Page 18 of Claiming the Tower (Council Mysteries #1)

She shrugged, spreading her hands out. Another woman might have counted her points out on her fingers, but Hereswith kept her hands still, not giving much away.

“First, you have experience as a companion. Papa’s much less demanding, I’m sure.

Second, it would let us get a sense of what would best suit, if we hired someone.

Or if someone’s needed. Third, it would provide every reason to give you a good character at the end, honestly given.

You could take it on for a month, and we could discuss at the end of the time, the third week or so, if continuing made sense. Space on both sides.”

Put that way, Bess could see that it would be a useful term for the Rowans, as well as for Bess herself. A month could give her a chance to interview for other positions, to sort out the pay owed and get her things in order.

She would be lying if she said she wanted to leave. Something about the house was comfortable in a way she hadn’t known since she was a child. It wasn’t just the rooms, though the spaces were lovely and thoughtfully decorated. It was the house itself and maybe the people in it.

“I suppose I could. But I’d be an awful dunce at anything involving your father’s research. I’ve no Anglo-Saxon, or whatever is relevant. And my Old English isn’t worth commenting on.”

“That will just give him many chances to explain it to you. He loves that.” Then, before Bess could duck it, she said, “You have other concerns?”

The question demanded honesty, or at least Bess did not know how to dissemble.

“I— I don’t know how to go forward. I thought that if I did my work, was steady, it would be enough.

A roof over my head, food. Stability. I have had little of that, not since I left Schola.

But that didn’t work, and I don’t know— I don’t know how to go forward. ”

Hereswith tilted her head. “That is a larger problem, isn’t it?

Not entirely outside my scope, either, though when it’s countries or politics, the state of identity or pride is a little more complex to define.

” She considered. “We are good at stability here, in the main. We change things slowly, we enjoy the cycles of the seasons and the centuries. But change is a thing that people— and countries— work through. It takes time. It takes skill. It takes courage. There are stops and starts. I can be optimistic for you, if you cannot be optimistic for yourself. And at least for now, there is time and space for you to get your feet under you.”

“Oh.” Bess swallowed hard. “I feel like everything’s tumbled down. Not shattered, exactly, but all out of place.”

There was a short silence, then Hereswith said, simply, “The only thing that matters right now is that you’re willing to give this a try. If you want something different, we can talk about that when you have an idea what it is.”

“All right. If you’re certain?”

“You’re willing? I’m delighted.” Hereswith’s steadiness shivered for a moment as she looked down, then looked up, beaming.

Not hiding her happiness. Bess tucked it away to interrogate later, why Hereswith was so pleased.

“I’ll have the solicitor draw up a contract this afternoon, whatever else, but of course we’d cover your room and board, and a suitable salary.

Not scrimping, I know there are charts of what’s ordinary, and we reliably pay our staff in the upper quartile. ”

“Are they all worth that?” Bess caught herself. “I mean. Mary was excellent. I should have told you immediately. She has a good eye for detail, doesn’t she?”

“She does. I don’t keep her busy enough, honestly, but she likes it here.

Her sister’s at one of the grander houses in Bath.

It means they can see each other on their half days.

I think she rather enjoys having more scope for her tasks than just being a lady’s maid would entirely permit.

Right. Now, about your things. Strategically speaking, I think it would make sense to have the solicitor send someone round to make sure they are properly packed and brought here, and to confirm arrangements for your payment.

Do you have anything on file in Trellech that has the details?

The courts won’t be open this week, of course. ”

“I have a copy at the Field, on file.” It was one of the services they offered, thankfully. Bess swallowed. “Yes, all of that. And— a trial period, for the rest of it. I don’t really have a lot of other options. You must know that.”

“I think that the world is extremely foolish about not noticing your worth, and certainly falling down about being kind to you in proportion to what you deserve. But we can see about doing something about that in due course.” Hereswith nodded.

“Excellent. Let’s see. If I send a note now, and check on Papa, I can show you round the house for an hour or so, we can lunch in Trellech, and then go to the solicitor, when they should have whatever documentation you need to sign ready.

Lunch at the Field? I’ll send James off with the notes. They can have a room ready, likely.”

Bess would not argue. She should, she knew that, but she wasn’t going to. She nodded once. “As you wish.”