Eli released the breath he held. “Then it’s settled. When can you start?”
“Anytime at all. Will today be all right?” Her smile lit up the room and for some ridiculous reason, made him happy.
“Absolutely. Why don’t you go on home and rest a bit. Come back here around five o’clock, and I’ll help you get started.” He almost laughed at the excitement he felt. Like a young boy who’d just been given a present.
Sylvia grabbed her reticule and gloves and sprang from her chair, tea and cookies forgotten. “Thank you so much, Mr. Benson. I know you won’t be disappointed.”
He took both her hands in his. “Please, since we work together, you must call me Eli.”
“And you may call me Sylvia.” She looked as if she would hug him, but then turned and hurried to the door, a much livelier step than when she’d entered.
Eli’s gaze followed her as she walked away, her dress swaying. It had been a long time since a woman had affected him that way. Shifting to relieve the growing tightness in the crotch of his pants, he grinned, thinking about the Widow Hardwick’s hips swaying back and forth around his restaurant. He couldn’t wait until five o’clock.
Chapter 16
Sylvia opened the front door, and spotting Angel standing at the sink, peeling vegetables, rushed into the kitchen.
“Angelina, you’ll never guess what I just did.” She panted from excitement.
Angel bit her lips in fear at whatever new adventure her stepmother had involved herself in. She dried her hands on a towel, and smiled at her. “No, I probably couldn’t guess, but from the look on your face, I think it’s something you’re very excited about.”
“I got a job!” She burst out before Angel could say any more.
“A job?” Angel dropped to a chair, her mouth agape. “Where, I mean, what are you . . . do you mean work?”
“Yes. I am the new hostess at the Golden Buck restaurant in Oregon City.”
“Eli Benson’s restaurant?” Angel’s eyes widened.
“That’s right. Mr. Benson himself just hired me.”
Nate had taken Angel there a few times when they managed to escape from the children. A nice, clean place, serving fairly good food. But it seemed to be much too small for a hostess. “I didn’t know you were interested in working.”
Sylvia sat and took Angel’s hand. “I’m immensely grateful, truly I am, for Nathan allowing me to stay here. But I need money of my own. You understand, don’t you? Even you have your own money from tutoring.”
Angel’s face softened. “Yes, I do understand, and actually I’m impressed that you looked for a position.” She hugged her. “And I’m proud of you, too.”
“I think I’ll lie down now. Eli—I mean Mr. Benson—told me to rest before I come to work. If I fall asleep, please wake me at four.” Head held high, with a new sense of pride, she sailed from the room.
Lucy climbed the worn stairs of the office building next to the barbershop, and proceeded down the hallway. She opened the door of Moses McNeil, Investigations, holding the note her maid had given her this morning. A runner had brought it, instructing her to pay a visit to t
he investigator. She’d had to cancel an appointment with the dressmaker, but if this meeting gave her the information she hoped for, it would be worth rescheduling. But she would have to impress upon the man that she employed him, not the other way around. Lucy Benson did not cancel dressmaker appointments at someone else’s whim.
The disgusting man sat at his desk, with the obnoxious cigar smoldering next to him. He looked up as she entered, and waved to the chair in front of him.
Lucy shivered, hoping this would be the last visit to this man. She held herself stiffly on the edge of the chair. “Mr. McNeil, I received word that you wished to speak with me.”
“I have information for you, but my investigation is not complete.”
She didn’t comment, but continued to stare at him, lips pressed together.
“You said this woman,” glancing at his notes, he continued, “Angel Hale, is wanted by the law. Is that right?”
She narrowed her eyes. “I said she may be. I don’t know for sure, because I know nothing about her. That is what I am paying you to find out.” Lucy ended petulantly.
Moses looked at his notes again. “Apparently your Mrs. Hale is related to someone who is also being investigated, and possibly wanted by the law.”
Lucy straightened, her eyes wide. “Who is being investigated?”