Peacock's Walk Read Online Free PDF

trip—probably, she mused, through other business arrangements--but had taken the precaution of keeping the room free.
    Jenny found herself hoping that he would make the trip, because she was now sure that that was his intention. The correspondence she had had with him to date had shown him to be a kindly, elderly man, and one she was sure she would be able to work very happily with for some time to come. It would also, she told herself, help to settle some of Tony's qualms; he had still not got used to the idea of working for someone he hadn't met, and she suspected the rest of the staff felt the same way. Her thoughts brightened yet further at the prospect of the activity she was about to set in motion when she related the news of the coming guests. For the past week, working under the orders of Mr Hawter, no bookings had been accepted, and the inactivity of the staff had produced a certain amount of speculation as to their future, in spite of Jenny's assurances that all was well, and as Jenny had walked through the deserted dining room, and the large empty lounge, she too knew a sense of uncertainty and could well understand their feelings.
    On receipt of the news Jenny had to impart, the hotel became a hive of industry again. Rooms were
     
    spring cleaned by willing, happy staff, and a general air of being in business again pervaded the atmosphere.
    The ten days' notice that Jenny had at the time thought a little too long, and rather wished that only a few days' notice had been given of the coming bookings, flew by with a rapidity that amazed her. For not only the bedrooms received a thorough going over. The whole hotel came under the eagle eye of Dodie Hooney, and not a corner escaped her attention. The heavy velvet curtaining in the dining room and lounge, that might have done duty for another six months without cleaning, was taken down and replaced by new curtaining, the colour and texture being faithfully adhered to, for great care had always been taken to keep to the original old-world decor that so suited the dignified old building.
    On the day before the arrival of the guests, Jenny did a tour of inspection, more to please Mrs Hooney than to satisfy herself that all was in order, and duly complimented the staff on their efforts when the tour was satisfactorily completed.
    With a deep sense of satisfaction, she returned to her office and sat for a moment indulging in a little self-congratulatory musing. Peacock's Walk had come into its own again. The thought of Mark Chanter's reaction to the news that she had been successful, not only in her wish to keep the staff on, but had negotiated a sale resulting in an assured trade for the hotel, was an added bonus. The kind of business that he was so keen to promote, and was
     
    sure to bring Peacock's Walk back into the top bracket again, where it had once held pride of place. No doubt that whoever it was that had passed the previous information on to him would also pass on the current state of affairs, and Jenny was a little sorry that she would not be able to witness his fury as losing out. He had been so sure of himself during that last visit, and certain that she would have to turn back to him, to, as he had put it, 'get you out of the financial mess you've made of things'.
    Her happy musings were abruptly curtailed at this point by the arrival of the very man she had been thinking about. She was too surprised by his sudden appearance to notice that he had strolled into the office without giving the customary knock, but when the fact did sink in, she glared at him and remarked coldly, 'I don't remember you asking to see me,' and added for extra measure, 'I'm rather busy at the moment, so if you don't mind ...' She left the sentence unfinished, but she was sure he had got the message.
    Mark Chanter gave her a long considering look before he drawled, 'Yes, aren't you. I've just popped in to see that everything's in order.'
    Jenny stared at him, then stated baldly, 'I