Feeling stunned, Colly couldnt think straight for quite some minutes. She had no idea what she would do, but heartily wished her uncle Henry were there to advise her.
Henry Warren was not a blood relative, but her fathers friend, the uncle being a courtesy title. She had known him all her life. He was the same age as her father but, newly retired from his law firm, he had only last week embarked on an extended holiday. He did not even know that his friend Joseph had died.
Not that the two had seen very much of each other since Josephs remarriage. Her fathers trips to his club had become less and less frequent. And Henry Warren seldom came to the house any more. It was because of their friendship that her father had always dealt with a different firm of solicitors, believing, as he did, that business and friendship did not mix. But Collys first instinct was to want to turn to Uncle Henry.
But he was out of the country, and as her initial shock began to subside she realised that there was no one she could turn to for help and advice. She had to handle this on her own. She had no father, and no Uncle Henryand Nanette wanted her out.
Hot on the heels of that realisation came the knowledge that she barely had any moneycertainly not enough to pay rent for more than a week or two on any accommodation she might be lucky enough to find. That was if prices had stayed the same in the two years since she had last looked at the rented accommodation market.
She was still trying to get her head together on the day of her fathers funeral.
She clearly recalled seeing Silas Livingstone therehis name now known to her. How Nanette managed to look the grieving widow while at the same time trying to get her hooks into Silas Livingstone was a total and embarrassing mystery to Colly. He and another tall but older man had gone to his car and had left straight after paying their respects at the crematorium anyhow, so Nanettes invitation to come back to the house had not been taken up.
Having applied for a job with Livingstone Developments, Colly had done a little research into the company. And, on thinking about it, she saw that it was not surprising that the firm should be represented at her fathers funeral that day. Livingstones were not the only big engineering concern to be represented.
She came out of her reverie to watch Ellen Rothwell handle whatever came her way. Secretarial work, it was fast being borne in on Colly, was more than just being able to type!
She had known that, of course. But supposed she must still be suffering shock mixed in with stress, strain and grief for her father, as well as a helping of panic thrown in, that, on seeing the advertisement for a multilingual senior secretary, and believing she could fulfil the multilingual part without too much trouble, she had applied.
She watched Ellen Rothwell for another thirty seconds, and realised more and more that she must have been crazy to apply. Colly got to her feet, ready to leave, but just then the door to Silas Livingstones office opened and there he was, a couple of yards awayso close, in fact, that she could see that his eyes were an unusual shade of dark blue.
Come through, he invited, standing back to allow her to precede him into his large and thickly carpeted office. She was five feet nineand had to look up to him. She had been about to leave, but found she was going into his office. He followed her into a large room that housed not only office furniture but had one part of the roomno doubt where he conducted more relaxed businessgiven over to a coffee-table and several padded easy chairs. He closed the door behind them and indicated she should take a seat to the side of his desk. I was sorry about your father, he opened.
So he knew who she was? Thank you, she murmured.
Columbine, isnt it? he asked, she guessed, since he had her application form in front of him, more to get her to feel at ease before they started the interview.
Im called Colly, she replied, and felt a fool when she did, because it caused her to want to explain. I thought, since I was applyingformally applyingfor the position with Mr Blake that I should use my full nameerformal name. She was starting to feel hot, but did not seem able to shut up. Nerves, she suspected. But Columbine Gillingham is a bit of a mouthful. She clamped her lips tight shut.
Silas Livingstone stared at her and seemed glad that she had at last run out of breath. But, when she was getting ready to quite dislike him, he gave her a pleasant look and agreed, It is, isnt it? going on, I stopped by Vernon Blakes office earlier. His present secretary said everything was running smoothly in his absence with the exception of an interviewee, Columbine Gillingham, who could not be contacted. Your fathers obituary mentioned he had a daughter ColumbineI didnt think there would be two of you.
