Lies We Tell

Lies We Tell, Chapter 2

Beverly waited as the driver left her seat behind the wheel and strode around the car to let her out. Not only was it nice to be treated with respect, her aging bones appreciated the assistance out of the car. “Thank you, Miss Rickard.”

“You’re welcome, Mrs. Vaughan.” The young woman smiled. “I see Miss Donovan is eager to hear your report.”

Beverly looked over Quinn Rickard’s shoulder to see their employer waiting on the mansion’s front steps. “So it would seem.”

Bree smiled slightly and came down the steps to the car. “Thank you for bringing her back safely, Miss Rickard. Mrs. Vaughan, may I help you in?”

Once Beverly was seated in the library, Bree sat across from her. “Well, what did you think?”

“I think she would be a good fit here. She’s worked hard, is well educated and comes highly recommended by her last two employers, both of which were long-term postings. The agency tells me there are no scandals in her past. She seems to have focused on her career goals from a young age. Driven, athletic, energetic, polite, a little younger than yourself. She seems to have been touched by sadness but doesn’t let it overwhelm her. She has a lovely smile.” 

“Now, Beverly, we aren’t looking for a companion for me…”

“No, Miss, but a little eye-candy never hurt either.” Mrs. Vaughan gave a chuckle and continued. “We won’t have any issues with a boyfriend either, if you catch my meaning.”

“So you mentioned…”

“Your status as a widow? I wanted to see how she responded to delicate wording. She said that if inquiries were made into her past, we would find her gender preferences would match your own.”

Bree laughed. “Is that how she worded it? Crafty!” 

“Indeed, Miss. She’s a sharp one.” Mrs. Vaughan smiled and nodded. “She asked if I had spoken to anyone else about the position, so she knows I’m not comfortable recommending just anyone. She seemed satisfied with the salary, living arrangements and so forth. I stressed your preference for privacy and discretion and she took it all in stride.”

“Did you show her that damned photo you insisted we take?”

“Aye. She didn’t have any reaction, other than to remark on your beauty.”

Bree made a face.

“Now, Miss,” Beverly held up a hand to forestall the argument she knew was coming.

“I dinna get the impression that she felt anything other than a wee bit of sadness that you lock yourself away. She had already done a bit of her own research into you. She knew you have a reputation as a recluse. I’m guessing you’ve already checked into her background?”

“I have.” Bree nodded. “On paper, she seems an excellent candidate.” Bree rose and studied the view outside the library window. “Would you trust her, Beverly? If the choice were yours, would you hire her?”

“I would.” Mrs. Vaughan pushed on the arm of the dark leather sofa so she could join her employer at the window. “But meet with her yourself. Have a chat with her and see what your instincts tell you.”

They stood quietly at the window until Bree finally nodded and turned to her friend and head housekeeper. “All right then. Set up a meeting with Miss Elliot. Have her come out to the estate and I’ll see what my gut says.”

***

Two days later, Honour pulled her Mustang up to the gate of Bree Donovan’s mansion. She took a deep breath and rested her hands on the wheel. She was confident that her meeting with Beverly had gone well, otherwise, she would not have been summoned here for a second interview. But it was hard to squelch the butterflies that were beginning to flutter in her stomach.

Of course, the dragon that was staring at her wasn’t helping.

Made of chain mail and sculpted as it was, the beast looked as if it could spring to life with a lightning bolt. The head was turned to intimidate visitors, with its sharp teeth bared and wings spread. 

Honour took another deep breath, leaned out her window and pushed the intercom button. “Honour Elliot to see Bree Donovan.”

There was no reply, but a humming sound and a click came from the gate and the whole thing swung inward.

Honour put the car into gear and rolled slowly forward.

The crushed stone drive was lined with tall, leafy trees and at the end of it, a massive fieldstone house dominated the view, solid and commanding on a perfectly trimmed front lawn. Honour parked the car off to the side and made her way up the stone steps to the heavy wooden door. Just as she lifted her hand, it swung open.

“Miss Elliot, a pleasure to see you again.”

“Mrs. Vaughan.” Honour smiled and inclined her head slightly.

“You’re a few minutes early, that’s good. Come in, come in!” Beverly moved aside and Honour stepped across the threshold. 

The foyer resembled white marble, with large panels of exotic-looking wood beneath. They stepped along a caramel-coloured wood floor, polished to a high shine. On either side of the foyer, two wooden staircases curved up and away to the floor above, flanked by balusters displaying dragons similar to the one on the front. Mrs. Vaughan cleared her throat. “Follow me, please.”

She stepped silently a few feet into the opulence and then down two steps. A few steps more and she turned to her left. She knocked on a wooden door and went fully into another room.

