A New Beginning (4 page)

Without turning, he knew who it was. He’d only heard her speak for a few moments the day before, but it was a memorable voice. He set down the table and turned. “Good morning to you, Miss Caldwell.” He noticed that she, too, had come ready to work, wearing a serviceable dress without too many of those infernal layers women wore those days—he wondered how they could even walk that way.

She took a few steps into the room, twisting her hands in front of her. She looked nervous, as though she had something to say, but would rather not. She hadn’t come to tell him she was quitting—surely not. His luck couldn’t possibly be that bad. “Out with it,” he barked at last, unable to take the suspense.

She jumped a little, which made him feel like a cad, and then she plunged in. “Mr. Brody, I realize I’m asking a lot, especially when I’ve only just begun working for you, and I should have been more forthcoming yesterday. But I live with my mother, as I told you, and she’s in poor health. I’m concerned about her being home alone all day. Would it . . . would it be all right if I went home a few times a day to check on her?”

Adam took a step back. What sort of request was this? Was she next going to ask that her meals be served on special china? Still, she was the only girl yet to answer his advertisement, and he couldn’t afford to be inflexible. And the pleading in her eyes . . . He averted his gaze. Her beautiful eyes should not have any power over him.

“How far away do you live?” he asked.

“A scant half mile, sir.”

He scowled. “And do you expect to walk this distance several times a day? How much time do you suppose that deducts from your work, Miss Caldwell?”

She opened and closed her mouth a few times. “I hadn’t considered that, sir.”

Adam pursed his lips. She seemed genuinely upset, as though he’d just taken away something that meant a great deal to her. He knew that as her employer, he needed to be firm, but he couldn’t bring himself to be harsh. He wasn’t that sort of man, and he couldn’t imagine anyone being unkind to a woman like this. “You may ride my horse to and from your house, Miss Caldwell, but you are expected to be here when we need you. You’re not to leave during mealtimes or when we’re preparing the rooms for new guests. You’re to be punctual, attend every staff meeting, and fulfill all your duties with exactness. In addition, you are to stay an hour later each night to make up for the time lost. Is that acceptable?”

She took a sharp breath, and he saw her shoulders relax. “It’s more than acceptable, Mr. Brody. I am so grateful for your understanding, and for the loan of your horse. It’s more than I’d hoped for.”

“I can’t say I do understand. All I know is that you’re my only maid thus far, and until I find someone to replace you, you’re the best I have. I encourage you not to make me regret this.” He was already regretting it. What sort of example was he setting? What sorts of exceptions would his other employees expect—should he ever get any other employees?

Caroline entered then, carrying some boxes. Adam took them from her and thrust them into Miss Caldwell’s arms. “Start emptying the cupboards, and lay everything out in the yard. Don’t bother to separate the trash from the treasures—we’ll do that once we have a clean place to put what we decide to keep.”

Miss Caldwell nodded a few times and got to work. Adam took Caroline by the elbow and led her into the parlor, where he told her about the odd arrangement he’d just made.

Caroline looked at him as though he’d lost his mind. “You agreed to this?”

“I did.”

She put her hands on her hips. “Have you lost your senses? She hasn’t even worked here five minutes, and already she’s expecting concessions? Adam, you’re a kind man, but this is no way to run a business, and certainly no way to start a relationship with a new employee. Soon she’ll be requesting days off to go hat shopping and berry picking and who knows what else.”

Adam smiled, hearing her verbalize every thought he’d just had. However, he couldn’t ignore the need he’d seen on her face. This was important to Miss Caldwell, and it wasn’t in him to deliberately refuse help to someone who had come to him for it. “I’ll take care,” he said at last. “I promise, Aunt Caroline, I will be an effective employer.”

She exhaled sharply. “I have the strongest desire to grab you by your necktie and shake some sense into you. The only thing keeping me from it is the knowledge that it would do me no good whatsoever—and that you’re not wearing your necktie right now.”

Adam grinned. “But you still love me, don’t you, Auntie?”

She gave his shoulder a swat. “So help me, yes, I do. But mind yourself, Adam. We don’t know this girl. We only have her word that she has an invalid mother—she could be pulling the wool over your eyes and you’ll end up with nothing but an itchy face.”

