Page 31 of Prelude To You

“Okay, thanks.”

“Do you have any questions, Miss Le Roche?”

I was still in shock. Having been told it was a sick old man I’d be reading to, I wasn’t prepared to meet someone who seemed like he was on his deathbed. “Yes, I have one… Maybe two.”

“Go ahead, I’ll do my best to answer you.”

“Does anyone actually live here…in this place?”

“Yes, a few of the staff members have their own quarters in the east wing.”

“I was talking about family.”

That definitely hit a sore point because Miss Leyland suddenly looked pained. “Miss Le Roche, I appreciate your concern but it’s a private matter and one we will not discuss.”

“Fine, I understand. One other thing…?”

“Yes, miss Le Roche?”

“The music…”

This earned me a grim look and an exasperated sigh. “This happens to be one of Henry’s favorite composers.”

“Okay, I’m sorry. I just thought…”

“You just thought what?”

“He might enjoy something a little more lively… Uplifting say.”

By now Miss Leyland’s authority had been challenged to the max, and I could feel the thin line I was walking was about to snap. I needed to pull back. “But hey, if Bach is what Henry likes to listen to, Bach is what we listen to.”

Miss Leyland turned to me. “You know this is Bach?”

“Yes. Personally I’m not a fan. Technically he’s a genius but let’s face it, there is very little innovation in his music. Then again he had twenty kids, so he had to crank out music like a machine to provide for all of them. Between the bedsheets and the music sheets, Bach was a busy man.”

Miss Leyland laughed, and it gave me a warm feeling that she thought something I said was funny. Maybe working here would be okay.

“Oh, if Henry could hear you now,” she said. “I think he’d like you very much, Miss Le Roche. He likes people with unique opinions. And I will say your opinions are quite something.”

She took one last moment with her hand on Henry’s. It was a little curious how comfortable she was with him since he was her boss. But I was just happy he had someone who cared about him.

“Let me show you the north wing courtyard,” Miss Leyland said. “It’s one of my favorite places to go to when I want some peace and quiet.”

And with that, she swept from the room. Gracefully, of course.

“Bye Henry, I’ll see you later,” I whispered before following Miss Leyland.

She was smiling when I caught up with her. “Henry is having some medical tests done this afternoon, so you can officially start reading tomorrow. You will however be paid in full for today.”

“Thank you,” I said, already thinking about what delicious pastries I could bake for the staff tomorrow.

I decided on chocolate éclairs, which were always a favorite and one of the easier pastries to make if you knew what you were doing.

A half-hour later Miss Leyland had Nelson escort me to the front door. Predictably, there was no evidence of any fallen macarons on the doorstep. Outside, George was waiting by the Navigator.

When we left the estate, all I could think of was how very very lucky I was. Once I got my cell phone back, I was going to text Marguerite and thank her profusely.

I could already hear Meg lecturing me about signing papers without knowing exactly what I was signing. “For all you know, you were selling your kidneys on the black market!” she’d say.

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