Once she relaxed, so did he. It was much easier on both of them for her to read in his study this way; he no longer had to strain to hear her clearly through the tube, and she did not have to read in a volume that strained her voice. She came to the end of the thin book and looked up in surprise as she realized where she was.
'Oh, excuse me-' she began, and dropped her feet back to the floor with a blush.
'Please, take whatever position you feel is less strained,' he told her earnestly. 'You read better when you are at ease. And I can certainly bear a few footmarks upon the furniture.'
'It is a terrible habit from my childhood, and one my father never insisted that I break,' she confessed. 'It is hardly ladylike.'
'I did not engage you for your deportment and posture, Rose,' he reminded her. 'I engaged you for your knowledge and your mind. I would not care if you read like a contortionist in a circus, with both of your feet placed on the back of your head!'
She laughed, as he had hoped she would, and picked up the next book without prompting. She paid no more attention to him or to his terrible face than if he had been his old self-nor did she evidence any more fear of him.
I believe that this is going to work out after all, he thought with utter astonishment. By George, she has surprised me again!
It was just as well that the situation with Rose was going as well as it was, because within a week, Paul brought him a file on Golden Gate Shipping that was enough to fray his temper to the breaking point before he was through with it.
'How did things deteriorate like this?' he exploded, as du Mond waited patiently for him to finish going through the papers. The secretary just shrugged.
'It seems to have mostly blown up over the last week or so,' the man said. 'You've sent corrective instructions, but they seem to have bungled them. And quite frankly, it would never have gotten this way if you had an agent there. If you want my opinion-' he paused, waiting expectantly.
'Go on,' Cameron growled.
'Well, I think the trouble is that the men over there are the kind that absolutely require someone watching them. Some people are that way; leave them alone for a moment, and they'll botch everything, but keep an eye on them and they do fine.' He shrugged. 'I can't explain it, but you must have seen cases like this before.'
Unfortunately, he had, all too often. Why it was that men seemed to take the absence of the boss for the signal to laze about and make mistakes of carelessness, he had no idea. 'So the point is, I need an agent in Oakland, quickly,' he growled in irritation. 'Unfortunately, I haven't anyone to spare-'
Except that I have been trying to think of a way to get him out of the house so that Rose and I can Work without having to conceal it from him! I don't suppose-
'I-I suppose I could go,' du Mond said reluctantly, in an uncanny echo of his own thoughts. 'Quite frankly, Jason, there is very little secretarial work for me lately. Your circle of acquaintances seems to have gotten the idea that they are not going to pry you out of your reclusive retreat-and as for business matters, you have always taken care of most of them yourself, and your agent in San Francisco can handle what I have been dealing with. I believe I can straighten out this little tangle in fairly short order, and keep a new one from appearing with a firm hand on the reins.'
Oh, this was almost too perfect to be believed! But why would du Mond, who Cameron knew was lazy by nature, want to take on something that would entail real work?
'Quite frankly, Jason, this quiet house is driving me crazy,' the man went on. 'Since your accident, there has been nothing for an active man to do here, and no company unless I go down into Pacifica for it. And that prim little stick of a scholar of yours is hardly what I would call company. I think that may be why I've fallen back on my Magickal studies. Perhaps if I can get out among people again, I'll be less distracted by boredom, better able to settle down to my Magickal work as well.'
Not likely-but possible, I will grant that. And it gives me the excuse I have been searching for to get rid of the blackguard. Cynically, he would allow that du Mond's motivation for volunteering was probably the genuine one he had stated-he wanted out, back in a position where he had ready access to the city, the Barbary Coast, and the pleasures he was doing without. The presence of Rose Hawkins, who made no effort to conceal the fact that she did not like him, was probably salt in the wounds of his 'deprivation.'
'You'll have to live in Oakland,' Cameron pointed out. 'Assuming you could even get a ferry at the hours you'll need to travel, you'd waste more time traveling to and from the townhouse than is reasonable. My agent should be able to find an apartment for you.'