“I promise,” Adam said again. He walked out into the kitchen to see what progress had been made. Just in those few minutes, Miss Caldwell had already emptied five cupboards and was working on her sixth.

“I’ve found quite a collection of dishes, but sadly, most of them are broken, Mr. Brody,” she said over her shoulder. “It appears that someone came into the house, destroyed many of the kitchen things, and left them here to be found.”

“That’s exactly what happened, and we’re the unfortunate souls who must deal with it.” Adam couldn’t help but notice how fetching Miss Caldwell looked. She had climbed on one of the few remaining chairs so as to reach the higher shelves, like a little girl reaching for a cookie jar. He couldn’t believe anything negative of her. However, he knew his aunt was right—once again. Those who sought to deceive were generally quite good at it.

Miss Caldwell lifted down the last stack of plates from that cupboard and set them on the counter, then gathered her skirts and hopped down from the chair. She had a pleasing smudge of dust on one cheek. Adam was quite tempted to wipe it off, but then he scolded himself. If he wasn’t careful, the young ladies in his employ would be in more danger from him than they would be from rambunctious guests.

“Mr. Brody, I wasn’t eavesdropping, and I didn’t hear any of the actual words that were spoken, but I did notice that your aunt was rather displeased with me. I’m sorry if I’ve put you in a bind.” She twisted her hands nervously, and Adam couldn’t help but wonder if it hurt. Was skin actually made to be pulled in so many different directions?

He pulled his gaze away from her hands and brought it up to her face. “Her concern will always be for my wellbeing.”

“As it should be. She seems like a very compassionate woman.”

Adam nodded. “She truly is a blessing to me. She cautioned me not to be so inclined to generosity. I’m sometimes too softhearted for my own good.”

“I sensed that about you, but I promise, Mr. Brody, I have no intention of taking advantage of it.”

Adam studied her for a moment, from the strands of hair that had escaped her once-neat bun to the slight quiver of her chin. If she was playing him for a fool, she certainly was convincing, but he couldn’t bring himself to believe it. He’d rather give her the benefit of the doubt than to spend every moment on edge, wondering what scheme she would attempt next.

“Let’s strike a bargain, you and I—another bargain. We’ll not bring this up again, and we’ll simply get to work and make ourselves useful.”

Miss Caldwell smiled. “That sounds like a very good bargain, sir.” She turned with a swirl of skirts, picked up the box, and carried it out to the yard.

As soon as she was off the porch, Caroline walked into the kitchen. “She may not have been eavesdropping, but I was.”

Adam raised an eyebrow. “And what do you think?”

“Well, for starters, the two of you certainly had a good time praising me. I’m liable to become conceited.”

Adam let out a puff of air. “What do you think about
her
, Aunt Caroline?”

Caroline walked over to the window and watched Miss Caldwell take the last few pieces of broken china out of the box she carried. “I’ll honor your bargain and not say a word about this arrangement you’ve cooked up. But I will be watching her, Adam.”

He leaned over and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Chapter Six

Elizabeth stood in the doorway of the kitchen, leaning on her mop, exhaustion overcoming every muscle. They had pulled all the loose items out of the kitchen, piled them in the yard, and then scrubbed the entire room from top to bottom. She had expected Mr. Brody’s aunt to help, and she did, but she had never expected Mr. Brody himself to lend a hand. Yet there he had been, on his knees, scrubbing the floor. Elizabeth couldn’t think of a time in her entire life when she’d seen a man scrub the floor. There was something remarkably appealing about it.

She leaned the mop against the wall of the kitchen and went out into the yard to find Mr. Brody. He had taken upon himself the arduous task of separating the useable items from the garbage, making two piles now instead of just one.

“Mr. Brody, I’d like to go home and check on my mother. Is now a good time?”

He looked up at the sky, then down at her. “I didn’t realize it had become so late. It’s time for a break anyway. Yes, go ahead.” Then, seemingly as an afterthought, “I promised you the loan of my horse. Come with me.”

He led her around the hotel and to a stable which appeared in slightly better condition than the house itself. “This is Cleophas,” he said, walking up to a brown stallion tied in the corner. “He’s a good lad, but a bit spirited. I trust you know how to ride a horse.”

