Lady Gregory adjusted her broach, tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and smiled at her reflection in the mirror. A second knock on the door frustrated her, and glanced over her shoulder and mumbled, “I’m coming.”
She took one last look at herself.
“Let’s hope this one’s better than the last three.” She made her way across the room and turned into the hallway toward the front door. She did not rush, but walked at her normal place.
Not wanting to hear the knock a third time, she opened the door and smiled.
Standing with his hat in his hand, a man with sandy blond hair, who appeared to be in his mid to late 30s, stood on the stoop waiting for her. He had his hand raised and prepared to knock again. On seeing the door open, he took a step back and lowered his arm to his side. “Good morning, ma’am. My name is Charles and I’m here for the job.”
“Good morning, Charles.” Lady Gregory eyed him from top to bottom and took notice that he had recently shaved and she could smell the Witch hazel on him that he had probably used on the knick on his chin. “Why don’t you come in?”
“Thank you.” He bowed his head to her and then followed her inside.
Lady Gregory led Charles to the pallor and invited him to sit down on a red sofa.
“You have a nice home, Lady Gregory.” He quickly surveyed the room and then settled back on her. “I’m hoping I can provide some service to you in up keeping it and keeping things running.”
“Please, call me Isabella.” Lady Gregory folded her hands in her lap and sat back on the chair across from the sofa. “I only go by lady with those outside these walls.”
A shoe falling down the stairs distracted Charles, and he turned to look away from her. After the show stopped tumbling down the stairs, they heard fervent whispering and then stomping on the floor above.
Looking bewildered, Charles turned back around with a questioning look on his face. His right eyebrow went up, and he opened his mouth to speak.
“Don’t worry. It’s just my two girls trying to spy on us.” Lady Gregory lowered her voice and leaned forward. “I took them in two years ago and that’s partly why I need some help around the house. I could use another set of hands to help me with the day-to-day work.”
“If they want to come down to meet me, I’m fine with that.” At ease with himself, Charles relaxed and glanced up at the ceiling. “It might help them see that I’m perfectly comfortable with children.”
Lady Gregory smoothed down her dress and held his response to heart. “I appreciate that. But for today, I’d like our interview to just be the two of us. You can meet the girls another time.” Resting her hands back on her lap, she asked, “Tell me a little about yourself.”
Charles took a moment to gather his response and replied, “I’m new to Concord. I used to live in Boston with my wife and son, but—,” he looked away and coughed into his hand to hide the sadness that rose up within him, “I lost them both to yellow fever and I just couldn’t stay in the same house.”
Lady Gregory softened and said, “I’m so sorry for your loss.” She took a chance with him and added, “I lost my daughter to the fever as well.”
He moved his hand away from his face and allowed her to see the sorrow that he clearly struggled with. “My condolences to you for your loss.” He said the words and shook his head abruptly. “But I also want to say that it’s not fair, you know?”
She listened to his words as he spoke directly to her and looked her right in the eye. “I do know.”
“We shouldn’t have had to lose them so soon.” Charles ran his hand through his hair and leaned forward. “If there was anything I could have done to save them, I would have done it in a heartbeat.”
Lady Gregory nodded in agreement and let the silence linger a moment longer between them. They shared their grief together, and she saw him in a different light. Not ashamed to show his anguish to her, he held her gaze and let her see into him.
“Tell me, when can you start?” She fired the question off at him and took a little thrill in seeing him be surprised.
“Don’t you want to know what skills I have and the places where I’ve worked before?” Thrown off a bit, he seemed a bit confused.
“Whatever you don’t know, I’m confident that you will learn.” Lady Gregory stood up to walk him out. “Tell me your rate and I will give you that. I only ask that you respect our privacy and keep—”
A loud bang on the front door interrupted them.
Worried by the forcefulness of the ganging, Charles stood up, but Lady Gregory held up her hand. “Excuse me, I’ll be right back.”
She left the room and Charles stayed in the parlor, but leaned out into the hallway to see what was going on.