It was her turn to stare at him. Was that why he had decided to interview her himselfbecause of her connection with her father? But there was no time to ask, and she supposed it was irrelevant anyway, because, obviously a man with little time to spare, Silas Livingstone was already in interview mode.
What secretarial experience have you? he enquired, glancing down at her application form as if trying to read where, in invisible ink, it was stated she had any office experience at all.
She felt hot again. Im a bit short of actual secretarial experience, she felt obliged to reply, wondering anew at her temerity in actually applying for the senior secretarial post. But my languages are good. Andand I type quite fast.
He leaned back in his chair, his expression telling her nothing. How fast? he enquired politely.
How fast? she echoed.
Words per minute. He elucidated that which any secretary worthy of the name would know. And, clearly already having formed a picture of her secretarial expertiseor lack of it, Any idea? he asked.
She had no idea. Could not even give him a hint. She sat up straighter. Shall I leave? she offered proudly.
He shook his head slightly, but she was unsure whether it was at her non-statement of work experience there before him or whether he was telling her that he would decide when the interview was over.
Have you ever had a job? He looked straight into her wide green eyes and asked directly.
Erno, she had to admit. But quickly added, I kept house for my father. When I left school I took over the housekeeping duties until
Until he remarried? Again that direct look.
IMy fathers new wife preferred I should continue to look after everything. Heavens, how lame that sounded!
So you have never had an actual job outside of the home?
Keeping house had kept her pretty busy. Though there was her interest in art. I usually help out at an art gallery on a Tuesday, was the best she could come up with. She had visited that particular gallery often enough over the years to get to know the owner, Rupert Thomas, who at one time had asked her to hold the fort for him when hed had to dash out. From there it had grown and, today being Tuesday, she would normally be doing a bit of picture-dusting, a bit of invoicing, a bit of dealing with customers, not to mention making Rupert countless cups of coffee were he around.
Is this paid employment? Silas Livingstone wanted to know.
She was feeling uncomfortable again, and knew for sure that she should never have come. No, she admitted.
Have you ever worked in paid employment?
My father gave me an allowance, she mumbled. She was unused to talking about money; it embarrassed her.
But youve never earnedoutside of the home? he documented. Then abruptly asked, Tell me, Columbine, why did you apply for this job?
He annoyed her. He clearly could not see why, with her lack of experience, she had bothered to put pen to paper. She couldnt see eithernow. But his formal use of Columbine niggled her too. So much so that she was able to overcome her embarrassment about money to tell him shortly, I am not my fathers heir. She locked antlers with Silas Livingstoneand would not back down. But she did not miss the glint that came to his eyes.
Your father left you something, though? Left you provided for? he did not hesitate in asking.
Colly did not want to answer, but rather supposed she had invited the question. He did not, she answered woodenly.
I thought he had money?
You thought correctly.
But he left younothing?
Nothing.
The house?
I need to find somewhere else to live.
There was a sharp, shrewd kind of look in those dark blue eyes as he looked at her. Presumably the new Mrs Gillingham did quite nicely, he statedand Colly knew then that, while her father had been blind to the taking ways of Nanette, Silas Livingstone, within the space of the few minutes he had been in conversation with her at the crematorium, had got her measure.
But Colly was embarrassed again, and prepared to get to her feet and get out of there. It went without saying that she had not got the job. He must think her an idiot to have ever applied for the post in the first place. All she could do now was to try to get out of there with some shred of dignity intact.
She raised her chin a proud fraction. Thank you for seeing me, Mr Livingstone. I applied for the job because I need to work, and not from some whim
Your allowance is stopped? He said it as if he knew it for a fact. You need to finance yourself?
I need a job that pays exceptionally well if Im to live in a place of my own and be self-sufficient. But
Youre looking for somewhere to rent?
Thats one of my first essentials, she confirmed. That and to be independent. I intend to make a career for myself. To
She broke off when Silas Livingstone all at once seemed to be studying her anew. There was certainly a sudden kind of arrested look in his eyes, an alertness there, as if some thought had just come to him.
