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“I’m sorry, what’s agreed?”
“My final payment.”
“We already agreed on seventy-five.”
“That was before downsizing was taken into account.”
He slowly sat back down.
“Downsizing?” he said.
“I don’t need such large rooms,” I said. “They’re too big for a woman of my size.”
“But you said you wanted the second-best rooms in the house…”
“I didn’t say I wanted them,” I said. “I said they were what a governess of my experience and stature deserves. I would be much happier in a smaller room.”
“Fine,” he said. “You can have a smaller room. You can have every room for all I care.”
I was getting under his skin. It felt good.
“Excellent!” I said. “I’m glad we could come to an agreement.”
He looked exhausted.
“So am I,” he said. “So, it’s seventy-five a week, plus room and board—”
“A hundred.”
“Excuse me?”
“It’s a hundred a week plus room and board.”
“How do you figure that?”
“It’s seventy-five a week basic, then a room worth twenty-five. I will graciously downsize to a much smaller room. The previous governess’s room will suffice. So, that’s saving you twenty-five credits, for a total of one hundred.”
Traes’ eyes narrowed.
“What you’re saying is, you want me to pay you a hundred credits a week,” he said.
“It’s not what I want,” I said. “It’s what Cleb needs.”
“And he needs a governess that costs twice the amount of a very experienced one that comes complete with references.”
Had I pushed too hard? Would he buckle and decide he didn’t want me to teach Cleb?
I stood on eggshells waiting for him to make his decision.
“Fine,” he said. “One hundred a week. You must have your reasons for needing it.”
Sure do. One thousand of them.
“But I want your word that you won’t suddenly quit,” he said. “Cleb has had enough people leaving his life. He doesn’t need another one.”
I blinked at that. What did that mean?
Suddenly, I felt bad. I’d gotten what I wanted—well, if I got what I wanted, I would have gotten a thousand credits upfront and be on my way—but ten weeks teaching that cute little boy wasn’t exactly a hardship for me. And neither would having to put up with his grouchy uncle every day.
