10-02-2024, 08:15 AM
(This post was last modified: 10-02-2024, 08:19 AM by Ruth Longbottom.)
Again, Ruth was rather puzzled, both by the indirect way in which her question was answered and by the content of said answer. She took her cup in both hands and sipped her tea. Her mind was fast at work assessing her options.
This one was an idiot, actually. Whatever natural gifts the young woman seemed to possess were far overshadowed by her useless education and sheltered life. Ruth had received no education to write home about - she would hardly be able to write home if she wanted to - , but she knew how to squeeze the last penny out of any situation. Did she really want her children in the care of somebody who was still learning basic life skills herself?
But what choice did she have? They'd still be infinitely better off in the care of this woman than they'd be under her parents' negligent 'care'. And how many women would be willing to accept such a questionable position? How many would be willing to set their moral scruples aside and overlook Ruth's own situation, which was blatantly revealed by every inconsistency in her story. She figured even the sheltered young woman in front of her was sharp enough to have worked it out by now. And the tearoom would certainly not have her back to conduct a second interview after the scene they had caused earlier. Ruth looked over at her children. They were taking the borrowed toy train apart in a way that it was definitely not supposed to come apart. The roof and wheels lay scattered around them. Ruth would have to work with the only real option she had.
Her shrewd mind was already at work finding ways to turn this circumstance round into a solution for several of her problems at once. "I provide a place for you to live with the children," she decided. She figured with everything Magnus had given her so far, she could obtain enough cash for a year's rent of a modest but clean flat, if she paid up front. She had been thinking that if Magnus dumped her, she'd need a place to live comfortably for a few months while she devised a new plan. "You will receive advance payments to cover the children's needs. I will expect a detailed weekly account of expenses." God, the delicious sense of authority she felt, talking to someone like that... Being rich was great. "As for your wage, would five shillings a week do?" It was on the lower range for an ordinary maid, but Ruth relied on the woman's inexperience to get away with it.
This one was an idiot, actually. Whatever natural gifts the young woman seemed to possess were far overshadowed by her useless education and sheltered life. Ruth had received no education to write home about - she would hardly be able to write home if she wanted to - , but she knew how to squeeze the last penny out of any situation. Did she really want her children in the care of somebody who was still learning basic life skills herself?
But what choice did she have? They'd still be infinitely better off in the care of this woman than they'd be under her parents' negligent 'care'. And how many women would be willing to accept such a questionable position? How many would be willing to set their moral scruples aside and overlook Ruth's own situation, which was blatantly revealed by every inconsistency in her story. She figured even the sheltered young woman in front of her was sharp enough to have worked it out by now. And the tearoom would certainly not have her back to conduct a second interview after the scene they had caused earlier. Ruth looked over at her children. They were taking the borrowed toy train apart in a way that it was definitely not supposed to come apart. The roof and wheels lay scattered around them. Ruth would have to work with the only real option she had.
Her shrewd mind was already at work finding ways to turn this circumstance round into a solution for several of her problems at once. "I provide a place for you to live with the children," she decided. She figured with everything Magnus had given her so far, she could obtain enough cash for a year's rent of a modest but clean flat, if she paid up front. She had been thinking that if Magnus dumped her, she'd need a place to live comfortably for a few months while she devised a new plan. "You will receive advance payments to cover the children's needs. I will expect a detailed weekly account of expenses." God, the delicious sense of authority she felt, talking to someone like that... Being rich was great. "As for your wage, would five shillings a week do?" It was on the lower range for an ordinary maid, but Ruth relied on the woman's inexperience to get away with it.
