In Need of a Wife

‘I will not work with either unpleasant or eccentric people. They are the two types of people I cannot abide.’

Sasha couldn’t help smiling at the whimsy of this speech. Hester Wingate appeared to be both.

‘Good teeth,’ Hester said with satisfaction. ‘My dear, you have passed all the tests so far. You have the job.’

‘Thank you.’ Sasha had nothing else to say. She didn’t know if she had just been approved of as a suitable wife for Nathan Parnell, or as a suitable person to be in Hester Wingate’s employ.

‘Do sit down and make yourself comfortable, dear.’ It was another autocratic command. ‘Nathan, set the baby down just inside the door so we’ll hear her when she wakes. Jane will bring morning tea in a few minutes.’

Sasha eyed Nathan with dark suspicion. He must have told Hester Wingate about his intention to enter a marriage of convenience and that Sasha was his selected candidate for the position of his wife. This job was almost certainly bogus, a means of persuading her that supplying solutions to needs was better than a love match.

His response to her look was to spread his hands in a gesture of innocence, and roll his eyes to suggest Hester was beyond his control.

Sasha didn’t believe that for a second, but there was no profit in walking out in high dudgeon. Better to bite her tongue and sit this out. She could decide later what she was going to do.

Hester took the chair at the head of the table. When they were all settled, she reached over and patted Sasha’s hand. ‘I hope you don’t mind, my dear, but at my age I don’t have time for social chit-chat. Get on with the job. That’s what I say. I take it you agree.’

‘Definitely,’ Sasha agreed with mixed feelings.

‘When we start I’ll take you to the history room. I’ve collected all the family bibles. All have been tampered with.’ Hester paused for effect. ‘It’s a sad day when it’s no longer possible to believe in the dates entered in a bible.’

‘What do you want me to do about it?’ Sasha asked.

‘Find out the truth. Dig up the dirt. Nail everybody that can be nailed.’

‘Is that all you want?’ With a list of names and dates, it was an easy matter to check them. There wouldn’t be many hours involved.

The old lady eyed her warily. ‘I hope you’re not suffering from false confidence, my dear. You are dealing with some of the world’s greatest scoundrels.’

Sasha found that easy to believe. They weren’t all dead, either. One of them could very well be sitting opposite her. However, she adopted a professional air and spelled out her credentials for the job.

‘I assure you, Mrs Wingate, it is quite straightforward. I’ve done this many times before. Civil registration was introduced into New South Wales in 1856. From that time onwards, there’s been a legal and compulsory requirement for all births, deaths and marriages to be registered. Before that, there are baptismal and marriage and funeral entries in church registers. I can obtain these...’

‘Is bigamy against the law?’ Hester archly demanded.

‘Yes.’

‘That’s what I thought.’ She gave Sasha a knowing look. ‘I wouldn’t rely on every member of this family’s observing the law all the time. Not when it comes to bigamy. And not in other matters either.’

Sasha flashed a simmering look at Nathan Parnell. He was certainly of a similar breed.

He gave her a wicked grin that confirmed he took an unholy joy in doing things his way. It also confirmed he was thoroughly enjoying this little contretemps between her and Hester Wingate.

‘And this is only the beginning, my dear,’ Hester went on. ‘Many peculiar things happened in my family. I want answers to every question.’

Sasha wanted a few answers, too. ‘I’ll need to get as much of the background as you can give me, Mrs Wingate.’

The aforementioned Jane arrived with a traymobile loaded with refreshments. Either Hester Wingate had a good appetite or she expected Nathan and Sasha to eat plates of sandwiches, cakes, scones, and pastries.

‘Now tell me, my dear,’ Hester commanded, eyeing Sasha with challenging interest. ‘How much do you charge for

your services?’

Sasha was more than ready for that question. Since eccentricity was the order of the day, she was not to be outdone. ‘Fifteen guineas an hour,’ she said, rolling it out as though it was her standard fee and not to be blinked at. It translated to thirty-one dollars, fifty cents, which gave her a nice little bonus for heartburn.

‘Oh, yes!’ Hester cried in delight, turning a beaming smile to Nathan. ‘She is clever!’

‘There are two other conditions,’ Sasha added. ‘I’m only to be spoken of in the most commendable manner. And the money is to be paid on Fridays between the hours of nine a.m. and noon.’