Digging wealth

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

The doorman held the revolving doors for her and she smiled her thanks. Once inside, the opulence caused her self-confidence to waver, but she gripped her bag tightly and walked down the carpeted stairs. She had very little idea of the layout of the building. The first time she had come it had been such a humiliating experience that she'd tried to forget it.

She stopped at the first of many cosmetic counters and looked over the array of bottles and jars, picked up one labelled 'Mercurizing Wax'.

'Can I help you?' the assistant asked politely. She put down the jar. 'No, thank you, I was just looking.' She turned and crossed the floor and caught sight of the

lift. The attendant was a girl about her own age, dressed in a tartan kilt, a white blouse with ruffles at the neck, and a short black velvet jacket. There were other people in the lift, most of them women. Daleyza stepped inside.

'Which floor please?"

'Oh, which floor are dresses, please?"

Inexpensive Gowns are on the third floor to the left, Exclusive Gowns are to the right.'

She stood in silence as the lift ascended. It looked as though all the passengers were going to the third floor, she thought, and they were all much better dressed than she.

As she stepped out she looked around, confused and nervous. Who should she ask for? Who in fact should she ask? She began to feel more and more apprehensive. Should she go back and ask the lift attendant?

'It's Miss O'Donnell, isn't it?' She spun round. 'Oh, yes!' she stammered. It was the gentleman who always sat in the corner.

'Are you shopping or meeting someone?" 'Er, no... do you work here?"

'Yes.'

'Oh, I wonder could you help me then? Who do I ask

for... for a position here?"

What as? We have a restaurant on the top floor and a coffee lounge on the second floor.' No! No, I would like to work here. She gestured towards the rows of dresses hanging on racks.

'Oh, I see.'

I've always wanted to work somewhere like this. I have tried before. She opened her bag and brought out Mrs O'Leary's letter, now rather creased and dog-eared, and handed it to him.

He read it carefully. 'I was about to go for tea, but perhaps I will have it here instead. Will you join me?"

She was at a loss for words. She didn't like to refuse the invitation, yet all she wanted was to speak to someone in the department. She wanted a job, not afternoon tea. But she nodded.

We'll walk, it's often quicker than the lift.'

She followed him as they crossed the floor and descended a wide flight of stairs. He seemed far more confident in these surroundings, she thought. He nodded and exchanged a few words with other members of staff who passed by. At the bottom of the stairs was a large, circular area cordoned off from the staircase and furnished with small tables and fragile-looking chairs. Potted shrubs were tastefully arranged around the room and in one corner a small orchestra played soft chamber music. As he guided her towards a table, Daleyza wondered why he came to Craig's when this was so much more luxurious.

When the waitress arrived, in a brown dress and cream cap and apron he ordered two cream teas.

"Thank you, Mr Duncan, Sir,' the girl replied.

'Is she a friend of yours?' she ventured.

'No. I have a confession to make to you. I overheard you yesterday asking about a vacancy here.' She blushed and looked away. If he'd heard that then

he must have heard the reply.

'It wasn't very kind of them, was it, to suggest the Packing Department, but I'm afraid those three are not particularly nice girls.'

'I don't suppose they meant to be nasty."

The teas arrived. A bone-china teapot, china cups with gold rims and the letters C & L intertwined in gold around the rims and a plate of scones, with fresh cream and jam in silver pots, were all placed deftly on the table.

'Don't you like working for Mrs Craig?' He asked, pouring the tea and studying her. Of course, he didn't know her that well, but she seemed a quiet, sincere girl and one of the few with whom he felt at ease. He'd heard her ask about a job and heard the reply and he'd felt sorry for her. She didn't deserve such treatment. Those three were the epitome of everything he disliked about most women. By nature he was quiet and rather retiring and he'd always shied away from anything violent, coarse or crude. Many of the girls he'd come in contact with fell into the latter categories. Their forward behaviour, the sly innuendoes, their malicious tongues filled him with repugnance and the fear that such characteristics would be used against him. Miss O'Donnell was different. He realized that she was speaking.

'I do like working for Mrs Craig, but I've already told you why I want to leave and, after all, I do know quite a lot about clothing, the sewing and making-up, things like that.'

He made up his mind. 'I don't usually do this sort of thing, Miss O'Donnell, but I have watched you work and with your honesty and that reference, I'll do my best for you. Business is always brisk at this time of year. Would you like to wait and finish your tea?'

She stared hard at him. Who was he? 'May I ask your name?'

'Ian Duncan and I'm a Departmental Manager, here. Actually I'm the Head of Department for Gentlemen's Outfitting.'

Oh, surely someone in Heaven was watching over her today, she thought as she watched him walk away. If he couldn't get her a job here then no one could! He had overheard her and he had probably deliberately given her that florin to test her. The reason why he nearly always sat alone became clear. Someone in his position wouldn't mix with ordinary sales assistants. She drank the tea without tasting it and the scones remained untouched.