With that in mind I assure you that I wish to make matters with regard to the winding up of the estate as acceptable to you as possible. As yet I have made no plans for the future of Springwater House, but you need have no fear that any pressure will be brought to bear upon you to vacate your home.”
She made no response, but just sat there looking at him with cold eyes.
“I have seen for myself how spotless the house is,” he continued, “and I have already noted how you have kindly prepared accommodation for me at short notice, and also provided for my meals. Such attention to detail and such forethought is rare in this modern day and age, particularly as I know that such service is not part of your remit as caretaker. I would like you to know that I appreciate what you have done. So, having fulfilled the function of housekeeper to my late uncle, I can think of no one better I would like to continue in this capacity for the duration of my visit. Naturally, I would like to put this on a professional basis. If you agree, I would like you to continue until further notice as housekeeper. I will also admit I am hoping that you will be able to assist me in achieving a better understanding of my late uncle.”
“Why?” she asked as he finished speaking, her voice remaining cold and unfriendly with his acknowledgement of gratitude and offer of employment as housekeeper seemingly ignored.
“Why what?”
“Why do you wish to know him better; as far as I am aware you certainly never bothered to show any interest in him while he was alive.”
He looked at her for a moment, still trying to decide if she was being deliberately offensive, or whether it was just her acerbic nature. He had hoped that the offer of reinstatement would have sparked at least some sort of reciprocal response, yet for all the good it had done it might just as well have remained unsaid.
“Dr Marston was my late mother’s only brother,” he said quietly at last. “For reasons I am unaware of, the brother and sister were not close. It is possible that they may have corresponded at lengthy intervals, if so, my mother never mentioned the fact to me, and I have never seen any such correspondence amongst her effects. Following her death, some years ago there has been no contact. He did not attend my mother’s funeral, and I confess that I have never given him much thought until I was recently informed, for reasons I can only guess at, that he had made me his heir. I am sure that if you were in my position you would also be naturally curious as to why he did this.”
“What do you intend to do with the house?” she asked abruptly, ignoring his implied question as if she had never heard it.
“As I have said, I haven’t decided as yet. I already have a large house that is more than adequate for my needs. I am here to weigh matters up, and to make a decision. I may retain it and lease it out, I may sell it as a going concern, or I may sell to a developer. I will of course consult with you no matter what my decision may be, because it indirectly affects you and the leasehold of the flat. In the meantime, I need to know if you are prepared to work for me under the same terms and conditions as agreed with my late uncle?”
Even as he repeated the offer, he wondered why he was bothering. Whilst it was amply evident that she was a meticulous housekeeper, it was equally obvious that she completely resented his presence. Maybe it was that very hostility that intrigued him. She was about as comfortable a person to be with as an angry porcupine! If ever he had seen a person with a real chip on their shoulder, Mrs Brent was the one.
“Very well,” she said in a tone that was more condescending that grateful. “I will continue to cook and keep house as I did for Dr Marston. I will fit in my duties around my existing part-time work, and I will not be doing any extra hours. If you wish to entertain you must hire staff or caterers to do it for
She made no response, but just sat there looking at him with cold eyes.
“I have seen for myself how spotless the house is,” he continued, “and I have already noted how you have kindly prepared accommodation for me at short notice, and also provided for my meals. Such attention to detail and such forethought is rare in this modern day and age, particularly as I know that such service is not part of your remit as caretaker. I would like you to know that I appreciate what you have done. So, having fulfilled the function of housekeeper to my late uncle, I can think of no one better I would like to continue in this capacity for the duration of my visit. Naturally, I would like to put this on a professional basis. If you agree, I would like you to continue until further notice as housekeeper. I will also admit I am hoping that you will be able to assist me in achieving a better understanding of my late uncle.”
“Why?” she asked as he finished speaking, her voice remaining cold and unfriendly with his acknowledgement of gratitude and offer of employment as housekeeper seemingly ignored.
“Why what?”
“Why do you wish to know him better; as far as I am aware you certainly never bothered to show any interest in him while he was alive.”
He looked at her for a moment, still trying to decide if she was being deliberately offensive, or whether it was just her acerbic nature. He had hoped that the offer of reinstatement would have sparked at least some sort of reciprocal response, yet for all the good it had done it might just as well have remained unsaid.
“Dr Marston was my late mother’s only brother,” he said quietly at last. “For reasons I am unaware of, the brother and sister were not close. It is possible that they may have corresponded at lengthy intervals, if so, my mother never mentioned the fact to me, and I have never seen any such correspondence amongst her effects. Following her death, some years ago there has been no contact. He did not attend my mother’s funeral, and I confess that I have never given him much thought until I was recently informed, for reasons I can only guess at, that he had made me his heir. I am sure that if you were in my position you would also be naturally curious as to why he did this.”
“What do you intend to do with the house?” she asked abruptly, ignoring his implied question as if she had never heard it.
“As I have said, I haven’t decided as yet. I already have a large house that is more than adequate for my needs. I am here to weigh matters up, and to make a decision. I may retain it and lease it out, I may sell it as a going concern, or I may sell to a developer. I will of course consult with you no matter what my decision may be, because it indirectly affects you and the leasehold of the flat. In the meantime, I need to know if you are prepared to work for me under the same terms and conditions as agreed with my late uncle?”
Even as he repeated the offer, he wondered why he was bothering. Whilst it was amply evident that she was a meticulous housekeeper, it was equally obvious that she completely resented his presence. Maybe it was that very hostility that intrigued him. She was about as comfortable a person to be with as an angry porcupine! If ever he had seen a person with a real chip on their shoulder, Mrs Brent was the one.
“Very well,” she said in a tone that was more condescending that grateful. “I will continue to cook and keep house as I did for Dr Marston. I will fit in my duties around my existing part-time work, and I will not be doing any extra hours. If you wish to entertain you must hire staff or caterers to do it for
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