Elizabeth grinned. “I do indeed, Mr. Brody.” She’d spent her happiest summers riding horses out on her cousin’s farm.

“And can you saddle one as well?”

She gave him a look that she was sure bordered on reproach, even though that wasn’t her intention. “If you’d like me to demonstrate, I’d be more than happy to show you.”

He held up both hands in a sweeping gesture. “I won’t stand in your way.”

She stepped forward, pulled the saddle blanket off the rail nearest Cleophas, and then reached for the saddle. It was heavier than most, but she hefted it onto the animal’s back without a word of complaint. She fastened the girth strap and then moved on to the other pieces of tack. Her fingers worked quickly, and she showed no hesitation between each step of the process. When she finished, she turned to him, a look of triumph on her face.

“What do you think, Mr. Brody? Do I pass inspection?”

Adam brought his hands together in three short claps. “Very good indeed, Miss Caldwell. Now, off you go. We have a lot to do the remainder of the day.”

He reached out to give her a hand up, but Elizabeth ignored it. She tucked up her skirts, climbed up, and took her seat in the saddle. He looked utterly flabbergasted.

“You did that most admirably, Miss Caldwell,” he said.

“Thank you. I’ll be back shortly.” She galloped out of the stable and across the yard as though the horse was a part of her very being.

“Well, I’ll be,” she heard him say behind her as he watched her go. She grinned. Sometimes, it was nice to catch someone by surprise.

* * *

Elizabeth snuggled Rose close for one last minute before handing her back to Agatha. “So, she’s done well today, then?”

Agatha gave a patient smile. “She’s been a perfect lamb. Did you expect anything else?”

“No. I was just worried, that’s all.”

“You’ve got a mother’s heart, Elizabeth. You and your child will be just fine.”

“I hope so.” Elizabeth took a deep breath. “Back to work I go. The kitchen is done, and now we’re on to other things. I daresay the old Garrison mansion will make a very fine new Brody Hotel.”

“We’ll be fine, dear. Have a good afternoon, and don’t worry about us.”

Elizabeth mounted Cleophas in the yard and rode back to the hotel, drying tears that had formed. How she wished she didn’t need to be away from her daughter. Despite his faults, her husband had kept food on the table, something she’d taken for granted. Now she realized what a tremendous blessing that was, and how difficult the basic necessities could be to come by. She feared that Rose had become too used to being fed smaller meals. She knew she wasn’t producing as much milk as she should—hopefully, eating at the hotel would help with that.

When she arrived back at the hotel, she found Mr. Brody and Miss Hampton sitting on a blanket out front, eating sandwiches. She led Cleophas to the stable and got him properly situated, then rounded the corner of the building to receive her next assignment.

“Join us,” Mr. Brody said, motioning toward the blanket. “Our landlady packed us this very pleasant lunch.”

Elizabeth pressed her lips together in an effort to keep from making a fool of herself. Those sandwiches looked delicious—she hadn’t eaten anything so fancy in a long time, and she was starving. Breakfast had been nothing but a cup of coffee hours ago. She took a seat, spreading her skirts modestly, then accepted the offered food. Her first bite of soft bread nearly melted in her mouth.

Miss Hampton passed over a small plate of sliced fruit and another of cookies. Elizabeth felt decadent, almost as if she were on a church picnic. She glanced over and caught Mr. Brody gazing at her, but he quickly averted his eyes.

She wasn’t sure what to make of Mr. Brody. His moods seemed so variable, he couldn’t be predicted. She found him kind, but in other moments, he was stern. She supposed this type of combination was best in a businessman, but she would have liked to know what to expect from him. Perhaps the longer they worked together, the more she’d come to understand his moods. One thing she sensed innately, however—while he might be changeable, he would never be like her husband. She simply could not picture him striking a woman in anger. Then she wondered why she was even comparing the two.

They had just finished their meal and Miss Hampton was placing the last dish in the basket when a young lady, satchel in hand, approached the hotel. “Good afternoon!” she called out gaily. “Please, don’t let me interrupt.”

Mr. Brody stood and nodded. “Hello. I’m Adam Brody.”