"Roberts, Nora - A Matter of Choice" - читать интересную книгу автора (Roberts Nora)

Feeling triumphant, Jessica went to the back room for more tea.

As she had burst out hours before, Jessica burst in through the front
door of the house. "Betsy!" She slung her purse over the newel post.
"Did it come?" Without waiting for an answer, she dashed toward the
front parlor.

"Since you were six, I've been telling you to slow down." Betsy came
through the parlor doors, intercepting her. "At least then you wore
sensible shoes."

"Betsy." Jessica gave her a quick, hard squeeze that held as much
impatience as affection. "Did it come?"

"Yes, of course it came." The housekeeper straightened her apron with a
tug. "And it's sitting in the parlor just like you told me. It'll be
there whether you walk sensibly or run like a fool." The last of the
sentence was wasted, as Jessica was already rushing by her.

"Oh, it's lovely!" Gently, she ran a finger over the wood, then quickly
began to examine it on all sides. It was a delicate, airy little piece.
A woman's desk. Jessica opened the slant top, then sighed at the
unmarred interior. "Really lovely. Wait until David sees it." She opened
one of the inner drawers. It slid out smoothly. "It's exactly what I've
been looking for. What luck that Michael came across it." Crouching, she
ran a hand down one of its slender legs.

"It's pretty," Betsy admitted, thinking that the carving would be one
more thing to keep dust out of. "I bet you could have sold it for a
pretty penny too."

"The advantage of owning a shop is being able to cop some of the
merchandise for yourself." Rising, Jessica shut the lid again. Now all
she needed was a frivolous little inkwell, or perhaps a porcelain box to
set on top of it.

"Supper's nearly ready."

"Oh, supper." Shaking her head, Jessica brought herself back to the
moment. "Mr. Sladerman, I've neglected him all day. Is he upstairs?"

"In the library," Betsy announced grimly. "All day. Wouldn't even come
out for lunch."

"Oh boy." Jessica combed a hand through her hair. He hadn't looked like
a man who would have much patience with disorganization. "I really
wanted to ease him into that. Well, I'm going to go be charming so we
don't lose him. What's for supper?" she asked over her shoulder.

"Stuffed pork chops and mashed potatoes."