The Highwayman -- Chapter 7

Bess stood in the flower room, preparing the freshly cut flowers for the bedrooms, dining tables, terrace tables, and for the private dinner party taking place tonight. This was Bess’s largest morning task, before most guests were awake for breakfast, and before they left their rooms for their daily activities. The second and third floor of the Mayfair Inn housed the guest bedrooms, and Bess’s mother, Margret, insisted on real floral arrangements in the rooms, and Bess agreed with her, despite the time it took to prepare, so they had devised a circuit. The split the eighteen guest rooms into thirds, preparing on third each day. It had been a bit confusing, but Bess had been doing it since childhood, and knew the patterns by heart.

Bess woke at six every morning, and after getting ready for the day, she would go out and pick two baskets of flowers. Once that was complete, it would be close to seven-thirty. On the top floor of the Inn, Bess had a small workroom to arrange, cut, and sometimes dry the flowers. Right outside the workroom was the Inn’s new, but still looking traditional, elevator. Bess found it much easier to carry the sometimes heavy vases by way of the smooth elevator, and today she hitched a ride to the top as well. As Bess stepped out of the elevator, laden with her baskets of flowers, she almost ran into Millie, one of the girls who helped run the large Inn.

“Oh! Excuse me Bess!” Millie said over her arms full of linins. They also stored all of the sheets, towels, and other sorts of cloths on the top, out of the way, floor.

“No problem,” Bess smiled at her. Millie was a couple years older than Bess, and had been helping out for several years during their busy seasons… which Bess had to admit was almost the entire year. Millie and Claire work Monday through Thursday, changing all the sheets and towels in each room during the day as well as cleaning them. In the afternoon they help Margret in the kitchen prepare mostly for the tea served at five, but also with lunch and dinner. At seven they were done, usually eating at the Inn before going home. Working on Friday-Sunday, Elizabeth and Alex would do the same. Bess’s day followed a pattern as well.

She would do the flower arrangements, usually ending about nine in the morning. At this time most of the guests were having breakfast, which was set up on a long side board across the public dining room. Bess would then go down and replace all the flower arrangements that needed to be with the fresh ones she had just made. While she was doing this, she would make sure that each guest had everything that they needed. Usually during this time, one or two small tasks would crop up: someone wanting to know where to hike, the best shopping, if they could go horseback riding. Bess had plenty of maps available for the guests, and usually quickly dealt with any issues that came up.

Then Bess would help her mother prepare the lunch, and then help serve. After lunch, Bess would do a quick clean of the tables, as it usually needed it. Then it was time to prepare for afternoon tea. Depending on the weather, Bess would set up the outside iron wrought tables, placing little tablecloths over them and opening any umbrellas, or she would set up tea in the parlor and ladies room. Then came serving the tea, then helping dinner, and serving dinner. After dinner, Bess cleaned the dining room and any other tasks that needed to be completed. By the time eleven rolled around, she was usually exhausted, and quickly went to her room to sleep.

Today was following the same pattern, and as Bess rode the lift downstairs, her basket full of the little arrangements for the dining tables, she would hardly expect things to be any differently. However, things were slightly different. As Bess passed the little table in the hall with a telephone, it rang. Bess looked at it, hesitating slightly. If her father did not pick it up within the second ring, it meant he was out and about, doing something. Which meant either she or her mother had to pick it up.

By the third ring, Bess picked up the phone. “Hello. This is the Mayfair Inn. How can I help you?” Bess asked, carefully placing the basket on the little table.

“Hello,” a deep voice responded. “I would like to make reservations for Friday through Monday. I know it is short notice, but would you happen to have two bedrooms available?”

“If you would give me just a minute, sir, I would be able to tell you which rooms are available and if they are satisfactory.” Bess knew that they had several open, as it was Tuesday, and much of their business came from people stopping by. Once she heard the affirmative, Bess placed the phone on hold, made her way to the fourth floor, and dashed to the ‘office’ as they called it. Bess gave a quick look around the room, not seeing her father there. She went to the desk and found the book with all of their reservations available. Bess sat down and picked up the phone. “Hello sir? How many are in your party, and do you have any specific rooms in mind, or do you have any specifications?”

