Page 22 of The Seaside Homecoming
He shook his head. “That is so you feel invested in the place, a sense of ownership. And in return you will have an equitable share of the profits—once there are any.” He lifted a hand. “But let us not get ahead of ourselves. I have a few questions for you before we finalize this arrangement.” He entwined his fingers on the desk. “First of all, you are younger than I expected. Have you any experience?”
None. Zero.Claire took a breath and endeavored to keep her voice steady. “Not direct experience, but I grew up in a genteel home, and due to my mother’s poor health, I often acted as hostess to overnight guests, and presided over many fine banquets and parties.”
“This is a boarding house. We shall have no fine banquets or parties here.”
“All the better,” she said with a confidence she did not feel. “How much easier to oversee more modest domestic arrangements.”
She clasped gloved hands together to disguise their tremble. Had she convinced him? Or would he reject her and Mary both? “Perhaps you ought to describe my proposed duties.”
“In simple terms, you would oversee the guests’ experiencehere—the cleanliness and comfort of their rooms, the quality of their meals—and make sure all is satisfactory. You shan’t have to actually cook. The former cook agreed to work for me.”
That was a relief. Claire had no experience in the kitchen beyond making tea and toast.
He drummed his fingers on the desk. “What else...? Guest correspondence and perhaps some bookkeeping as well. Does that sound feasible?”
Claire bit her lip. “It does. Though I will, of course, need a more thorough explanation of how you want things done.”
He waved the suggestion away. “Plenty of time for that later. The former owner has offered to come over and walk through things if and when I found someone.”
“Excellent. I have another question. How do you propose we explain our relationship? People may assume we are ... that is, that I am your...”
“Partner in more than business?”
Embarrassment heated her neck. “Well ... yes.”
“Rest assured the boarding house is the only reason you’re here. I like my privacy. I have set up a bedchamber and study for myself over the former stables. Quite separate. Quite proper. That should help alleviate your concerns as well as those of any busybodies.”
“Good.”
The same dark woman came to the morning room door and poked her head in, and Claire saw that she was rather pretty when she wasn’t scowling. Perhapsshefilled the place of“partner in more than business.”
Her gaze landing on Claire, that sour-faced scowl returned, blotting out her beauty.
“So. You are letting her stay?”
“I am.”
“I told you I could help you.”
“You have an important responsibility of your own. In fact, should you not be upstairs now?”
She huffed and whirled away.
Claire felt ill at ease to witness the tense exchange, as well as curious, but he did not explain.
Instead, Mr. Hammond rose and gestured for Claire to precede him out of the room. “Come, I will show you around.”
“Does that mean we are going forward?”
“It does.”
“Well then.” Claire opened her reticule. “I hope you understand I cannot provide one hundred pounds. In fact, fifty is practically all I have left, due to unforeseen expenses on the journey here.”
“Ah yes, there are always inevitable extras while traveling.”
“Are there? I have not much experience with travel.”
“And I have far too much.”