Honour waited in the hallway.

“Miss Elliot is here to see you, Ma’am.”

“Punctual, I see. Good. Send her in please, Mrs. Vaughan.”

The white-haired woman came back out and beckoned Honour forward. 

She followed her into a library rich with dark wood, heavy burgundy draperies and a large fireplace. Beverly indicated the chocolate-colored leather sofas, turned and left the room, closing the door behind her.

Honour had it in her mind to sit until she remembered that she was not alone in the room. She pivoted to her left and came face to face with Bree Donovan.

“Welcome, Miss Elliot. Please, have a seat.”

“Thank you.” Honour sank into the leather and watched the other woman do the same. She was a little taller than Honour, slim without being skinny, in a dark grey pinstriped suit with a turquoise blue buttondown shirt. She was even more attractive in person than the photo had hinted at. The unscarred side of her face was clear and smooth-skinned, and her high cheekbones hinted at Gaelic ancestry. Honour studied the scars, knowing that if she were in Bree’s position, she would expect it. The skin on the right side of Bree’s face was only slightly reddened, but caught in a perpetual whirl of taut disfigurement. What Honour was captivated by though, were Bree’s eyes.

Her eyes were a pale blue, nearly the shade of arctic ice. They were bright, alert, and studied Honour carefully.

 “Mrs. Vaughan tells me you’re a coffee drinker. I asked her to bring some in. Please, help yourself.” Bree gestured to the tray on the low table between them.

Honour blinked, tearing herself away from Bree’s gaze with some difficulty. “Thank you. May I pour some for you as well?”

“Thank you. Just a little cream, please.”

“This is a wonderful room,” Honour commented as she fixed Bree’s coffee first. “Very inviting.”

“Thank you. I find it quite soothing.” Bree accepted the cup from Honour, then leaned back and crossed her legs. “Do you like to read, Miss Elliot?”

“I do.” Honour poured her own coffee and settled back without adding anything else to the cup. 

“And what do you like reading?”

“When I want to be entertained, I read fiction. But more often, I want to learn something. The most recent book was on man’s desire to escape development and seek out nature for its healing properties.”

“And what did you think of it?”

Honour recognized the question not as an idle curiosity or small talk, but as a way to deduce how Honour read. “It was well-written, thoughtful. By the end, I almost wanted a cabin off in the woods somewhere. Do you get the opportunity to read much, Miss Donovan?”

“When I can, I prefer non-fiction. Biographies, historical adventure, that sort of thing.”

Honour nodded and made a pivotal decision.

“Let’s cut right to it, Miss Donovan. I can appreciate that Mrs. Vaughan wanted to see if I was worthy of the position, and I understand you place a great deal of trust in her. My resume and references speak for themselves. I expect you’ve already looked into my schooling and past employment. That tells me that I’m here for a different reason.”

Bree chuckled. “Very astute, Miss Elliot. Mrs. Vaughan tells me that the picture of my scars didn’t seem to bother you. What do you think of them up close?” Bree turned her head slightly so that Honour could see them better.

Honour suspected Bree had worn her chestnut brown hair back in a ponytail so that her scars were unobstructed. She studied them again, noticing that for the most part they seemed healed. “I think they must cause you great discomfort. It must have been a horrible experience.”

Bree turned to look at Honour again. “Not one I would repeat.”

“I must admit, Mrs. Vaughan is pretty cunning.” Honour allowed the ghost of a smile to show.

“Oh?”

“She tried to throw me off a couple of times when we met, I assume to assess my strength of character.”

“Mrs. Vaughan can be both blunt and canny. It is sometimes an interesting combination.”

“Miss Elliot, I feel safe in speculating she told you that neither your sexuality nor your scars bothered me.”

“She did, and since we’re being honest, I admit her report only intrigued me. She was impressed by your steadiness. I wanted to meet you myself.” Bree stopped and drank from her cup.

Honour set her cup on the table, crossed one leg over the other and spoke up. “Mrs. Vaughan gave me a brief sketch of the position. What details can you share with me?”

***

“As she might have mentioned, I am looking for someone to fill two positions. Both personal secretary and estate manager. Mrs. Vaughan has tried her best to do everything she could for me, but my business is outgrowing what she can handle. The hours may be erratic and unregulated. Would this be a problem for you?” Bree watched Honour’s expression and posture carefully.

“No, Ma’am. I’m used to it.” Honour answered without blinking.

“And you’re aware that I may ask you sometimes to fill in for my chef on her days off?” Bree’s voice was on the lower side, but melodic.

“Mrs. Vaughan did mention that, yes.”

