22. Zeth
Zeth
“Name?”
“Zeth Washer.”
“Occupation?”
“Auctioneer.”
The young lady interviewing me raised a thin eyebrow in perfect imitation of Mrs. Marsh’s glare when I used to misbehave in class. She even spoke like a schoolmarm. “I’m afraid to inform you that we don’t have an auction house in Everdeen, Mr. Washer. What other occupations might I list?”
Mr. Washer? I waited for a ruler to hit me next.
Glancing sideways, I made sure Amby was still there with me. It really did feel like a school day again. He sat on a matching chair, and we both faced the employment agent’s desk. The way Amby was sitting ramrod straight at the edge of his seat made it clear he thought her strict too.
He looked so damn cute like that, paying attention and being a good boy. I’d never tell him, but his offer to spend his lunch hour at the employment agency to support me might have been the sweetest thing he ever gave me. Even better than the notebook with graph lines in fourth grade.
“Occupation?” the agent asked again.
The devil in me suggested ruining this already.
I should just cross my legs and act nonchalant.
Getting kicked out for being an ass certainly sounded better than the alternative.
I knew how badly this would end the moment Amby suggested an agency, but I needed to give this a try.
I followed Amby’s example and sat up straighter.
Feeling the lady’s gaze bore into me, I quickly searched for additional answers. This was a word game, and I was clever. “You can list me as an appraiser… purchaser, counter clerk, accountant, bookkeeper, and sales associate.”
Amby’s brow raised as if impressed, and I basked in his appreciation.
The employment agent didn’t praise me at all. She only jotted all those words with her fountain pen. I swear, I could hear the nib scratching the paper. Why was it so damn quiet?
Maybe I should have alphabetized my answer.
It didn’t matter, as she read the next line. “Last place of employment?”
Ah, here was the first of many questions that I dreaded. Hopefully, the agency wouldn’t check my answers before hiring me out. If I could prove myself before they got a reply… or lie. I could lie. Just say the truth , “Winfield’s Estate Sales and Auction.”
Her pen notated the proof of my failures to paper with neat, little strokes. Then she asked, “City?”
“Everdeen.”
The lady frowned. “Where is Winfield’s located, Mr. Washer? In which city were you working?”
“Oh, uh, Port—” I swallowed, hating how I’d grown this physical reaction to dredging up the past. I was smart enough before, but now I couldn’t name the city I lived in for almost ten years.
“Port Winchester, Ms.”
My gaze shot to Amby for answering, and he gave a quick pat to my knee, an excellent reminder I wasn’t alone. Not any more. He pledged himself to me and offered to do more with me than I ever hoped for. He called me his. Amby was amazing.
“Schooling?”
“Yes,” I hedged. “But, I moved before graduating.”
“College?” she asked with interest. When I shook my head, her eyes dimmed.
Apparently, my partial schooling wasn’t going to cut it.
Not for the skilled trades I enjoyed. No matter how well I spoke, or how much I taught myself, studying a fucking encyclopedia didn’t count as an education. Or maybe it did? I could say that—
“Alright, Mr. Washer, we’ll skip the rest of this form for now. Hand me your references so I can see what others say about you.”
She was holding her hand out over the desk.
I had nothing with me, so I wanted to shake her hand, as a joke.
Something told me she wouldn’t like my humor.
That was made abundantly clear by her tight bun of black hair and bland work dress, if not by her no-nonsense attitude.
At least her dress was well-made with a double row of buttons along the front that mimicked the uniforms I saw on the high guard in the City.
Maybe she wanted to be in the military and got stuck here instead.
I would have to lie about my references. Without them, I was clearly hiding my past.
But as I said nothing, Amby leaned forward to speak instead, “He’s a hard worker, and wonderful with numbers.”
“That’s high praise, Mr. Somerset, especially considering your line of work. I’m sure you’re a fine mathematician yourself.”
Amby’s cheeks reddened a bit. I felt bad for putting him in this position with me. I wanted to list off all of Amby’s skills, but that would make it worse.
“Well, gentlemen, if that’s everything…” we can’t find you work. At least she was being polite. I had to give her praise for that.
