“Sssssisssy,” he repliedirritably.
“You can wait until dinner,” I stated firmly.
He rolled huffily in my arms, leaped out of them, and aftershooting me a baleful cat glare, with ginger-ringed tail held high, he waddledout of the kitchens on his white-booted feet.
“That’s the fattest cat I’ve seen in my life,” Mrs.Soamesnoted.
Down the hall, another hiss was heard.
Mr.Popplewell was not fond of being called fat.
I laughed softly and said, “I fear we do him no favors,spoiling him as we do.”
“I think a savvy but lost creature who has no home, when hefinds one, should have everything he wishes for a spell.Don’t you?”Mrs.Soames asked.
I looked into her eyes and answered softly, “Quite right.”
She smiled at me.
I got down to the real business for being there.
“Is Carling in his office?”
“He is indeed, madam.”
I nodded and moved that way.“Thank you.”
Carling’s office was more a hidey hole/wine cellar/liquorstorage, probably because the door was banded in iron and had a lock.His deskwas shoved in amongst the mess, which included barrels and crates full of whoknew what.It was likely Dad-not-Dad made him guard all of this, regardless ofhow stuffy and almost inoperable it made his office.
He was crammed behind said desk, poring over some papers.
“I daresay we can afford it if one of the staff feels theneed of a glass of brandy after having a busy day,” I said quietly.“We hardlyneed an ironclad door.”
His head shot up right before he shot out of his seat.
“LadySatrine!”
“Please, do sit,” I invited.
He didn’t, of course.
“May I come in?”I asked.
“It would be my honor to have your company,” he answered.
I really dug this guy.
I came in and made my way with some difficulty to the lonechair in front of his desk.
At long last, I wedged myself between some boxes and foundmy seat.
“I know my mother has been in here, Carling,” I noted as Isat.
He waited until I was down before he sat too.“She has.”
“And she hasn’t shared you should make it so there’s someair that you can breathe while you’re in it?”
He cleared his throat and stated, “We’re receiving bids to…altersome of thebelowstairs.And the lady of the housewishes this seen to with all due haste.”
