Chapter 3 HIS RIGHT-HAND WOMAN

Emeera finally slept after midnight, having spent the previous hours tossing in bed, wondering how she would cope with the man that was just a glass door away. Around six o'clock the next morning, a knock on her door woke up. It was Mrs. Fletcher with a long menu. "Good morning Ms. Charles."

"Please just call me Emeera," Emeera said and sat up.

"Very well then. Good morning Emeera. I am here for the week's menu."

"I don't understand why I'm to decide this when you are the head maid."

"You run the manor now. Everything has to meet your approval as you represent his Grace."

"How do I speak for a man I barely know? You have known this man his whole life, yet I'm expected to speak to you on his behalf? Definitely, you are better than me in this."

Mrs. Fletcher smiled for the first time. "I could help you if you wish."

"By all means, please," Emeera answered as she covered herself more properly in her night dress.

"First, his Grace is allergic to shellfish and dairy. So nobody eats shellfish in the manor," Mrs. Fletcher said while making herself comfortable in the couch. It seems the plea for help made her think she was allowed a seat.

"Why does his own dietary restrictions have to affect everyone else?"

"Maybe because he is Alfred, the Duke of Savoy and master of the manor. Actually, dairy products can be eaten by anyone as long as his Grace does not taste it. I shall leave this with you so you approve the menu Ms. Charles."

"Please just call me Emeera."

"Alright Emeera. I'll come back for the menu and the shopping money. Isabel, the new maid will do the shopping this afternoon."

"Money? Which money?"

"As the manor manager, his Grace keeps you in charge of everything including financial administration. You get money from the accountant every week and keep a record of funds disbursement. You are even in charge of payrolls. You have to set up a meeting with his Grace's accountant. All the phone numbers you need are on your dresser. I thought you saw that. Also, you have a private briefing with the Duke every other day. Your first is this morning. The next one is for Thursday, if he is home. Briefing is usually in the evening but he is traveling this evening so you have to meet him in some minutes." Mrs. Fletcher was speaking too fast that Emeera could not keep up but she knew she had to meet the Duke in his home office in twenty minutes. The moment Mrs. Fletcher went out, Emeera ran to shower. She had called Nancy previous night and asked her to bring suitcases of Emeera's clothes but Nancy was yet to arrive. Emeera covered her hair with one of the white towels embroidered A.D.S. As she went into the bedroom, there was a soft knock on the door. Her heart racing as thoughts of the Duke flashed through, she opened to find a beautiful girl in a maid's uniform.

"Who are you?"

"Lucille, your chambermaid," the girl said.

"My room is cleaned already," Emeera said.

"Yes I did that before you moved in. I'm here to remove the towels if that is alright by you." Emeera said it was and stood aside for the girl to pass. She still marveled at how they treated her like the lady of the manor. Lucille worked swiftly and in minutes she was gone. Emeera went to the dresser and found a hairbrush. Same initials were on the white brushes. She guessed it meant Alfred, Duke of Savoy.

After her quick hair brushing, she took the map of the property and found her way to the Duke's office on the first floor. Two knocks and the butler opened.

"Good morning ma'am."

"Good morning Luis. I am here to see his Grace."

"Come this way please," Luis said and took her through an anteroom with beautiful couches and elegant wallpaper. The couches and armchairs were all different shades of purple and lilac. The cream floor matched the wallpaper. The butler knocked on a wooden door on the right and entered before ushering Emeera in. She entered to see the Duke seated, scribbling a letter at his desk. Without looking up, he murmured in response to her greetings and waved her to a seat. She looked around the room. The chandelier looked like it could pay her five years rent. Like his bedroom, the office was kept dark. The only source of light being the table lamp and another lamp in a corner. There were two bookshelves that displayed some of her favourite authors' works. She quietly went up to the shelves and opened a copy of Pride and Prejudice. She was at the first page, only to hear the duke read "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." Emeera turned around, surprised. This was the third time the man had crept up on her. Was she deaf or was he just very quiet? She wondered as she shut the book and returned it to its position.

"The best part of that line was how some people of Jane Austen's time did not even realize she was being sarcastic."

"You speak sarcastically too. I daresay you don't believe in marriage or is it remarriage?"

"Let's just say I have no intention of getting a wife," he said and went back to his seat at the desk. Emeera sat in hers. His wife's death must have really traumatized him, she thought. It felt uncomfortable that she got to sleep in the woman's rooms.

"When you pass, who inherits this estate?" she asked after a moment of silence.

"I have a younger brother," he said as he signed a document. Then he turned to her. "You know you must see me every other day, right? I am travelling today but once I get back, we will be having these regular meetings."

"Alright."

"You can leave as there's nothing to discuss yet. The accountant is surely waiting for you in the dining. Ask him to give you some money for your personal shopping too. I don't want my manager to make a habit of repeating worn clothes," he said. Under her breath, Emeera cursed Nancy for not bringing her clothes on time which had caused her to wear the same thing.