Usual disclaimers. but at least my husband has gone out leaving me in
peace!
***
Louis Lact often invited his mine manager Isaac Blanche to dine with him and he especially wished to discuss the plans to shore up the lower mine shaft more securely. Isaac looked forward to dinners at the house for it was a blessed relief from the dour fare available at the mine. He had heard rumours that there was a new maid who was a good cook. He glanced at her as she waited on the table, a quiet, small women with flame coloured hair and sad eyes. When she took the plates to the kitchen he leaned across to Louis and asked about her.
"Catherine?" he frowned. "Oh, she arrived with her husband just over a month ago but he was killed out with the trappers last week."
He suddenly understood the sadness in her eyes, his sympathies going to the woman.
"She is a good cook, although I hear Besoe has taken a shine to her..." Louis Lact always made sure he was aware what was happening in his household, and although he might suspect what had happened to Oran, he could not prove it. If Olivier Besoe was not so good at his job he would have sacked him a long time ago.
"Ah, but such a pretty woman will not remain widowed for long out here," Isaac smiled.
Louis laughed. "Too true!" He poured himself a large brandy before passing the bottle to Isaac.
***
When he left for the evening, Isaac made a point to seek her out and to thank her for the meal. "Ah Madame, I must thank you for a delightful meal this evening... it is always a pleasure to dine here and not at the mine..."
"You work at the mine Monsieur?"
She obviously had no idea who he was. "No Madame, I run the mine for Monsieur Lact. Isaac Blanche at your service..."
"I have heard the mines are dangerous Monsieur - is that so? I have never seen a mine... "
He saw her looking over his shoulder towards the doorway to the garden, her eyes hardening. Turning he saw Olivier Besoe standing insolently, leaning against the doorpost. He frowned, recognising an opponent when he saw one. "You have never seen a mine Madame? Perhaps you would like to visit the mine - I would be pleased to give you a tour..."
"I would be delighted to Monsieur..." She watched Olivier Besoe stomp off angrily. "Merci!"
"I will speak with Louis and arrange for one of my men to escort you." He leaned towards her, kissing her on the hand. "Until then, Madame."
Despite her sadness, Catherine could barely contain her excitement at the offer of a tour of the mine. It delighted her further that Olivier Besoe had seen the exchange - she hated the man and knew he had something to do with Oran's death... if only she could prove it.
***
She was surprised to hear from Cécile that Louis Lact wished to see her and quietly knocked on his office door. "Monsieur Lact?"
"Ah, Catherine! Come in, shut the door." He waited whilst she did as he asked. "I have had a request from the manager of my mine, Isaac Blanche, to show you around the mine. Does this please you?"
"I would be greatly interested to see how the mine works Monsieur."
He nodded. "I have spoken with Cécile and arranged that you may go tomorrow after breakfast."
"Thank you Monsieur."
"That will be all... close the door as you leave."
Catherine curtsied and left, excitement bubbling within her. Tomorrow... tomorrow...
***
Louis Lact often invited his mine manager Isaac Blanche to dine with him and he especially wished to discuss the plans to shore up the lower mine shaft more securely. Isaac looked forward to dinners at the house for it was a blessed relief from the dour fare available at the mine. He had heard rumours that there was a new maid who was a good cook. He glanced at her as she waited on the table, a quiet, small women with flame coloured hair and sad eyes. When she took the plates to the kitchen he leaned across to Louis and asked about her.
"Catherine?" he frowned. "Oh, she arrived with her husband just over a month ago but he was killed out with the trappers last week."
He suddenly understood the sadness in her eyes, his sympathies going to the woman.
"She is a good cook, although I hear Besoe has taken a shine to her..." Louis Lact always made sure he was aware what was happening in his household, and although he might suspect what had happened to Oran, he could not prove it. If Olivier Besoe was not so good at his job he would have sacked him a long time ago.
"Ah, but such a pretty woman will not remain widowed for long out here," Isaac smiled.
Louis laughed. "Too true!" He poured himself a large brandy before passing the bottle to Isaac.
***
When he left for the evening, Isaac made a point to seek her out and to thank her for the meal. "Ah Madame, I must thank you for a delightful meal this evening... it is always a pleasure to dine here and not at the mine..."
"You work at the mine Monsieur?"
She obviously had no idea who he was. "No Madame, I run the mine for Monsieur Lact. Isaac Blanche at your service..."
"I have heard the mines are dangerous Monsieur - is that so? I have never seen a mine... "
He saw her looking over his shoulder towards the doorway to the garden, her eyes hardening. Turning he saw Olivier Besoe standing insolently, leaning against the doorpost. He frowned, recognising an opponent when he saw one. "You have never seen a mine Madame? Perhaps you would like to visit the mine - I would be pleased to give you a tour..."
"I would be delighted to Monsieur..." She watched Olivier Besoe stomp off angrily. "Merci!"
"I will speak with Louis and arrange for one of my men to escort you." He leaned towards her, kissing her on the hand. "Until then, Madame."
Despite her sadness, Catherine could barely contain her excitement at the offer of a tour of the mine. It delighted her further that Olivier Besoe had seen the exchange - she hated the man and knew he had something to do with Oran's death... if only she could prove it.
***
She was surprised to hear from Cécile that Louis Lact wished to see her and quietly knocked on his office door. "Monsieur Lact?"
"Ah, Catherine! Come in, shut the door." He waited whilst she did as he asked. "I have had a request from the manager of my mine, Isaac Blanche, to show you around the mine. Does this please you?"
"I would be greatly interested to see how the mine works Monsieur."
He nodded. "I have spoken with Cécile and arranged that you may go tomorrow after breakfast."
"Thank you Monsieur."
"That will be all... close the door as you leave."
Catherine curtsied and left, excitement bubbling within her. Tomorrow... tomorrow...