and smiled, “ Merci beaucoup Jacques. I do miss them terribly. I see you have been busy working.” Feeling the tears rising, Desiree changed the subject, glancing at the desk, scattered with papers.
He raised his bushy brows, stroking his bearded jaw and turned briefly to the desk, before smiling warmly at her once more, “ Oui , business does go on, doesn’t it?”
“You will then, I presume, continue to look after my interests until such a time as I can take over some of the responsibilities?” Desiree smiled when he nodded, “I am afraid that I have never had much involvement with such things.” She shrugged.
“Of course you have not. Perhaps you will allow me to instruct you in the ways of business? I would not want anyone else to teach you. It’s enormously complicated work but you are bright and I am confident you can adapt.”
He turned toward the cluttered desk and gestured to the tangle of documents, proving his statement. Desiree laughed softly and his amused chuckle joined hers as he placed an arm around her shoulders, squeezing affectionately before releasing her.
“I had hoped you would offer your expertise. None other than father himself knows as much about our business. I would be grateful for your help.” Desiree stated truthfully, fixing him with a look of warm regard.
Jacques was getting on in years and although he was quite a fine looking gentleman, he had remained a bachelor all of his life. Her father often claimed him to be married to his work and his diligent efforts had been one of the main factors in the acquiring of the offices in Rouen. Her father had cared for his lands and ships, while Jacques talents were best suited for figures and the counting house had been his main interest. His voice and manner were still that of a younger man and if not for the thinning thatch of light hair, beginning to gray and the brows and beard also turning in color, one might guess him years less than his true count. He rose to only Desiree’s height, which was not overly tall for a woman but his well-conditioned frame, though small for a man, had a strength and agility.
Jacques began pulling the desk into some semblance of order, shuffling the papers into neat piles, “I am going to take these to the office in town. It will be much easier access for me there.” He explained.
“Of course.” She agreed, watching him work.
He slipped the papers and bound ledgers into a small satchel and gazed apologetically at Desiree, “I really must be going but I would like you to come to the office next week and we can begin your introduction to the business world.” He said with a wink.
He stooped over, retrieving a dust cover from behind the desk and with Desiree’s assistance, covered her father’s dark walnut desk and chair. Desiree looked about her father’s study as she followed Jacques to the door. At the threshold, he took her hand in his and bestowed a gentle kiss, “Until next week then and once again, I am truly sorry—for all of us.”
“ Merci Jacques. I shall see you out.”
“No need sweet. I know the way well. Au Revoir .”
Jacques turned and walked through the drawing room to the main hall while Desiree softly closed the study door and then feeling suddenly very alone, went to spend some time with Mary in the kitchen.
***
It was late morning when Desiree finally made her way upstairs. She first paused at her parent’s room, staring at the closed door and then reaching for the handle, turning and finally releasing it again, leaving it unopened. She did not have quite the courage—not just yet.
She moved down the hall to her own bedroom, slowly turned the knob and as she entered the room she had occupied all of her life, a wave of sadness engulfed her. Here more than anywhere else in the house, everything in the room reminded her of the happy childhood she had enjoyed with her parents. She entered with hands clasped tightly before her and with the gait of one who
He raised his bushy brows, stroking his bearded jaw and turned briefly to the desk, before smiling warmly at her once more, “ Oui , business does go on, doesn’t it?”
“You will then, I presume, continue to look after my interests until such a time as I can take over some of the responsibilities?” Desiree smiled when he nodded, “I am afraid that I have never had much involvement with such things.” She shrugged.
“Of course you have not. Perhaps you will allow me to instruct you in the ways of business? I would not want anyone else to teach you. It’s enormously complicated work but you are bright and I am confident you can adapt.”
He turned toward the cluttered desk and gestured to the tangle of documents, proving his statement. Desiree laughed softly and his amused chuckle joined hers as he placed an arm around her shoulders, squeezing affectionately before releasing her.
“I had hoped you would offer your expertise. None other than father himself knows as much about our business. I would be grateful for your help.” Desiree stated truthfully, fixing him with a look of warm regard.
Jacques was getting on in years and although he was quite a fine looking gentleman, he had remained a bachelor all of his life. Her father often claimed him to be married to his work and his diligent efforts had been one of the main factors in the acquiring of the offices in Rouen. Her father had cared for his lands and ships, while Jacques talents were best suited for figures and the counting house had been his main interest. His voice and manner were still that of a younger man and if not for the thinning thatch of light hair, beginning to gray and the brows and beard also turning in color, one might guess him years less than his true count. He rose to only Desiree’s height, which was not overly tall for a woman but his well-conditioned frame, though small for a man, had a strength and agility.
Jacques began pulling the desk into some semblance of order, shuffling the papers into neat piles, “I am going to take these to the office in town. It will be much easier access for me there.” He explained.
“Of course.” She agreed, watching him work.
He slipped the papers and bound ledgers into a small satchel and gazed apologetically at Desiree, “I really must be going but I would like you to come to the office next week and we can begin your introduction to the business world.” He said with a wink.
He stooped over, retrieving a dust cover from behind the desk and with Desiree’s assistance, covered her father’s dark walnut desk and chair. Desiree looked about her father’s study as she followed Jacques to the door. At the threshold, he took her hand in his and bestowed a gentle kiss, “Until next week then and once again, I am truly sorry—for all of us.”
“ Merci Jacques. I shall see you out.”
“No need sweet. I know the way well. Au Revoir .”
Jacques turned and walked through the drawing room to the main hall while Desiree softly closed the study door and then feeling suddenly very alone, went to spend some time with Mary in the kitchen.
***
It was late morning when Desiree finally made her way upstairs. She first paused at her parent’s room, staring at the closed door and then reaching for the handle, turning and finally releasing it again, leaving it unopened. She did not have quite the courage—not just yet.
She moved down the hall to her own bedroom, slowly turned the knob and as she entered the room she had occupied all of her life, a wave of sadness engulfed her. Here more than anywhere else in the house, everything in the room reminded her of the happy childhood she had enjoyed with her parents. She entered with hands clasped tightly before her and with the gait of one who
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