But I wasn’t done. I didn’t mind groveling a bit.
My cals were limited, and I needed to make another payment on the property bill soon.
Millie was working, but she couldn’t provide a dry roof and bed.
Amby would need me to provide in the future too, when we got the chance to be together.
I didn’t know where that would be, or how it would look, but I never wanted him hungry or worried. That meant taking control of my fate.
“No, it’s not everything,” I spoke up, sitting forward to give the employment agent my most serious I-am-worthy-of-your-damn-time stare.
“I know how to put my head down and work hard until my job is done, and I don’t mind starting from the bottom.
Give me manual labor, I’ll do it. Find me a hire, and your client will tell everyone about the superb employee you found for them. ”
“Yes, well, you may be persuasive, Mr. Washer, but we can’t stand behind a ghost. Maybe your connections”—she glanced at Amby and back at me—“can employ you, and then provide a written reference. Until then, good day, gentlemen.”
That was it.
I was back to begging for work door to door like I did as a sixteen-year-old kid with no experience. All my useless knowledge of scrollwork, trade marks, and pottery glaze was just that, useless.
Amby squeezed my hand before letting it go and getting up. I let him lead the way outside until the sun hit my face, and I inhaled the tang of horses and smoking chimneys. Still, the air was far better here than in the City… in Port Winchester .
“Don’t listen to her,” Amby kindly assured me.
“No, she’s right,” I sighed. “Without references for the last decade, I am a ghost, but thank you for suffering through that with me. It meant a lot to have you there.”
“You’ll find something. I can ask a few others I know if they’re hiring. There’s also an opening at the pub.”
I liked his positivity. I brushed my knuckles against his but didn’t take his hand.
I didn’t want to pressure him in town. Instead, I started along the sidewalk to walk him back to the bank.
“Maybe your distillery friend has a job for me? I could work for him. Surely there’s something he may want me to do. ”
“No, you don’t want to work for him,” he muttered. “He’s a nice man, but his friends are… questionable.”
“I was teasing. I didn’t like him anyway. Your idea of the pub is better, so I’ll stop there after dropping you off at work. I’m just sorry you missed eating lunch.”
“Don’t be. I can eat later. I wanted to be with you.
” Amby grabbed my arm in a friendly, but affectionate, manner, and I didn’t realize how much I wanted his touch until I had it back.
I pressed my elbow against my side, trapping him in close as we walked on, arm and arm like we used to when we were kids.
Before we became lovers, our friendship was so platonic, people often said we were tied at the waist.
Amby nudged me with his shoulder. “Hey, remember when we used to skip along the sidewalk making fun of the girls in class?”
“Heaven, we looked like idiots,” I chuckled. “I think Anna was one of those girls. She was always so prim and proper, it made us horrible to her.”
“That’s true… We haven’t been very good to her lately either, squabbling over her hand.” His eyes darted to the sidewalk, as if pondering, then continued, “Did you… let Annabelle know you’re no longer interested in her?”
My face scrunched up in distaste. “Not yet. I’m nervous about her reaction. I don’t want her to ruin me before I can win over your dad. But to be honest, I’m not sure why she’s encouraging me.”
“Well… she did tell me she felt a spark.” He put a finger to his lips. “I only assumed it was with you. Perhaps you were too forward with her, and she likes that. You should definitely not be forward with her anymore.”
“Forward how?”
Amby suddenly clutched my hand. “‘Oh, Anna, I must seek your assistance. My sister is in the woods, being attacked by a deer! We must find her.’”
I laughed at his melodrama. “Was I that bad?”
“No. Maybe more like… aggressively charming.” He winked at me as he let me go.
“Aggressively charming,” I mused with a cluck of my tongue. “Not sure I’m fond of that description, but it’s probably accurate. Sometimes I do come across as phony, don’t I?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, I struggle to make friends. You might be right, I try too hard. Maybe people realize that I’m putting on, so that’s why they end up hating me.”
“I think we all do that to a certain extent. I have noticed you want to be accepted by everyone so you try to please them. But it’s not your job to make others happy.
Be yourself first. If you do that, people will accept you.
