A New Beginning Read Online Free PDF

asked.
    “A scant half mile, sir.”
    He scowled. “And do you expect to walk this distance several times a day? How much time do you suppose that deducts from your work, Miss Caldwell?”
    She opened and closed her mouth a few times. “I hadn’t considered that, sir.”
    Adam pursed his lips. She seemed genuinely upset, as though he’d just taken away something that meant a great deal to her. He knew that as her employer, he needed to be firm, but he couldn’t bring himself to be harsh. He wasn’t that sort of man, and he couldn’t imagine anyone being unkind to a woman like this. “You may ride my horse to and from your house, Miss Caldwell, but you are expected to be here when we need you. You’re not to leave during mealtimes or when we’re preparing the rooms for new guests. You’re to be punctual, attend every staff meeting, and fulfill all your duties with exactness. In addition, you are to stay an hour later each night to make up for the time lost. Is that acceptable?”
    She took a sharp breath, and he saw her shoulders relax. “It’s more than acceptable, Mr. Brody. I am so grateful for your understanding, and for the loan of your horse. It’s more than I’d hoped for.”
    “I can’t say I do understand. All I know is that you’re my only maid thus far, and until I find someone to replace you, you’re the best I have. I encourage you not to make me regret this.” He was already regretting it. What sort of example was he setting? What sorts of exceptions would his other employees expect—should he ever get any other employees?
    Caroline entered then, carrying some boxes. Adam took them from her and thrust them into Miss Caldwell’s arms. “Start emptying the cupboards, and lay everything out in the yard. Don’t bother to separate the trash from the treasures—we’ll do that once we have a clean place to put what we decide to keep.”
    Miss Caldwell nodded a few times and got to work. Adam took Caroline by the elbow and led her into the parlor, where he told her about the odd arrangement he’d just made.
    Caroline looked at him as though he’d lost his mind. “You agreed to this?”
    “I did.”
    She put her hands on her hips. “Have you lost your senses? She hasn’t even worked here five minutes, and already she’s expecting concessions? Adam, you’re a kind man, but this is no way to run a business, and certainly no way to start a relationship with a new employee. Soon she’ll be requesting days off to go hat shopping and berry picking and who knows what else.”
    Adam smiled, hearing her verbalize every thought he’d just had. However, he couldn’t ignore the need he’d seen on her face. This was important to Miss Caldwell, and it wasn’t in him to deliberately refuse help to someone who had come to him for it. “I’ll take care,” he said at last. “I promise, Aunt Caroline, I will be an effective employer.”
    She exhaled sharply. “I have the strongest desire to grab you by your necktie and shake some sense into you. The only thing keeping me from it is the knowledge that it would do me no good whatsoever—and that you’re not wearing your necktie right now.”
    Adam grinned. “But you still love me, don’t you, Auntie?”
    She gave his shoulder a swat. “So help me, yes, I do. But mind yourself, Adam. We don’t know this girl. We only have her word that she has an invalid mother—she could be pulling the wool over your eyes and you’ll end up with nothing but an itchy face.”
    “I promise,” Adam said again. He walked out into the kitchen to see what progress had been made. Just in those few minutes, Miss Caldwell had already emptied five cupboards and was working on her sixth.
    “I’ve found quite a collection of dishes, but sadly, most of them are broken, Mr. Brody,” she said over her shoulder. “It appears that someone came into the house, destroyed many of the kitchen things, and left them here to be found.”
    “That’s exactly what happened,