Then he realised best thing he could do to help himself was to complete the tasks she’d set him and to do the work so conscientiously she would have no cause for complaint.
He polished the brass stair roads until they gleamed. He made the bath shine. He found the vacuum cleaner had good suction and he went over each carpet twice. He rubbed in furniture polish so that everything had a clean lavender smell.
He didn’t dare break off to have something to eat because she would probably disapprove if he took anything from the fridge. Richard was cross with himself when he had to go to the bathroom because he had to clean it all over again in case there was the slightest stain visible. He scoured under the rim for ages fearing there might be a mark and under the water line in the bowl, applyin
