“Lord above, you’ll be sending Mrs West deaf within the hour at that rate.” She turned to Nicola. “Would you prefer to have the business side of things done first, Mrs West, and then take tea with us afterwards?”
“Superb idea, Florence.” She thanked the women again for their homecoming and headed for the study.
Once seated behind her desk, she found the account books opened for her inspection. She smiled at Florence, who sat stiffly in the chair on the other side of the desk. “How’s it been?”
“Quite good, Mrs West, we’ve—”
“Florence, please, while we are in each other’s company I would prefer it if you called me Nicola. I’m not used to my new title as yet and I feel, between the two of us, that we are friends enough to be less formal.”
Florence looked startled at the request. “Are you sure?”
“Definitely. So it is agreed?”
“Yes, thank you…Nicola.”
“Good. Now, to business. The letters you sent to me while I was in the country were a great help. I felt I could relax knowing you had everything under control.”
“Thankfully, we had no emergencies while you were away. Mrs Nesbit only got drunk once and Hannah broke just three plates.” Florence let out a long breath, as though grateful that’s all that happened.
“My sister-in-law tells me Miss Clarke and Miss Shaw have gained situations?”
“Oh yes, indeed. Most happy they are too. Miss Shaw leaves tomorrow and Miss Clarke on Friday.”
Nicola concentrated on the figures before her. “When do your two sisters arrive, or have they already? There was some delay was there not?”
“I’m expecting them any day. I told them to send a telegram from Melbourne if they are able to get shore leave there. But I’ve heard nothing so far. I scan the papers each day for news of sightings of their ship.” A worried frown appeared on Florence’s face. “I do hope all is well with them.”
“I’m sure everything is, Florence. Sometimes we just have to be patient. The journey from Scotland to this country is extensive, as you know, and at the mercy of the others for much of it.”
“Upstairs I have prepared the end room on the right for them. Does that meet with your approval? They’ll be happy to share. Fiona is sensible and will not have brought much with her and Fanny is of a slight build. So, they’ll hardly take up any room.”
“I’m sure they are delightful girls. They’ve come a long way, so do make sure they are comfortable. I know you do not want any favours for them, being your sisters, but since you’ve offered to pay for their keep out of your wages, then they deserve the same considerations as all the other women here.” Nicola smiled.
“Thank you, Mrs-Nicola. At seventeen and fifteen, I’m hoping they’ll find work soon enough.”
“I’m sure they will. Now, the schoolroom and orphanage. I’m most eager to see them. Are they finally finished?”
“Yes, the orphanage dormitory is, but not the schoolroom, there have been problems with the foundations. It seems a spring runs beneath the ground and it’s causing subsidence. I’m afraid the foreman’s conversation about it all goes over my head and I understand very little.”
“I’ll ask my husband to speak with the builders. We shall need to put advertisements in the newspaper and spread the word that we can now take paying students. I’ll have to talk to the women about this too. Do you know of any who are eager to teach in the schoolroom?”
“Miss Peacock has expressed a desire to, as well as Miss Barker, who received her teacher’s certificate yesterday. She passed her exams exceedingly well.”
“Excellent. That is a good start. I will help out when I can too.” Nicola turned the page of one of the accounts books and studied the figures. “Have you seen Mr Belfroy?”
“Yes, only yesterday morning. He came to see if you were returned from the country and to celebrate Miss Barker gaining her certificate.”
“He is well?”
“The same as usual, I think.”
Nicola nodded and reached for the occupancy ledger. “We have two new arrivals?” She frowned, not remembering any new faces earlier.
“Mrs Patterson and Miss Nelson.”
A look of uncertainty crossed Florence’s face. “What is it?”
“Nothing really…”
“But something?”
“Mrs Patterson is a kind lady, but…um…quite elderly. Nearly seventy, I’m afraid. She keeps to her room a great deal.”
Nicola blinked in surprise. “Seventy years old?”
“She has excellent references. She came out to this country last year with a new family, after spending most of her life with a noble family