And perhaps some won’t, but that’s alright.
They won’t be your sort of people anyway. ”
His advice knotted my stomach a bit, which said there was truth to his words. “Thank you. Feel free to punch me with more advice. I need to be better, especially at the upcoming salon. Millie and I are invited.”
“Hattie told me. She visited the tailor shop to pick out a suit for me to wear to the salon, and said Millie was talking about going too. If you decide to attend, just be the dashing Zeth I know you are. Handsome, strong, funny, intelligent, resilient…” He cut his eyes to me. “Want me to go on?”
“Keep complimenting me like that, and it’s your fault if I kiss you right here,” I answered with my best dashing smile.
Amby poked my ribs. “I’ll save it for a rainy day, then. Oh, and before I forget to warn you, my father will be at the salon.”
“Good. I can slip into his circle to suggest your bank may want to buy my laundry. Maybe I can impress your dad through fine bargaining and trade talk. He should like that, right?”
Amby’s face fell. “You really are selling the laundry?”
My steps faltered to a stop. “Of course I’m selling it, the laundry failed. Too many elites have staff now, and everyone else has washboards and basins.”
Amby stopped walking as well. Just behind him, the large pillars of his family’s business towered over us as I took in Amby’s confused expression.
“But… where will you live?”
“I honestly don’t know,” I sighed, pulling off my cap to rake a hand through my hair.
“My plans to marry Anna were shitty, so I’m glad they changed, but now everything’s up in the air.
I could look for a small apartment once the sale happens.
” As I gazed at Amby’s gathered brow, it occurred to me that maybe I didn’t need all the answers. “What do you want to do?”
Amby blinked in confusion. “You’re asking me? I mean… I’d be happy to help you with anything you need in order to stay warm and fed.”
“No, darling, I mean, where do you want to live? When we’re together?”
Amby’s expression cleared, and he put his hands on his hips, thinking.
“Well, ideally, in a beachside cottage with cats.” He laughed, but I liked the idea.
Mostly the part about cats. Amby continued, “The Somerset estate goes to me when I marry, but I don’t know if it applies if I marry outside of what my father has planned for me.
But you know, if I need to move… you do have a spacey place of your own.
The laundry may not be in operation anymore, but it’s a nice building since you’ve cleaned and done repairs.
If you don’t sell, we could live there. It’s your home, after all. ”
“My home?”
I could see Amby moving in with me, filling the old upper floor with his lovely furniture and loving smiles.
Maybe two new height marks on the doorway.
But that felt like a dream. If I didn’t sell my inheritance, I lost that profit.
And with no money or job, I’d default even more on the property taxes until the bank took the laundry.
It was much easier to have money in my pocket than a giant bill hanging over my head.
Sighing, I tugged my cap back on. “You know, I’ve not called the laundry my home in a while, so I’ll think about it. We should focus on winning over your dad first. If he gives us his blessing, then we won’t need to worry about anything.”
That sounded harshly like I was gold digging again, but it was a possibility that Amby could keep his wealth. No matter what happened, I was happy to be talking it all out with him.
Amby’s face softened. “Of course… One day at a time. No matter what happens, I’ll be with you through it. I’m going to take care of you, just like you take care of me.”
“You’re delightful,” I said with relief, enjoying the reassurance. Amby scrunched up his nose at the compliment, and I wished he could see how adorable he was.
The bells chimed the one o’clock hour. Our lunch break was well spent, but time was up. My boy had to return to his job, so I nudged him onward, “Now off to work.”
Amby raised an eyebrow and nodded toward me. “Yes, sir.”
Damn, I enjoyed his sass. I longed to call him a good boy right here, but that could wait. For now, I watched his fine ass as he walked away and enjoyed the view until he entered one of the double doors. Then I stared up at the marble carving above the entrance that read Somerset & Sons Bank .
There was some irony to Amby having a job he hated when I would gladly take his place.
Unfortunately, Mr. Somerset would never hire me, not even if Amby made a good argument.
My past was too shady. Yet, maybe there was a chance I could win him over personally.
Maybe dashing Zeth had a chance to convince the grand Mr. Somerset to invest in his own son.