But even while she was scorning such a notion she could not deny he seemed interested in what she was saying. What about men-friends? he asked slowly. You obviously have men-friends, he went on, flicking a brief glance over her face and slender but curvy figure. Where do they come into your career-minded intention to be independent?
She had thought the interview was over, and had no idea where it was going now. But since she had told this man so much, without ever having intended toit spoke volumes for his interviewing techniquethere seemed little point in holding back now. My father saw fit to leave everything to his new wife, and that was his prerogative. But it was a shock to me just the same, and it has made me determined to never be dependent on anyone ever again. She went to get to her feet, but Silas Livingstone was there with another question.
You have one man-friend in particular? he enquired.
Right now I have no interest in men or even dating, she replied. I
Youre not engaged?
Marriage is the last thing on my mind.
Youre not thinking of settling down, or living with some man?
Marriage, men or living with one of them just doesnt enter my plans, she answered. Im more career-minded than husband-minded. I want to be independent, she reiterated. She had never been interviewed for a job before, so supposed being asked such detailed and personal questions must be all part and parcel of a job interview, but to her mind the interview was over. I apologise for taking up so much of your time, she began, prior to departing. I thought when I applied for the job that I would be able to do it. It was never my intention to waste Mr Blakes timeor yours. But, since I obviously havent got the job, I wont waste any more of it.
She got up from her chairbut, oddly, Silas Livingstone motioned that she should sit down again. She was so surprised by thatshed have thought he could not wait for her to be gonethat she did in fact sit down.
Im afraid you havent the level of experience necessary to work for Vernon Blake, Silas Livingstone stated. But, he went on, before she could again start to wonder why, in that case, she had sat down again, there is the possibility of something else that might be of interest.
Collys deflated spirits took an upturn. While it was fairly certain that this other job would not pay as well as the one advertised, there was hope here that she might find a job that would lead to better things. Why, a company of Livingstone Developments size must employ hundreds of office staff. Why hadnt she thought of that? She had a brain, there must be quite a few other jobs she could do!
Id be interested in anything, she answered, trying not to sound too eager, but ruining it by adding, Absolutely anything.
He silently studied her for what seemed an age. Studied her long and hard, before finally replying, Good.
What sort of work is it? Im fairly good with computers. Or perhaps its something to do with translating? Id
Its anewly created post, he cut in. The details havent been fully thought through yet. Again he seemed to study her, his eyes seeming to take in everything about her. Perhaps youd be free to join me for lunchsay, Thursday?
Lunch? she repeated. Was this the way of interviews?
He did not answer, but opened a drawer and withdrew what appeared to be a desk diary and began scanning it. But even while she was getting her head around the notion of lunching with this man while he told her more fully the details of this new vacancy he was shaking his head.
By the look of it lunch is out for the next couple of weeks. That was a relief. Personable though the man was, not to say downright good-looking, she somehow felt oddly reluctant to have lunch with him. Her relief, however, was short-lived, because, rehousing his diary, Silas Livingstone looked across at her. It will have to be dinner, he announced. And, as cool as you please, Are you free this Friday? he enquired.
Colly wasnt sure her jaw did not drop. She closed her mouth and stared at him. While admittedly she did not have all that much experience of menthis was a new approach. She might also not have any experience with general job interview procedure either, but she did not feel she had to be a genius to work out that this was far from the norm.
Forgive me, Mr Livingstone, she replied, striving hard for some of his cool tone. But I believe Ive already told you that my interest rests solely with finding a job that pays well. And, in case he had forgotten, she repeated, Men and dating just do not figure in my plans for the foreseeable future.
I heard you, he replied evenly, addingtotally obscurely as far as she was concernedThat is an excellent start. But, he went on, my sole intention in requiring you to have dinner with me is so we may discuss, in informal detail, this newly arisenvacancy.