“Miss Wilkes, come in. Mrs. Taplin said you wanted to speak with me. I assume you’ve come here to hand in your notice.”
Barbara gave Dane Hurley, the household manager of the Montgomery Estate, a coy smile as she walked into his office. She deftly sat in a low chair across from his desk. “Oh, I haven’t. Actually, I wanted to thank you for taking me on and giving a chance to prove myself. It’s been an absolute joy.”
Dane couldn’t hide his shock. He was aware that Barbara hadn’t complained or asked for anything to make her job easier. However, in his experience, three weeks in was when reality set in amongst the lowest paid staff members which sent them running for freedom. “I’m glad I’m wrong.”
“You took a chance on me. I’ll always be grateful, Dane.” She cleared her throat. “I did want to know… Oh, I don’t know if it’s possible, but I’d like to know if there’s any chance of possibly being put in the running for another position that suits me…if one were to open up. I do love working here…and I think I’d be an asset to the ongoing running of the estate.”
Dane was taken aback. In all of his years at the Montgomery Estate, few people had ever wanted to move up. Most wanted the distinction of working for this illustrious family on their job resume and that was it. “Miss Wilkes, I appreciate your honesty. At the moment, we don’t have the need for anyone in a front facing role.”
Barbara let her head fall with marked disappointment. “Oh. I knew it was a long shot. Thank you for your time.”
As Barbara stood up, Dane replied, “There may be something…”
She turned to him, her big eyes shimmering. “You don’t have to make an exception for me.”
“I’m not,” said Dane, quickly. “Whenever a member of staff goes on vacation, it be a hassle for me if someone can’t cover their shift. The family doesn’t like it when we aren’t fully staffed. It bothers them. If you’re willing to do it, I can make you a temporary fill-in on an as needed basis. Your pay would remain the same, but we always have a few more maids than we need, but if someone needs to work in Miss Montgomery’s office, then you can easily answer the phone and whatnot.”
“Thank you so much for the opportunity! I’d love to help when I’m needed.” Barbara thanked Dane again before she left his office. Her appreciative smile twisted into a satisfied grin as she walked down the brightly lit corridor. However, her joy was short lived when Ada rounded the corner pushing a large drink’s trolley. “Ada!” exclaimed Barbara “Is everything okay?”
Ada wiped the sweat from her forehead. “The family was supposed to have lunch in town. Now they want to have lunch in the Orangery. Gotta get this there and help Chef. Old Taps is in a frenzy. They’ve been looking for you.”
“Oh. I had to speak to Dane.”
“Oh.” Ada’s eyes fell. “It was nice working with you…”
“No!” corrected Barbara. “I’m still employed. I just wanted to run some things past him.”
“Got it. Well, you’d better see Old Taps and make sure you know what’s going on this afternoon. Word is Will is moving into one of the guest cottages. You’ll have to prep it after we set up lunch. Don’t just stand there, Barbara! We got work to do!”
“Will, are you sure?” Connor sat on Will’s bed as he watched his boyfriend stand by the large windows which overlooked the estate’s English garden. “This is your house, too.”
Will inhaled the scents of primrose and hollyhock which wafted into his bedroom from the garden below. He closed his eyes as he imagined himself anywhere else in the world. It’s not that Will couldn’t afford to rent an island in the Caribbean for as long as he liked, but he had the polo club and his relationship with Connor to consider. He just wanted peace. He couldn’t get that at home. “Connor, I can’t live in this house with India lurking around every corner. I always feel like her eyes are on me. It’s creepy.”
Connor surveyed his boyfriend carefully. He hadn’t told him about India’s little stunt last week, but he felt that it was time that Will knew the truth. On the other hand, Connor realized that now wasn’t the right time. He’d save that little nugget for just the right moment. “Your sister is unhinged on her best day, but you’re safe here. Moving into one of the cottages will only make you more of a target. At least if you’re in the main house, you have the staff to keep an eye on you.”
“That doesn’t solve my problem, Connor. My sister shouldn’t even be here. India is inserting herself into my life to undermine me.”
“Will, that’s a bit much.”
Will turned to Connor with fire in his eyes. “It’s true!! I know her better than any of you!” Will walked over to Connor, sat on the bed, and said, “We had this dog when we were little… It was an old English Setter that Warren named Ponderosa. I loved that dog. Anyway, India didn’t like it. She said it smelled bad even though we had a groomer on staff. One day, the dog doubles over in pain. Two days later, it’s dead. India had been prescribed pain killers when she broke her leg the previous summer. No one ever found those pills. We wound up getting a dog she wanted which terrorized all of us. She’s dangerous, Connor.”
Connor saw the fear in Will’s eyes. This was the first time in his relationship with Will that he saw him terrified. “Will, if it’s that bad, tell your father.”
“I’ve tried. My parents play dumb. Our mother knows what India is capable of, but I don’t think she wants to believe it. Dad just ignores her antics.”
“She broke into my house the other day,” said Connor, softly.
Will let out a guttural cry. “You should have called the police!! I told you she’s dangerous!”
“India didn’t do anything,” lied Connor. “Furthermore, I can’t call the police on Charles Montgomery’s daughter. They’d laugh me out of the station.” Connor laid on the bed and took Will in his arms. “I think she’s very unstable… It’s like her obsession with me is starting all over again.”
“That’s why I want to get out of here. I’d feel safer in the cottage.”
“Let’s go to Maine. We can stay at my cottage…”
“You have work. I have things to do… I should call down to the kitchen for our drinks…”
“Don’t deflect. I think you should go see your mother in Paris. I’m sure she’d love to see her favorite child.”
“Warren’s her favorite child,” stressed Will. “Warren’s everybody’s favorite.”
“You’re my favorite goofball.” Connor gave Will a passionate kiss which led to them making love in the glorious light of day.
From deep inside the servant’s stairwell, India listened as her brother and Connor talked about her and made love. India knew all too well that Connor was thinking about her. She knew that he would always think about her. After all they’d been through, she wouldn’t stop until he was back in her bed. If Will wanted to avoid her, she’d make sure he never came back to town. After hearing Warren and Connor climax, India turned around and vanished down another corridor.
Out of the darkness, Barbara carried the tray with the drinks Connor and Will ordered half an hour ago. She couldn’t place why India Montgomery was lurking in the servant’s stairway, but she was intrigued to have stumbled upon such a titillating scene. Whatever was going on with the glamorous India Montgomery, Barbara knew she may have found an answer to her prayers…
In our next installment, Charles gives India a few hard truths…
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