Jewel of the Thames (A Portia Adams Adventure) by Misri Angela

Author:Misri, Angela [Misri, Angela]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Fierce Ink Press Co-Op Ltd.
Published: 2014-03-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Two

Two days later I received word from Miss Elaine Barclay that I would be granted an interview, with directions to their address in Hackney. Arriving promptly at five p.m., I was ushered into the red-brick Tudor-style house by a smartly dressed butler with a most disagreeable frowning countenance, possibly due to the gout he was likely suffering from, as evidenced by his leaning heavily on his left foot. After relieving me of my outerwear, he asked that I follow him up a wide, painted staircase past wood-paneled walls and Jacobean paintings to one of the many bedroom doors on the second floor, where he knocked thrice.

“Come in,” said a voice from inside, and the butler opened the door inward for me. I stepped into the darkened interior, my eyes adjusting to the simple candlelight.

The door closed behind me as the same voice said, “Please come in, have a seat to your right.”

I could make out the shadowy form of the speaker seated on a chaise lounge and did as she bade, taking the seat in front of her. My curiosity at her appearance must have been obvious, because she said, “Do forgive the drama of this interview, Miss Adams, or may I call you Portia?”

“Portia will be fine, Miss Barclay,” I replied cordially. “And I hope it is not too impertinent to ask, but it is a beautiful sunny day outside. Why do you sit in here with the drapes closed and these few candles to provide a trifling of light?”

“Is it a beautiful day?” she asked wistfully, her eyes turned toward the heavy closed drapes over the window. “Indeed, I have almost forgotten what a sunny day looks like.”

Once my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I was able to take in her entirely black gown with full-length gloves and black scarf wound around her head, making it easy to believe her statement. I was tempted to ask then and there what drove her into hiding so thoroughly but sensed that the time was not right.

“You are a student at Somerville College?” she asked, refocusing on me with effort.

“Yes, ma’am, studying law,” I answered.

“As was I before…” she said, again looking toward the window. She recovered more quickly this time, though, and continued. “This is a high-paying position, Portia, because I am paying for your discretion as much as for your work reading to my father.”

I glanced toward the large doors that must lead to her father’s master bedroom.

She followed my glance, brow furrowed. “My father is very ill and requires my constant care. But I need relief as well, and that is where you come in.” She pulled out a sheet of paper. “These rules must be adhered to, to the letter. Once you have read them all, please initial next to each line, and sign at the bottom.”

I took the paper from her. “This will be the contract between us,” she added, “and should you in any way, at any time, diverge from these rules, your employment with me will be immediately terminated.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.