Lady Gregory opened the door and a large man yelled, “You promised me more than what you delivered and I’m here to get my money back.”
“Good morning, Mr. Drysden.” Lady Gregory remained calm and did not let his boisterousness fluster her.
“It’s not a good morning. It’s anything but.” Mr. Drysden leaned into the doorway, but Lady Gregory blocked his path. “I’m not leaving until I get my money back.”
Lady Gregory leaned forward and put her right arm across the doorway, signaling to him that she would not let him in. “Sir, I kindly ask you to remove yourself from my stairs and come back when you are in a better frame of mind.”
“I’m not coming back later. I’m here now. And I’m not going to take anything from the likes of you?” Mr. Drysden scratched his beard and then spit on the ground.
Having seen and heard the exchange, Charles rushed into the hall, but then stopped. He observed Lady Gregory as she stood tall and unflustered. He went to take a step forward, but hesitated.
“Mr. Drysden, you have taxed my patience, and I will not have you speaking to me this way. When you have had time to calm down, I’m more than willing to discuss our arrangement and listen to your concerns.” She raised her voice and smashed the doorframe with her clenched fist. “But I will not be spoken to that way.”
The power in her voice carried her will forward, and she did not wilt like a picked flower in summer, as Mr. Drysden had expected.
Charles stopped in his tracks and turned around to head back into the parlor. On the steps, a teenage girl in a pink dress and long curly black hair sat on her haunches watching the exchange.
The girl raised her finger to her lips to silence him, and Charles nodded in agreement. He tiptoed hurriedly back into the next room and heard Mr. Drysden coughed uncomfortably, cleared his throat, and said, “Yes, I think you might be right. I’ll come back at another time and then we can talk more.”
“Why thank you.” Lady Gregory poured on the charm and her voice shifted in modulation to reassure him that any uncomfortableness between them had ended. She smiled at him and watched as he turned around and walked away. Satisfied that he was not coming back, she slowly shut and locked the door behind her.
Quick, like a pixie, the teenage girl hurried up the steps and Charles watched her run and disappear from sight. Not wanting to get caught himself, he sat back down and crossed his legs.
A few seconds later, Lady Gregory entered the parlor and excused herself. “I apologize for the intrusion.”
Waving the disturbance away with his hand, Charles stood up and smiled. “Don’t worry about it. It’s none of my business.” Having dropped whatever had just occurred, he changed the subject and asked, “When would you like for me to start?”
“Would this Saturday work for you?” Lady Gregory eyed him up and put out her hand.
“Yes, that works perfectly.” He took her hand and shook it firmly.
She responded in kind and said, “Then I’ll see you on Saturday and we’ll work all the specifics out of her pay.”
“I look forward to Saturday.” Charles let go of her hand, gave her a big smile, and then headed to the front door.
“Me too.” Lady Gregory let him out and waved goodbye. Once he had gone, she locked the door and asked, “So what did you think?”
Lily and Rose both stood bent over midway down the stairs, but Lily, older by two years, spoke first. “I like him.”
Lady Gregory nodded in agreement and replied, “I agree. I think he’s a real gentleman.”
Rose smiled and kept her secret about him to herself. “I think he’s better than a gentleman.”
Lily nudged her in the ribs with her elbow and asked, “What’s better than a gentleman?”
Rose shrugged and said, “I don’t know, but that’s what he is.” Flustered and not wanting to say too much, she added, “I think he’s going to be fine once he learns about us conjuring up spirits to talk to their loved ones.”
“Okay, enough of that already. Let’s go.” Lady Gregory clapped her hands and shooed them both up the stairs to get ready for tonight’s seance. She wondered if Charles would be discreet once he found out the full truth. With so much yet to prepare for tonight’s client, she brushed the thought out of her mind. There was no need to worry about that now. In a matter of days, she would find out soon enough.
Find out what happens to Charles and Lady Gregory in The Red Door Diaries series: