Post by Sylvia Phoenix on Sept 5, 2012 23:53:13 GMT -7
Araminta opened her mouth to snap in reply, but was cut off by the clamor of brass candlesticks crashing to the floor. Desmond nearly toppled the whole desk over, and instinctively Minta started jumping forward to grab him. But he righted himself, and she then realized her help would have been unwelcome at this particular time.
Withdrawing several steps back, Minta sighed and put her hands on her hips. She gazed at the floor for a moment, letting some of the blood drain from her cheeks, before continuing in a level tone.
"Clearly you're not well. Not thinking straight. Now, I'm going to see to it that you eat, like it or not. And soon, very soon, you're going to start getting outside. I can see you cared a lot for that... woman and I'm sorry for offending you," she said stiffly. Turning to the door she added, "And leave that window open. You could use the fresh air."
Back downstairs in the kitchen, she found Renee looking more than a little flabbergasted.
"I said you should have a chat, not start a war," Renee remarked, having heard the screaming match floating down the hall. "What in heaven's name was all that about?"
"I give up, Renee," Minta said miserably, sitting down at the kitchen table. "I tried to help. I did. He doesn't want to get well. There's nothing anyone can do."
"Hmph! We'll just see about that," Renee answered spiritedly, planting her hands on her hips. "I won't have it said that a guest in my house was unhappy. No ma'am. I've got my reputation to think of. What Mr. Gillette needs is a fresh face. Something to get him thinking about life outside that little room. And I'm sure he would appreciate a break from seeing my old mug," she joked.
"I'm open to suggestions," Minta muttered wearily, resting her forehead on her hands.
Renee snapped her fingers. "I've got it. I'll have my sister Rose see to Mr. Gillette from now on. She's the baby of the family. She can be little off color, but she's sweet alright, and it'll give her something to do."
"Whatever you think best," Minta said absentmindedly, just glad that Desmond would no longer be her problem. She decided to go find James and summon him to lunch, and exited through the back door.
Withdrawing several steps back, Minta sighed and put her hands on her hips. She gazed at the floor for a moment, letting some of the blood drain from her cheeks, before continuing in a level tone.
"Clearly you're not well. Not thinking straight. Now, I'm going to see to it that you eat, like it or not. And soon, very soon, you're going to start getting outside. I can see you cared a lot for that... woman and I'm sorry for offending you," she said stiffly. Turning to the door she added, "And leave that window open. You could use the fresh air."
Back downstairs in the kitchen, she found Renee looking more than a little flabbergasted.
"I said you should have a chat, not start a war," Renee remarked, having heard the screaming match floating down the hall. "What in heaven's name was all that about?"
"I give up, Renee," Minta said miserably, sitting down at the kitchen table. "I tried to help. I did. He doesn't want to get well. There's nothing anyone can do."
"Hmph! We'll just see about that," Renee answered spiritedly, planting her hands on her hips. "I won't have it said that a guest in my house was unhappy. No ma'am. I've got my reputation to think of. What Mr. Gillette needs is a fresh face. Something to get him thinking about life outside that little room. And I'm sure he would appreciate a break from seeing my old mug," she joked.
"I'm open to suggestions," Minta muttered wearily, resting her forehead on her hands.
Renee snapped her fingers. "I've got it. I'll have my sister Rose see to Mr. Gillette from now on. She's the baby of the family. She can be little off color, but she's sweet alright, and it'll give her something to do."
"Whatever you think best," Minta said absentmindedly, just glad that Desmond would no longer be her problem. She decided to go find James and summon him to lunch, and exited through the back door.