A Broken Promise

Chapter 26

Diana had disappeared after lunch, most likely to get ready for the party and Samantha proved to be a great help.  She was quick and willing to help in any way she could. Georgia could tell she was full of questions since she kept looking at her curiously as they worked.

"Ms. Georgia?" There was a knock at the door and Cameron was standing there with a tea tray looking upset.

"Oh, Cameron thank you, I can't speak for Samantha but I'm parched." She rose from the table where they had been working and moved to the center of the room where Cameron set the tray.

"Ms. Georgia, I'm so sorry about earlier. I've been trying to tell everyone that Molly doesn't know what she's talking about but..." She shrugged.

Georgia put her arm around her shoulders and gave her a squeeze.  "Don't worry about it. In a few days I'll be gone and no one will remember any of it."

"But they will, they remember what happened last time and that's been a year ago.  I feel sorry for Ms. Diana, what Molly is saying isn't right." She looked up at her imploring her to do something.

"Ewan will handle it Cameron. Just keep your head down and stop trying to defend me and Diana, O.K.? I don't want anything said about you next, and you know she'll say something if she feels threatened."

Cameron nodded. "But you told Mr. Mailler to leave it and not do anything."

Georgia smiled sadly.  "Since when does Mr. Mailler listen to anyone but himself?"

"He always listens to you, and he always does what you ask."

Georgia started to walk Cameron across the room towards the door. Was that true? Had he decided to choose his business instead of her like she had asked him to? There was something in what he had said earlier that was nibbling at the back of her brain, something she hadn't taken the time nor effort to search out but she was sure on this, he would intervene. She wasn't going to argue with Cameron about it though. Giving her another squeeze, she told her to hurry back to the kitchen and keep an eye on things until she had a chance to look things over.

When Georgia turned back to the sofa Samantha had already poured them some tea and was stirring hers while she sat and watched Georgia silently. Georgia took hers and leaned back into the sofa sipping the warm liquid and thinking so deeply that she forgot that Samantha was there until she spoke. "So do you think Mr. Mailler will say anything?"

Georgia paused before she answered, gathering her thoughts. "Yes, Molly's not used to keeping to the shadows. She likes to be the center of attention, which is why she likes to make up stories about people. The more outrageous the story the more attention she gets. She also fancies herself in love with Ewan."

"How come you sometimes call Mr. Mailler Mr. Mailler and then other times you call him Ewan?" She looked away from Georgia as soon as she asked the question.

Georgia couldn't help but think that she had picked just the right question to ask.  It was so simple and seemed impersonal but she knew the answer would have to be personal. "It's complicated and in the end it really doesn't matter," she hedged.

"Yes, it does. I have to agree with Cameron.  I saw Mr. Mailler cave to you in the dining room. You stared him down and won. Granted, I've only worked for the man for a little under a year but I have never seen anyone win against him."

Georgia couldn't help but think of the earlier scene. "He wasn't a very good looser was he?" She smiled as she remembered his outburst. "But he did get his answer, he just found another way around the problem, he always gets what he wants in the end."

"Always?"

Georgia looked at Samantha as she asked the question. Suddenly, she remembered the comment that Ewan had made in his office. What if he had meant something totally different then a warning?  What if he meant it as an assurance? Had he worked out the issue with Rossini and Isobel? Had he won that battle too?