Free A Sordid Situation by Vivian Kees Page B

later, she was
back. “Your coat and hat—” she held out her hand, waiting impatiently “—I will
take.”
Cal
quickly removed the requested items and watched as she hung his coat and hat on
a large rack. “And if you would, follow me.”
    Rich , he thought,
walking down the hall behind the maid. He never fathomed that William had been
so well off. And to think, this was all his now.
    Cal
entered the parlor. A woman sat in a high back chair in front of the fireplace.
She glanced up at him from her sewing and motioned for him to sit across from
her in the other matching chair. Not one word was spoken between them.
    With leather satchel in hand, he sat down, gripping it tightly.
    “I’ve been expecting you,” she said, breaking the silence. “I
knew it was just a matter of time.”
    She was a lovely dark haired creature, young, petite and not at
all what he had expected. William Wareham was a man of advanced years. His
death notice had listed him as being fifty-two years of age. But this woman,
she couldn’t have been a day over twenty-one.
    “Your maid says differently.” He was lost for words; his mind had
raced for those four.
    “Let’s cut with the formalities, shall we? I know who you are,
and you know me. We both know why you’re here.”
    Indeed. He reached into
his satchel and retrieved the documents. “You’ll find everything is in perfect
order and legal.”
    “I wouldn’t have thought otherwise. I’m guessing evictions have
to be done by the book. I assume, not being your first, that you know what
you’re doing.”
    He detected a certain iciness in her voice. But, considering the
circumstance of their meeting, it was to be expected. This wasn’t a social
call.
    “You’ve itemized everything.” He watched her scan over each page,
as she scrutinized every word and number. “Very organized I must say.”
    “I figured it was best to itemize everything individually.”
    She nodded. “Well, it’s safe to say, sir, you’ve left me
destitute.”

     
    * * * *

     
    Eugenia had seen enough. She handed back the documents. “I’ll
need time to sort my affairs and to make alternate living arrangements. There
are things that need attending to before I leave. I trust you can and will
accommodate my request? Three months would be sufficient.”
    “That’s not a problem and if need be, it can be extended. All you
need do is ask.”
    Handsome and refined ,
not what she had expected. It was hard to dislike a man so polite. Even if he
was kicking her out of her very own house. House, past tense , she reminded herself.
    “If I may be sold bold as to ask, why did you marry him?” He
leaned forward, his voice low, just a few octaves above a whisper.
    “You, sir, are out of line. But if you must know, it was love.
Why else would two people marry?” Of course, she wasn’t naïve. People married
for many reasons, often, love being the least of them.
    “But he was so much older than you. Forgive my boldness. You
could have had your pick of any man.”
    Wrong. You don’t know the
full story.

    She blushed at his impertinence. “This isn’t proper. I hardly
know you, sir, and you offend me with your words.”
    “Then I offer my sincerest apologies. I’m a curious man by
nature. I should have held my tongue.”
    “Thank you. But since you asked…I was taken with William, our
ages were irreverent within our relationship.”
    “Perhaps we could make an arrangement between the two of us. I’d
hate to see you homeless. It could be very beneficial, under the right terms.”
    His hand slid over hers. Frozen, she didn’t dare move an inch.
    “I’m a married woman!”
    “Widowed,” he corrected. “For a year and some now.”
    “I’m still faithful to his memory.”
    “I’m not asking you to be otherwise. No decent man would have
left his wife in such a predicament. You’re young, attractive, and have needs.
Needs that I can help take care of.”
    Rake!

    “I would not have you speaking ill of