Chapter 14
KAI
“Sir? My niece Roberta is here,” Jones informs me when I look up from another of my uncle’s journals I’m reading. I’ve nearly finished them. There are just a couple left.
“Thank you, I’ll be there right away. Can you bring some refreshments?”
“Of course, sir,” he says with a smile before withdrawing.
I put down the book and stand, but before I leave the room I walk over to the window and look out.
I’m doing that more and more these days.
I know I’m hoping for a glimpse of Jason.
All of the staff have been brilliant and supportive since I spoke to them a couple of days ago.
Almost all. I haven’t spoken to Jason. I’ve barely seen him, just the occasional sighting of him in the gardens, but not often.
It’s as if he’s taken to working elsewhere in the grounds.
His reaction at the meeting was pretty clear.
He’s judging me for what I’m doing. I’m surprised at that, but also hurt.
And not seeing him, not being able to go out and talk to him, leaves a gaping hollow in my chest. But what I’m trying to do here is bigger than his opinion of me, it’s bigger than my feelings for him, so I just have to carry on, even if the thought of victory feels like ashes in my mouth.
I sigh and turn away from the window, ready to at least do something productive and make it so I can understand the estate better, and make sure Mr Nagle can have no more influence over me.
I like Roberta immediately, possibly because she’s a fellow coffee drinker, but maybe more so because of what she says when she takes her mug from Jones.
“Thanks, Uncle Bob.” Jones’s face is a picture, and I have to press my lips together until he leaves the room. Only then do I let out a laugh, and Roberta joins in.
“He would have a fit of apoplexy if I called him Bob,” I say, and Roberta grins.
“The advantages of being his favourite niece,” she replies.
“Are you named after him?” My brain finally connects that Bob is short for Robert.
“I am, and it’s an honour,” she says with some of the austerity I see in Jones.
I go through what I think the job entails, which is extremely vague as I have no idea what I’m looking for, so I’m pleased when Roberta grasps the situation straight away and sums it up better than I can.
“You want someone to go through all the paperwork and affairs of the estate, let you know the important things, tell you where you’re leaking money, look for opportunities to make money, and ensure all your assets are secure.”
“That’s pretty much it, but I have no idea where to begin,” I say, and I give her some of my background as well as a history of the hall without giving any secrets away. I also tell her about my attempt to save the hall and how I’m going about it.
“I think there are also some paintings and furniture I could sell. Mr Nagle had an inventory of everything,” I add.
“Okay, so I can make sure we get a copy of that. I have a friend who’s an art dealer and I’m sure they’d be able to help with that.” Roberta is sounding more efficient with every sentence, and my confidence in her ability to help grows.
We agree on a trial period and what days she’ll work to fit around her studies. Then, just as Jones comes back to ask if we want more coffee, a thought comes to me.
“I have no idea what to do next. How do I actually go about employing you? What paperwork do I need?” I turn to Jones. “Jones, have you ever been involved in that?”
“No, sir. Your uncle dealt with all the staff.”
“Oh lord!” I have no idea where to start. “You have been paid, haven’t you?” I ask, unsure of that process too. Another part of the estate which I kind of thought ran itself.
“For this month, sir, yes,” Jones says in a tone that implies that they might not get paid next month unless I do something about it.
“So, Roberta, your first job is to find out how I pay everyone and get yourself on the payroll.” I shudder at the thought of them leaving me. “Also, how soon can you start?”
She chuckles slightly, and I’m glad she doesn’t seem fazed by my lack of knowledge or experience. I’ve never employed anyone. I’ve hardly been employed myself. A few acting jobs and a cash-in-hand barman don’t count as steady jobs.
“How about Monday?” she replies, and I breathe a sigh of relief.
“That’ll do perfectly. Jones? Will you bring Roberta up to speed on everything she needs to know?”
“Of course, sir.”
After Jones has brought us more coffee, I invite Roberta to tell me a little about herself and her background, and she recounts a few tales from her childhood.
Some of them are endearing stories of uncle Bob, which I know Jones would never tell me himself.
It’s nice to hear how different the stiff butler can be sometimes, though I know I’ve seen a small part of that when he cared for me while I was sick.
After we’ve finished her interview, she goes off to the kitchen to catch up with Aunt Martha, and I feel like she’s part of the household already.
I head up to my video room, for the first time since I collapsed nearly a week ago.
It looks different from how I left it, and it takes me a few minutes to realise it’s been cleaned and tidied.
There are no discarded clothes on the floor.
In fact, I can’t see them anywhere. I open the door to the closet and find them neatly arranged and folded, and when I pick up the gloves I can see they’ve been laundered.
I can’t help the giggle that escapes me.
I bet Jones didn’t think cleaning my camboy clothes would be on his list of duties.
But then, he looked after my uncle for thirty years, so I doubt anything could shock him.
Even the dildos are neatly lined up on the dressing table. Good lord, did he clean those too?
I open my laptop and log in to my account, fearing that not posting anything for a week might have had a bad impact.
But it hasn’t. The earnings are still increasing and have just hit a million pounds.
There are several messages for me, though, some of them pledging money for specific acts, which I’ll consider later, but most are expressions of concern that I’ve not posted any new videos.
Some of them are a little creepy, but many are sweet and lovely.
I begin setting up the room to make some more film, and I have another look through the accessories in the closet and find a couple of negligees, one in sheer black with a fluffy hem and another in cream lace.
I’ve got a few ideas for them, and energised by the support online, I can’t wait to get started.