Free Hope for Tomorrow by Catherine Winchester Page B

she had heard him right.
    “ Pardon,” he corrected her.
    “ Sorry. Pardon?”
    “ I said they are extraordinary.”
    “ Really? You like them?”
    “ I do. May I keep this book?”
    “ Of course,” she grinned. “The designs are yours.”
    “ Thank you, my dear.” He smiled warmly at her. He had an idea forming in his head but he needed to work out the details before he said anything to her.
    Over the next few days Martha noticed that Gus corrected her speech and grammar a lot more than usual but she wanted to improve herself so she listened. On the Friday he surprised her by returning home in the afternoon and introducing her to a Miss Sally Benton, a nanny.
    “ But I don't need a nanny!” Martha protested.
    “ Yes you do. Miss Benton, take Hope to the nursery for a while, would you, I need to speak with Miss Dawley.”
    The nanny introduced herself to Hope and asked her to show her to the nursery. Hope was a little shy, she didn't meet many strangers, but when her mother nodded, she did as she was told.
    “ Come,” Gus told Martha, guiding her into the study.
    They settled at his desk for a change, Gus behind it and Martha opposite him.
    “ What's all this about?”
    “ This is about you and your new life,” he said. “Your sketches were brilliant, quite inspired and I would like to employ you as a designer for my company. You will be required to design the custom made gloves and the everyday ones in a range of styles and materials to suit every purse.”
    “ I don't know what to say,” Martha was bemused. 
    “ Say 'yes' and let's start putting that fine brain of yours to use,” he urged.
    “ But what about Hope?”
    “ Ah, yes, well there will need to be some changes. The nanny to start with and as Hope grows, we will also have to employ a governess for her education. The house will need opening up, obviously, as we will have to start entertaining again. We will need a new housekeeper, probably three maids and a lady's maid for you, my dear. You will have to move out of the nursery since the nanny will sleep there but there are plenty of other rooms on that floor that you can take. We will have to improve your wardrobe as well.” He held his hand up, knowing what her response always was when he suggested buying her clothes. “I cannot have a designer representing my company in my mother's old clothes! They are fine for a housemaid but you were never really just my housemaid, Martha, and now your wardrobe must fit your new status in life.”
    “ And what is my new status in life?” she asked, slightly dumbfounded by all his suggestions, not to mention his complete change of heart on the closed-off rooms.
    “ My daughter and my partner,” he said. “You have lit a fire in my belly that I haven't felt since Gideon worked with me. You, young lady, are going to help me revolutionise the company and help guide us into a new era of creativity.”
    Martha still couldn't process his words.
    “ I know it's a lot to take in,” he said. “But I would like to formalise our arrangement and adopt you.”
    Martha's confusion gave way to dread and she felt the sting of tears. Now he would find out the truth and hate her for it.
    “ My dear, what's wrong?”
    Martha dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief.
    “ We can't do this,” she said, though her voice was hardly more than a whisper. “I... I am not an orphan.”
    “ Oh, my dear, how thoughtless of me.”
    He came around the desk and perched on the edge of it so that he was looking down at her. Martha thought their positions very fitting and kept her head bowed.
    “ I'm so sorry I lied but...” she couldn't excuse her behaviour. “I'm sorry.”
    “ My dear, I know that Hope is your child and I half suspected that you weren't an orphan.”
    “ What?!” she looked up, shocked.
    “ Well you never made the baby any liquid food and your bond was much closer than siblings. I should have said something to you but I didn't want to embarrass