Page 110 of Prelude To You

“Oh, and I had that pastry. I don’t know where you learned to make ’em like that, but that was the tastiest thing I’ve ever had. Next time I’m stealing one for my wife.”

“Tomorrow I’ll make an extra pastry for her, I promise.”

The mansion didn’t look nearly as gloomy as I thought it did before. The sun was shining today and it cast the manor in a better light, so to speak. Sure it still wasn’t a place your everyday person could relate to unless it was in their fantasies, but at least I didn’t feel like I was entering a mausoleum to visit dead relatives I never knew.

Nelson was already standing at the massive front doors, waiting expectantly. Where he seemed stuffy yesterday, today he was very friendly. It could have something to do with proving to Miss Leyland that he’d found the right candidate for the job.

Even if the job seemed relatively easy, I could sense Miss Leyland’s fixation on finding the one person she thought Henry might like if he wasn’t in a coma. She was a very loyal employee. In fact, she personified devotion. A beautiful woman dedicating her life to her job at this place. There had to be a curious story that went along with that.

“There she is,” Nelson said, smiling as I approached the house. “Now, that is a very lovely coat, Isabel.”

“You mean the one I wore yesterday wasn’t,” I said. “How dare you?”

Nelson laughed, and I handed him the confectionary box with the macarons inside. “This is for you, for putting up a fight when Miss Leyland was ready to kick me to the curb before I even had a chance to be interviewed.”

He opened the box. “All this for me? Thank you. They look too pretty to eat, but I think I’ll manage. And Albert will definitely be happy to help.”

“You mentioned Albert yesterday,” I said. “Since he basically got me the job, I should thank him at least. Does he work here?”

Nelson leaned in and explained. “Albert has been my partner for twenty-five years. He knows Marguerite from way back, when they worked together in a restaurant. These days he has an online business selling kitchenware. Top-shelf stuff. He’s making a mint, which also means he stays home and cooks. I can only thank God for that because the food here is very bland. At least dinner gets catered at night, from somewhere else. Mrs. Sheldon cooks her vegetables until they lose their will to be green.”

I laughed, and it felt like the day had just become a little bit brighter. When it came to the despair raiding my insides, this place might just be my salvation.

Nelson beckoned to me. “Let’s go to the staffroom. Miss Leyland is probably already waiting.”

I waved goodbye to George and followed Nelson into the house with the box of chocolate eclairs.

Now that I was more used to grandeur, the foyer seemed less daunting than yesterday, and I started noticing details. The sun picked up the gorgeous colors in the painted-glass windows, showering the entire foyer in an assortment of brilliant hues.

There were those finely carved wooden banisters on the winding staircase, and the black-and-white checkered floor was set off beautifully by large colorful paintings. A long time ago, someone put a lot of love and thought into making this place beautiful. I wondered who they were, and how they fit into the history of this house.

It was still very quiet, too quiet, and it was heartbreaking that with all this money and splendor, it didn’t seem like Henry had much in the way of family. He was lucky Miss Leyland was there to look out for him.

The long trek to the senior staffroom afforded me new glimpses of the house. I thought it could have been less grand, but then again, I wasn’t the one who had to live here. One thing was clear: there was literally no end to this house, it just went on and on.

“This is a really big place,” I noted.

“Oh goodness, I’d say it is,” Nelson answered. “I mean there are countless bedrooms, and then there are the four apartments. You can house an army in here. It was built at a time when social interaction involved a lot of entertainment. These days with the internet, a lot of social interaction is done online.”

“And Henry lives here alone?”

Nelson smiled knowingly. “You know we can’t really talk about such things. In any event, it’s all a bit complicated. I’ll let Miss Leyland answer your questions, if she’s willing to do that.”

I sighed, my terrible experience with wealthy people still a very fresh wound. “Lots of money doesn’t always lead to happiness, does it?” I asked.

“The strange thing about money is, when you need it, you can’t always get it,” Nelson answered patiently. “And when you have it, you always need something it can’t buy. Happiness for one. A long time ago this was a dynamic house, but it’s had its share of pain. Hopefully a new generation will bring back the vitality it once had.”

Nelson bit his lip, realizing he might have said too much.

I smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, I won’t say anything. It’s none of my business anyway.”

“Well, that’s good,” Nelson said. “For all her marvelous attributes, Miss Leyland is very protective of this house, and there is a side to her that no one wants to cross. Including me.”

“I’m glad there’s the chance of a new generation giving it back its old glory again.”

My optimism wasn’t shared by Nelson. He looked downright worried. “We’ll see about that. But let’s start this day more cheerfully. For all of Mrs. Sheldon’s shortcomings in the cooking department, her coffee is outstanding. You’re in for a real treat.”

The smell of roasted coffee drifted down the hallway as we approached the staffroom. I quickly pinched my cheeks and entered the room with a bright smile and a box full of chocolate eclairs.

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