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Post by Marie Legard on Oct 26, 2009 13:36:58 GMT -5
As soon as he’d lifted the ledger I’d begun to clean the counter, but his offer made me freeze.
“Truly?” I asked, almost afraid to believe he was really offering me what I so desperately wanted.
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Oct 26, 2009 20:32:44 GMT -5
"Truly," I repeated, smiling. "I was thinking I would hire you two days a week to clean the shop, plus once a month to clean out the storeroom and really get into the nooks and crannies of this place. I would pay you ten silver ducats an hour, and of course, you get an employee discount. In addition, any injury or harm sustained to you during your work is my responsibility." I smiled. "It's the least I could do for my future family. What do you think?"
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Post by Marie Legard on Oct 26, 2009 20:48:06 GMT -5
It was all I could do to keep from leaping across the counter and hugging him. “I accept,” I said, smiling wide. “Thank you so much.”
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Oct 26, 2009 20:53:32 GMT -5
"You're welcome," I said. "I'll expect you here at 5 sharp on Sundays and Wednesdays. If you have another commitment one day, I understand, but you should inform me in advance if you will be absent. Do you have any questions?"
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Post by Marie Legard on Oct 26, 2009 20:55:26 GMT -5
“No,” I said, shaking my head a little. “You’ve covered everything.” I smiled at him, wondering if he could have any idea how he’d just changed my life. “Thank you.”
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Oct 26, 2009 20:59:11 GMT -5
"You're welcome," I said. I looked at the counter and chuckled. "Weren't you in the middle of something?"
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Post by Marie Legard on Oct 26, 2009 21:48:53 GMT -5
“Oh yes,” I said, chuckling and returning to cleaning. I finished the counter and began to sweep the floor.
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Oct 27, 2009 22:49:19 GMT -5
I returned to my ledger. The time passed quickly and silently, and before long, I felt my stomach rumbling a little. I checked the clock: 6:15. "Marie," I asked. "Are you nearly done?"
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Post by Marie Legard on Oct 27, 2009 22:53:54 GMT -5
“I am,” I said as I stretched up to dust one last corner. “In fact, I’m all done.” I smiled at him and then took my tools back to the closet and put them away.
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Oct 27, 2009 23:12:24 GMT -5
"This place looks really good," I said when she came back out. "Thank you." I scratched the back of my head. "I hope it's not too presumptuous of me, but will you let me buy you dinner? As sort of a 'welcome to the business' thing."
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Post by Marie Legard on Oct 28, 2009 13:06:18 GMT -5
“Oh yes, thank you,” I said, then stopped and looked down at myself. “Though I don’t know that I’m dressed well enough to go out, and I’m a little dusty.”
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Oct 28, 2009 23:02:17 GMT -5
"It's all right," I said. "We'll go to Night's Doorstep, no one will care there."
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Post by Marie Legard on Oct 28, 2009 23:07:18 GMT -5
“Alright then, I happily accept,” I said, smiling.
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Oct 29, 2009 16:55:51 GMT -5
Closing the ledger, I put it in the lockbox. "Ready?" I asked.
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Post by Marie Legard on Oct 29, 2009 20:41:42 GMT -5
“Yes,” I answered, nodding as I continued to smile.
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Oct 29, 2009 20:43:40 GMT -5
I went to the door and opened it, allowing her to exit before I locked the shop. "It's not far," I said. "We can probably walk."
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Post by Marie Legard on Oct 29, 2009 21:06:24 GMT -5
“I’m used to walking nearly everywhere, so that suits fine,” I told him, smiling.
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Nov 1, 2009 17:58:48 GMT -5
"Good," I said, offering her my arm.
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Post by Marie Legard on Nov 1, 2009 18:01:13 GMT -5
I took his arm, smiling happily. "Do you go out to eat often? I asked.
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Nov 1, 2009 18:07:24 GMT -5
I shook my head. "Not really," I said. "Usually I go home and have dinner. But today is a special occasion."
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Post by Marie Legard on Nov 1, 2009 18:18:12 GMT -5
"Do you cook?" I asked curiously.
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Nov 1, 2009 18:23:51 GMT -5
"Sometimes," I said. "I have a small live-in staff at home; they know that if I'm not home by 5:30 I won't be eating there."
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Post by Marie Legard on Nov 1, 2009 22:28:01 GMT -5
“It odd for me staying at my brother’s fiancé’s house. I’m not used to having a staff, I keep having to stop myself from going in and starting a meal,” I said, chuckling.
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Nov 1, 2009 23:55:57 GMT -5
"Do you want to cook?" I asked. "I can't imagine my cousin Malabelle would forbid such a thing."
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Post by Marie Legard on Nov 2, 2009 0:05:50 GMT -5
“Oh, she hasn’t forbid it,” I said quickly, not wanting him to think Malabelle had done such a thing. “It’s just that she has very capable staff, I’d just be in the way.”
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Nov 2, 2009 0:07:58 GMT -5
"I'm sure you would not be," I said. "Neither would I imagine that Mala's chef wouldn't like a night off."
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Post by Marie Legard on Nov 2, 2009 0:17:51 GMT -5
I shook my head. “I couldn’t. I don’t want to impose on her kindness,” I said. “I’m sure the chance will arrive at some point.”
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Nov 2, 2009 0:20:35 GMT -5
I nodded. "I'm sure it will," I said. "You never know when opportunity will sneak up on you."
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Post by Marie Legard on Nov 2, 2009 15:35:30 GMT -5
“Very true,” I said with a grin. “I’ll be honest, it’s nice not being expected to do that sort of thing. For most of my life it’s been my responsibility to cook and clean for the house. It’s a pleasant change to not have to.”
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Aramis Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lord of House Shahrizai
Son of Bryant and Felice Shahrizai
Posts: 936
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Post by Aramis Shahrizai on Nov 3, 2009 22:22:00 GMT -5
I nodded. Often I forgot that most D'Anglines were not so lucky as I to have servants and staff. "That is good that you like the change," I said. "Was there no one to help you out? Your mother, another sibling?"
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