Chapter Six–B

He loved her. Foolish girl, she should have been elated, she should have been thanking the heavens that he had told her so, but it only hurt her. And not the way one read in novels either. Some steady crushing hand gripped her heart. And yet what a thing it was to admit it. Yes, she loved Geoffrey. Yes, he loved her. But she was sure it shouldn’t hurt like this.

“You left me,” Benjamin accused when he found her.

“With Anne,” Friday retorted, trying to slow her breathing.

“Who presently felt the need to assuage your tall, angry friend, Mr. Eliot,” Benjamin replied, “Who is he anyway?”

“He’s… a friend of the Hays family.”

“And a friend of Anne’s, I presume.”

Friday gave him an apologetic smile. There was Benjamin to think of, beside herself.

“Whatever else I am, I suppose I’m not stupid. The trouble is, she’s in the same boat I am.”

“How do you mean?”

“She’s after someone who’s after someone else.”

Friday did not deign to answer but rose and busied herself pacing back and forth.

“He likes you, I’m sure,” Benjamin said, “He was eyeing me with particular animosity. And I think that you like him, too.”

“I don’t want to talk about it, Benjamin,” Friday replied quickly. He was taken aback. She softened her tone, “I’m sorry. I don’t like to talk about that.”

Benjamin prepared a riposte but was never allowed to fire it. The kitchen was presently entered in great confusion by two women in khaki followed by a whole horde of scholars with mouths open.

“If you please, gentlemen,” said a familiar voice.

The women turned around and both Benjamin and Friday quickly stood by each other, hoping to either convince each other of this vision’s reality or fiction. But they weren’t sure which it was. Raine Silverwind and Andis Hawkwing were standing in the kitchen of the Lion and the Unicorn Inn, brows furrowed and looking very much annoyed until they saw the two young people.

Raine saw them and her face smoothed into a smile. “Ah, Andis, the young lady herself. And Mr. Davis. How do you do, my friends?”

The two friends were still thunderstruck and said nothing.

“Excellent,” Raine replied.

“It shows wisdom to keep such good friends near,” said Andis with a serene look.

“I fully agree. To business, then. We have decided that we’d like to offer you the post of our assistant, Miss Friday Moore, should you like to take it.”

Had there been a seat behind her, Friday would have unceremoniously sunk into it, but at the unfortunate lack of one, she was forced to grab Benjamin’s arm with ferocity. Benjamin smiled widely and kissed her.

“I told you,” he cried.

Geoffrey and Anne walked to the kitchen’s back door just in time to see this enthusiastic gesture. His eyes locked with Friday. The pain returned, stronger this time. Friday put her hand to her heart.

“What on earth is all this,” Anne asked.

Raine looked around her. “Upon my word, this is the busiest kitchen of its size I ever heard of.”

“Will you accept the position, Miss Moore,” Andis asked.

“Yes,” she answered gravely, “Yes I will.”

Geoffrey turned immediately and walked out the kitchen door. Friday looked after him. Anne stared at Friday, realization passing slowly over her face until she, too, left the kitchen.

Raine walked forward and shook Friday’s hand robustly and then Andis did the same.

“Well chosen,” Andis said warmly, “We have much to do so we would wish you to come with us today, but we will not be leaving the city for a while so you have proper time to day goodbye to all your friends. We’ll return for you in two hours.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“It’ll be Andis from now on.”

“Let’s leave by the back door, shall we,” Raine suggested.

And then as quickly as they had come, they were gone again. The gawkers and onlookers shuffled out of the kitchen and there were only two left.

“You don’t seem happy,” Benjamin observed.

“I’ve spent my life here,” Friday said leaning against the wall with an ironic smile and tears in her eyes and a mind so full of contradicting things that she wished she could smother it. “There’s nothing to show for it. It’s a strange thing to feel, Benjamin.”

The air between them turned solemn.

#

The hours that wasted were so quiet that they almost stood still. Friday packed her few belongings, said goodbye to her nook and to Cook and to Mary. Mr. Hays shook her hand and Mrs. Hays gave her a distant embrace. Anne didn’t come down. Friday hadn’t expected her to. Benjamin stood with her outside until the Doctors came again to pick her up in a car. Then she embraced him too. Then a door was closed. The car moved away from just a building, not a home. Life went on without a hitch. It was a strange thing to feel.