out among yourselves the issue of which afternoon for each of you. You don’t need to consult me on the details.”

It would only get more complicated. Laura Lee and Lena Tolliver could manage the household for now, but when students took up residence they would need one or two more people to help in the household. Sophie had no qualms about spending the money, but the mechanics of the process struck her as unnecessarily complex. Mrs. Tolliver wanted to know about a uniform, the where and how and how much, to which Sophie would have said simply: No need. Dress neatly, and I’m satisfied. Then Laura Lee pointed out that this would put the burden on Mrs. Tolliver, who would have to replace her things more often.

“What would your grandmother advise?” Sophie asked, and when Laura Lee had explained it all in detail, she held up a hand to indicate surrender. “Do it that way. I’ve been meaning to set up an account for household goods. I’ll ask Conrad how to do that.”

The list of responsibilities she hoped to hand over to Sam Reason was growing by leaps and bounds. Pay packets, household accounts, mail. Twice a day when the

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