“It would be my mother and father, and me,” he responded, “My father is very busy most of the time, and so my mother wished for a vacation of sorts. So we are having an impromptu holiday. And my mother once had her prom there, and she heard about the Queen’s Room. Is that one available?”

“I am most sorry sir, that room has been booked for this weekend. But the Rose room, overlooking our rose garden, and our second to the Queen’s Room is open.”

“That sounds delightful. My mother loves roses, although she cannot grow them herself worth anything.” The man’s ironic voice spoke through, a delightful timber, Bess thought vaguely.

Bess laughed with the man, “Believe me, I know. I have no luck with growing roses either.” They both laughed slightly, but Bess got along with business. “Would your mother like a specific kind of rose? I can have a large bouquet made up for her once she arrives. Also we have a pampering package that includes a massage, facial, and a rose bath, if she would like it.”

“That sounds lovely, for both ideas.” Bess heard the smile in his voice, along with a tinge of pleasant shock.

“And for you sir, we have the Ocean Room, Jade Room, or the Nobles’ Room that would fit more of a young gentleman’s style.”

“The Nobles’ Room. What is that decked out to be?”

“Like a lord of the realm during the past. It has hunting scenes, darker masculine tones, and an ample supply of good port and cigars. Believe me,” Bess’s voice dropped in confidence, “It is the very best brandy and cigars, but don’t let my father hear that I have told you that.”

He chuckled once more, sending a shiver down Bess’s spine. “Well then, I think that I will reserve that room. And don’t worry, your father won’t hear about it from me.”

After that they talked money, with him asking for a few other services besides the papering for his mother. His father was to receive a massage as well, a private dinner for two on Saturday night, a picnic lunch on Sunday, and an extravagant surprise Sunday night. The young man was not sparing any expenses for the short vacation, Bess noted with appreciation.

“And what are you and your parent’s names?” Bess asked at the end of the transaction, carefully writing everything down for her father to put into the books and start making the necessary phone calls.

“My name is Jack Olsen, and my parent’s names are George and Madelyn Olsen.” Bess gave a quick start.

“George and Madelyn Olsen?” His two parent’s names together were a very strong couple. “The senator and his wife?” She asked, curious.

“Yes,” Jack said with a sigh, “And it looks like it will be impossible to get away with them being just a normal couple.”

Bess frowned at that. “I can assure you that the staff will not be a burden to your parents, and we will do all we can to make sure that they do not feel uncomfortable. If at any time something is not to yours or their satisfaction, please tell us immediately.”

“Oh,” he hurried to assure her, this time, “I doubt you will do anything that will not be proper. It is just that my father has been very busy of late, and it has been wearisome for both of them.”

Bess took a silent calming breath. Of course he was not insulting the Inn. He was just trying to arrange a relaxing vacation for his parents, which would not happen if they were to be incessantly hounded by people trying to do his father’s job. “Thank you sir and I hope that we will be able to make your stay a pleasant one.”

“I am sure you will. Well, I guess that I will be seeing you on Friday.”

“Yes, I am looking forward to it. See you then.” Bess put down the phone slowly, thinking of the surprise that he had planned for his parents. It would require some special arrangements, but she could do most of them during her free time during the week. Bess left the office, all of the information and details lying open on the desk for her father to record. She headed to one of the storage rooms, the one that held the outside decorations. She quickly found the box she was looking for, and started pulling out the chain of snowy white, round bulb. She could start setting up once she had placed the flower arrangements.

***

Jack leaned back in his chair. He would have to do a little arranging himself for the surprise. Putting that aside, Jack thought about the woman on the phone. It had to be Bess Anderson. The voice was too similar. She had a little bit of a temper to her. Most people would not be able to catch it in her voice, but he had learned at a young age to read people’s emotions and motives. It was a skill that he had had to learn, and one that he had used any number of times.

Shaking off his unpleasant thoughts, he turned his mind to this weekend. It should be a vacation for him as well. He did not think that he would be doing any work himself, or at least he hoped he wouldn’t have to. Not at the famous Mayfair Inn. Not like the first time he had been there, although that was not normal of his ‘job’. He really hoped he did not have to do that part of the job again anytime soon.