Reaching for the Stars by Walker Lucy

Author:Walker, Lucy [Walker, Lucy]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Tags: australian author, small town and rural, outback romance, australian rural novels, australian romance, clean romance, clean and wholesome, autstralian rural romance
Publisher: Wyndham Books (Small Town & Rural Romance)
Published: 2019-07-20T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Ann had selected a charming riverside hotel for Aunt Cassie. The view from the windows of the main reception rooms, the small drawing-rooms and Aunt Cassie’s bedroom, was across half a mile of shining blue river. Beyond the river, bush plain and far distant foothills of the Darling Ranges could be seen.

‘Beautiful, simply divine!’ Aunt Cassie ejaculated.

She set about reducing the hotel staff to the position of devotees at her especial domestic shrine. Thereafter she returned to her room to rest.

Aunt Cassie’s arrival had been like a minor earthquake ‒ one accompanied by mild shots of lightning, and red-lined clouds of volcanic dust. Clearly she would be an asset to the clientele.

‘It is something to have a somebody here,’ the manager remarked to the receptionist. ‘Give her everything she wants and see we get her into the dining-room and main reception rooms as much as possible. She’ll be talked about and bring the right people here. Quite a personality, I should say.’

Mrs. Boyd’s string upon string of wonderful beads over a belaced bosom, the spectacular rose-hat and a charming heart-warming smile had won the receptionist too. There was no need for these directions from the management at all.

Ann, back at the office in Franklin’s, gave Lang’s instructions to Miss Devine. At the same time she volunteered to type the new catalogues after-hours that night. There had been a near-promise to the girls that there would be no late working before this particular wool-sale. Some of the more junior buyers who were in a pre-sale void of inactivity had arranged a party. Everyone in the office was going. Ann had regretfully declined the invitation earlier because it was the day of Aunt Cassie’s arrival. She was not involved in the party.

Miss Devine was thoughtful when Ann volunteered to do the extra work.

‘You have your heaviest day tomorrow,’ she said. ‘It is not usual for a checker to be asked to work back the night before a sale.’

Ann explained about all the girls going to a party. ‘It would really suit me, Miss Devine,’ she said. ‘I wish it was pure unselfishness on my part; but it is not. My aunt arrived this morning, as you know, and I would be able to go to her hotel and have dinner with her. Also I think I might stay the night there, as this is her first day in Australia. That would save me returning to the hills late; and the long trip down in the morning before the sale.’

Miss Devine said she would think about it. This kept Ann on tenterhooks until well after lunch. As Lang did not come in at all, Miss Devine had to make up her own mind. She finally sent a memo into the main room giving Ann the instructions to work back that night.

Ann immediately rang the hotel to tell Aunt Cassie she would be there for dinner, as they had both hoped.

‘You must stay the night, dear child,’ Aunt Cassie said. ‘I haven’t had three words with you.

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.