“And did she tell you that I have limited skills in the kitchen? That my staff is afraid to let me cook for fear I’ll burn the mansion down?”

Honour smiled. “She did mention that she wanted you to be able to eat more than eggs and toast.”

Bree Donovan laughed musically. “There’s that bluntness.” She knew full well how her staff felt about letting their employer in the kitchen.

“She also mentioned I would be living here on the estate.”

Bree nodded. “I believe that it would be best, given the unpredictable hours and the fact I’m asking you to do two jobs. You would be living here, in the mansion.” She lowered her head just a fraction and watched Honour. “Would this be a problem for you?”

“No, Ma’am. I lived in residence at my last posting as well.” Honour hadn’t twitched so Bree continued.

“I’m sure you’ve heard that I value my privacy, and naturally that would extend to you as well. I will try to respect your space and days off. Your resume says you are athletic?”

“I enjoy running and swimming when I can.”

Bree had a flash of a lithe woman striding along the road with the sun rising behind her, and she had to force her focus back to the woman sitting in front of her. “Then you’ll be pleased to learn that I have a fully equipped gym and full-sized pool. You would be free to use them when our schedules allow. You may have noticed the road out front is fairly private, you would be able to run unbothered by traffic there, or explore the acreage. You would also be welcome to read any of the books here,” Bree gestured. “While I do much of my work in this room, I do have an office in the city, at company headquarters. Staff knows that as long as this door is not shut, they are welcome.” Bree was suddenly compelled to take the bull by the horns and be done with the niceties.

“Miss Elliot, you’ll pardon me if I’m direct, but let’s stop dancing. You want this job, yes?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“And nothing about what you’ve been told bothers you?”

“No, Ma’am.”

“I see. You’ve heard the rumours about me?”

Honour leaned forward. “You have a reputation as an intelligent, driven businesswoman. One who has made enemies, obviously, but I’ve also heard that you inspire loyalty and dedication. Mrs. Vaughan is not to be underestimated, and I don’t think you are either.”

“I am not an easy person to work for, or with, Miss Elliot,” Bree warned. She wanted to lay it all out and see what Honour did. 

“I’m not looking for an easy job, Ma’am,” Honour answered promptly. “I recognize you must not trust easily…”

“You presume to know me already?” Bree felt a flash of irritation at the young woman’s audacity. She strode to the window and turned her back on the woman.

“Sometimes it’s difficult to open ourselves up to new experiences and allow others in. Mistrust is no stranger to me. We convince ourselves we’ll be lied to and hurt, that we’re safer to keep people at arms-length. If we don’t let others in, we don’t have to trust, because we’re safer that way…” her voice trailed away.

Bree turned slowly to look at Honour, but the young woman’s gaze was on the cup in her hand. The executive felt her irritation slip away, replaced by curiosity. She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back against the windowsill. She watched Honour for a minute in complete silence before the young woman looked up. There was no good reason why Honour Elliot would not be a good fit on her staff. At the very least, there was a non-disclosure contract, and Bree knew that Mrs. Vaughan would keep an eye out.

“Where have you been staying since your last posting, Miss Elliot?”

“At a hotel in Toronto.”

“I see.” Bree left the window and reclaimed her spot on the sofa opposite Honour.

“How soon would you expect this job to start if I decide to give you the position?”

“How soon do you need me, Ma’am?”

Bree smiled at the lack of hesitation in the other woman.

Honour spoke again, “So, Miss Donovan, one more question if I might?”

Bree inclined her head.

“Did I pass the test, then?”

“Test, Miss Elliot?” Bree had to work hard to suppress another smile and feign innocence. Beverly hadn’t exaggerated, this was a sharp one!

“Clearly, you’ve already done the fact-checking. You sent Mrs. Vaughan to get a read on me, and I’m guessing I must have passed her test, otherwise I would not be sitting here today. So you must have wanted to get your own impressions of me. What does your gut tell you?”

Bree laughed out loud, unable and unwilling to remain stoic any longer. “My gut tells me that you are a unique individual, Miss Elliot. Not easily swayed by back-room gossips. Staunch and hard-working by all accounts, and clearly not afraid of me as so many are.”

“Thank you.” Honour smiled and turned pink.

“You aren’t worried about sharing a home with someone my competitors call The Beast?” Bree asked.

Honour raised one eyebrow and replied, “It’s your competitors that should be worried, Ma’am. From what I hear, you have loyal staff that are not above committing physical violence to stay in your employ.”

“Indeed.” Bree let her hands rest on her thighs as she studied Honour for a few heartbeats more. “Would you like to join my staff as my estate manager and personal secretary, Miss Elliot?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

Bree smiled. “Then welcome to DragonsLair!”