09-13-2020, 09:08 AM
The room was large, with a large, long window opposite the door facing the front of the estate. The wallpaper was a modest pale yellow and the polished wooden floor was uncarpeted, giving the room a distinct Georgian rather than Victorian look. Arthur preferred the order and simple beauty of former days, as opposed to the lurid colours and decadent clutter of his own. In front of the window was a desk, covered in files and books, that were nevertheless neatly organized in piles. There were bookshelves and cabinets against the walls, and closer to the door, there was a glass saloon table with a gold-plated frame, and two crème coloured upholstered armchairs. He gestured for her to sit in one of them, and, if she did, he sat down in the other.
Arthur watched her, not displeased with what he saw. He liked the sight of a pretty woman. But he was no fool, and he went back to business. "I've heard that you cook impressive meals, Miss Rosewine, and that unlike many chefs, you work for multiple families, being hired per occasion. Quite an innovative concept, I must admit, especially for a female cook. But our society is built on innovation."
Oh, he could appreciate technological innovation and economic enterprise, but he was suspicious of change. It was a pity that the technological and economic advances of the past century had brought in its wake the destruction of the old society in which everyone knew their place. Now old families like his were marginalized, former paupers had suddenly formed their own class of professionals who thought that they were the center of fashionable life, and even the illiterate beasts below the middling classes now had a say about who should run the country. Not to mention the families who had made great fortunes and pretended that they were the top of society now, but didn't know how to behave accordingly - like the Carringtons.
His smile said nothing of all that as he rung a bell. "Can I offer you something to drink? Some wine perhaps? I don't want to brag, but I do have quite the collection," he bragged.
Arthur watched her, not displeased with what he saw. He liked the sight of a pretty woman. But he was no fool, and he went back to business. "I've heard that you cook impressive meals, Miss Rosewine, and that unlike many chefs, you work for multiple families, being hired per occasion. Quite an innovative concept, I must admit, especially for a female cook. But our society is built on innovation."
Oh, he could appreciate technological innovation and economic enterprise, but he was suspicious of change. It was a pity that the technological and economic advances of the past century had brought in its wake the destruction of the old society in which everyone knew their place. Now old families like his were marginalized, former paupers had suddenly formed their own class of professionals who thought that they were the center of fashionable life, and even the illiterate beasts below the middling classes now had a say about who should run the country. Not to mention the families who had made great fortunes and pretended that they were the top of society now, but didn't know how to behave accordingly - like the Carringtons.
His smile said nothing of all that as he rung a bell. "Can I offer you something to drink? Some wine perhaps? I don't want to brag, but I do have quite the collection," he bragged.
