Clara followed the housekeeper through the flat and straight flight of stairs, leading to the rooftop. She was not told where they were going and didn't bother asking, since there was nothing welcoming about the housekeeper's facial appearance.
As they ascended the stairs, she saw her reflection on the glossy looking immaculate tiles with each step. The stairs wound in a straight slope, rising inexorably to the top of the roof. It was a modern helical set of luxury stairs with glass railing, and stainless steel stringers. The little space created on the roof top was hidden behind the black corrugated sheets that was seen while coming into the mansion.
"Good morning sir." The housekeeper greeted as they approached the roof top.
Bennet nodded, "Good morning Beatrice." He replied, turning back to see his soon to be employee behind.
"Good morning sir." Clara greeted.
"Same here Miss Clara. Please come take a seat." He pointed at the wooven seat opposite him. The very same seat that was occupied by Cecilia a couple of days ago.
Clara stepped forward, her black flashy designer heel glistering with the reflection from the sun. She had carefully selected her outfit a day before. The dress and shoe were some of the limited edition pieces she had gotten through a personal shopper two years ago.
"What can I offer you?" Bennet asked.
"I'm fine sir, thank you." Clara said politely, and lowered her heavy lashes.
"Alright then." He turned to Beatrice, and saw her still standing. "Is there a problem?" He asked.
Beatrice nodded. "Miss Eden and her mother are still waiting for you at the drawing room. They have now been joined by Miss Harmony and her mother." She said bowing.
"Beatrice, kindly let them know that I will not be joining them today. Let them know that I have an important matter to attend to. And once they are gone. Instruct Mr. Long not to open the gate to anybody else. He should tell whoever comes along that I'm not available to see anyone." He was literally tired of the numerous visits from some of the mothers in the estate, with their daughters. He wasn't ready for another marriage yet and he has told them several times, but they remained persistent.
"Yes sir." Beatrice replied. "There is a letter for you from Miss Bethany." She added and Bennet frowned at it, wondering irritably why Bethany always found it necessary to write to him, even though her family live in Eschial gardens .
There was already more than a proprietary hint in the flowing, well-turned sentences, and Bennet realized with a small sense of shock that not only Bethany and her mother, but most of their friends, were expecting him to marry her.
He thrust the letter into his pocket and told himself angrily that he had never given her the slightest idea that he was into her. She had been Felicia's friend and later it had seemed only natural that she should take an interest in Felicia's motherless child. He had been grateful to her and had valued her help in the difficult months after his wife's tragic death, and later when friends began to hint that he should marry again, he had found her a protection against the obvious machinations of other mothers of eligible daughters. He had supposed, a little wryly, that even a matured widower with a difficult daughter was made attractive by wealth and a brilliant reputation, because he ranked high in his profession and made a great deal of money.
He did not believe that Bethany was in love with him, but he knew well enough that she was over thirty-five and wanted a marriage and top position in the society.
Turning to Clara, he flashed a smile. "Welcome to Eschial gardens." He said, and Clara nodded. He looked at her for a moment with a quizzical expression. "You don't like it?" he asked politely.
"I do sir." She replied. "It's one of the most beautiful place I've been to."
"I hope you're not fanciful, Miss. Clara," he replied a little shortly, and even as he spoke, his eyes stayed glued to her face. "My home is rather modest and may not be regarded as a luxury home." He added.
Clara wanted to laugh, but she knew better. It was clear to her that Mr. Lewin was just being modest. From what she's seen so far, without seeing the inside of the Mansion, she knew without doubt that Luxury was too little a word to best describe such a home. In response to his last statement, she flashed a smile.
"Well, Beatrice." He called
"Yes, Sir. Isabella refused coming down from her room." Beatrice announced without being asked.
"That's fine. Miss. Clara can always go to her. Beatrice, this is Clara Noman. Isabella named her Miss. Clara the very first day we met her. She will be Isabella's Nurse. Clara, my housekeeper, Beatrice." He pointed to Beatrice.
For the first time, Beatrice looked at Clara thoroughly, observing her young, transparent face, and the pale soft hair she packed in behind her ears with the help of a hairband, letting some of her curls loose. Her eyes, which at first had held a look of dismay, changed to a look of condescension before they were veiled again with her habitual reserve. " You are welcome Miss. Clara."
"Thank you so much Beatrice." Clara replied with a cute smile.
Beatrice's smile was cold, and Clara thought there was hostility in the quiet voice, or was she mistaken? She was also aware of Bennet's frown as he watched them both.
"You can go back to your duty post Beatrice." He said to have the other woman bow and took the stairs down. He turned to Clara. "You will get used to Beatrice. She's one of my easiest employee. I would make more introductions by tomorrow, when you resume fully." He told her.
Clara watched him from under her lashes, revising her first opinion of him. He looked older than he did the first day she saw him at the park with Isabella. Considerably older than thirty-eight years, and he was going a little gray. But he was still drop-dead gorgeous.
"Thank you so much for accepting this job offer." He told her. He had done his findings and he knew exactly what to expect from her. He practically knew a lot of things about her including the fact that was once a paediatric nurse. Funny, he even got to find out that he knew her father from few years ago and have met him once.
She was exactly what he wanted for Isabella, someone with compassion, and someone that can care for his daughter adequately. With Clara, he was sure that Isabella will be well cared for including health wise.
"Miss. Clara," he started. "You don't know my daughter yet. Now, there's not much I can tell you about myself either. I'm reasonably well-to-do as you may get to find out, and you would find me quite generous. So, if you're good at your job, I won't hesitate to reward you accordingly." Clara nodded. "I don't think you'd find me unreasonable." He continued. "I will resume work at the office next week, So, you won't be seeing a great deal of me. I'm an extremely busy man and when there's a rush of work I frequently don't come home at all, and I have other apartments for such occasions. You just have to feel at home, your work here should be done by 6:00pm after which Robin, will drive you back to your home at Cherim. Your priority should be Isabella, I'm doing this for her."
"Yes sir, I understand." Clara replied.
For a moment, Bennet experienced a tenderness toward her, that he had not known for any human being for a while. the sort of tenderness that he could perhaps feel for his daughter. "Isabella have her good days which are very few and her bad days, quite a handful. I struggle to get across to her most times." He smiled reluctantly. "I look forward to working with you."
"Thank you so much sir." She replied, I will not disappoint you." Clara vowed.
"Great, now let's go introduce you to Isabella." He said, standing up,