I wanted to ask her what the job might be, but I held my tongue. If she wanted to tell me, she would.
I followed Mrs. Walker back into the servants’ hall, which was covered in white tile on the walls and the ceiling—pristinely clean and clutter-free. Then we walked up a winding staircase to the main floor. Everything was darker here. The walls were paneled, and the floors were polished wood. There was another hallway, this one narrower, and then we went up another set of stairs. People passed us along the way, tossing curious glances at me, but no one said a word to us.
On the second floor, we left the back hallway and entered a large gallery. Huge paintings with gold frames hung around the room. In the center was a stained-glass ceiling and a stone railing, looking down at the black-and-white-checkered floor and grand staircase in the main entrance below.
What was this place? I’d been in a museum once and it looked just like this. But we were in a house, weren’t we? Mrs. Hill’s house?
I tried to keep my mouth closed as we walked past the paintings. Some were of people, others were of outdoor scenes, and all were vibrant and beautiful and old.
Mrs. Walker didn’t say a word as we walked down the long gallery to a door on the other side of the grand staircase. She tapped on the door and waited.
Was Mrs. Hill on the other side of that door?
“Come in,” said a lady.
Mrs. Walker opened the door and entered. “Miss O’Day has arrived.”
The room was just as lavish and grand as the gallery, with thick trim, walls covered in pink silk, and delicate, cream-colored furniture. Mrs. Hill sat at a desk, wearing a soft pink day gown that matched the color of the walls. Her hair was ina simple knot at the top of her head, and she wore a single-diamond ring—though it was the largest diamond I’d ever seen.
She looked up at me, her gray eyes filling with excitement. “You came!”
I nodded, clasping my hands together as I stood perfectly still, afraid if I touched something it would be stained or ruined.
“Mrs. Walker, tell Alec I want to see him. He hasn’t left for the office yet, has he?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Good. Have him come as soon as possible.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Mrs. Walker nodded and then left the room.
I would see Mr. Paxton-Hill again? What did he have to do with hiring servants?
Mrs. Hill stood and moved aside her flowing gown, never taking her eyes off me, as she left her desk.
“I’m so pleased you’re here, Miss O’Day. Alec told me your name last night. I was determined to go looking for you if you hadn’t come.”
I couldn’t help but lift my eyebrows at that statement. Irish working girls were a dime a dozen in New York City. Surely she could have found someone else.
“Are you hungry?” she asked, almost anxious, as she went to a cord and pulled. “I should have told Mrs. Walker to bring tea. You’re so pale and fragile, we’ll need to strengthen your constitution.”
She motioned to a chair near a massive fireplace. The heat was warm and comforting—though I was too anxious to enjoy it.
“Please have a seat, Miss O’Day.”
I didn’t have a lot of experience with women like Mrs. Hill, but I had a feeling it wasn’t every day that she invited a poor tenement girl to take tea with her in her private room. The whole thing made me stiff and uncomfortable. Even if I was just herefor a servant’s job, wouldn’t I meet with Mrs. Walker in her sitting room instead?
I lowered myself to the edge of the delicate chair, but I didn’t rest or relax. How could I?
Mrs. Hill sat on the chair opposite me, studying me like she had last night. Now, in the light of day, she seemed to be getting a better look. And I had a better view of her, as well. She was a little older than I had thought last night, with deep wrinkles around her eyes and lining her mouth.
She suddenly frowned. “Are you married?”
I shook my head.
Relief lowered her shoulders. “I hadn’t even wondered until now, but that would have ruined everything.”
It was my turn to frown, but she continued.
