‘Oh, my...’ She sighed as she climbed out of her car and just stared.
The house was white, cement-rendered and two-storeyed, with an architectural style that reminded Ruby of those old Georgian mansions that were popular with the English aristocracy.
Not that this house was on that scale, but it had a size and symmetry that were very pleasing to the eye, with a central ivy-clad portico flanked by two French doors downstairs and the same number of windows upstairs. The front yard was like a miniature Versailles garden, with manicured hedges and gravel areas rather than lawn, highlighted with exquisite pots and water features. The front fence had a solid white concrete base topped with dark wooden slats, and a wooden security gate that opened onto a wide path made of white marble tiles. Not that Ruby could open the gate, but there were gaps you could see through.
For a few moments Ruby wondered if she’d bitten off more than she could chew. But then common sense kicked in. Of course she could do this. She was a very resourceful person. And what was the worst that could happen? She stuffed it up and got fired. Not the end of the world.
Ruby refused to succumb to what her mother used to call the heebie-jeebies.
Ruby smiled at the memory. Her mother had been such a character, a great reader who loved cute sayings such as heebie-jeebies. Being a nervous Nellie was another of her favourites, perhaps because her mother had been an anxious person growing up. She’d confided once that she’d been determined to raise Ruby to be confident and independent in her thinking.
Ruby believed she had eventually achieved this, though only after many life lessons.
A car coming slowly up the street brought Ruby’s mind back to the present. When she saw a woman behind the wheel of the Lexus she just knew it was Mr Marshall’s sister.
The Lexus pulled in behind her silver Kia Rio, which, whilst not a flash car, was still fairly new and sparkling clean, Ruby having left it at a car wash whilst she shopped last night. She knew how important first impressions were and was glad Barbara had advised her how not to dress. Because Ruby was no fool. She knew that if Mr Marshall’s sister didn’t like the look of her, she might not be getting this job.
Ruby was pleased with the way the woman was smiling at her. Clearly, the outfit she’d bought last night was spot on. The A-line black skirt reached her knees, and the simple white shirt she’d teamed with it shouted professionalism, especially when combined with black pumps and pulled-back hair.
‘Ruby, I presume?’ the woman said as she approached. She was slim and blonde and rather glamorous-looking. In her forties, Ruby guessed, but could have been older. Money did keep women looking young, what with Botox and face peels.
‘Yes,’ Ruby replied. ‘And you must be Mrs Chalmers.’
‘Indeed, but do call me Gloria,’ she insisted, her blue eyes twinkling with genuine warmth.
Ruby could not help liking her. But then, Ruby liked most people, as long as they were nice to her.
‘That’s a lovely name,’ she said.
‘A little old-fashioned. I much prefer Ruby. So, Ruby, what do you think of my brother’s house?’
‘It’s very impressive.’
‘It is. I have the keys here. Shall we go inside?’
‘Yes, please.’
The inside was as elegant as the facade, with lots of grey marble floors and white walls, and a mixture of pale silk curtains and plantation shutters at the windows. Some of the furniture looked antique, in dark wood, but the overall impression was very contemporary. The kitchen was a dream in mostly white, with every mod con imaginable, including a coffee machine, which Ruby would have no trouble using. There were several reception rooms, and one carpeted bedroom downstairs, which she imagined a housekeeper might use, with a bathroom just across the hallway. Upstairs there were three guest double bedrooms—again carpeted—serviced by a family bathroom, along with a huge master suite, which had its own sitting area, bathroom and walk-in wardrobe.
Though not quite a mansion, it was still going to take some looking after. Maybe she wouldn’t have much time to study after all.
‘You look a little worried,’ Gloria said as she led Ruby through some French doors out onto the huge back terrace, which was set up for alfresco dining. Beyond the terrace was a large lawned backyard along with a rectangular swimming pool to one side.
‘Will I have any help?’ she asked.
‘Goodness yes. There’s a cleaner who comes in Monday and Friday to do the floors and the bathrooms. Her name is Janice. Though she wouldn’t have come today with Sebastian being away. Then there’s a handyman called Tom who does the garden and the pool. Not sure which days he’s here, but Georgia will tell you everything.’
‘Georgia?’
‘Sebastian’s usual housekeeper. She’s left you the house phone with all the necessary contacts in it, including her own phone number. It’s in the drawer in the kitchen just below the cutlery drawer. She wants you to ring her today so she can fill you in on everything Sebastian likes and doesn’t like.’
‘Right. So what happened that she had to be called away so suddenly?’
‘Didn’t Sebastian tell you?’
‘No.’
‘Typical,’ Gloria said, rolling her eyes. ‘Her sister had a car accident and will be in hospital for several weeks.’
‘Oh, the poor love. So where did this happen? Obviously not here in Sydney.’
‘No, down in Melbourne. Georgia said she will most likely stay for a good while, even after her sister gets out of hospital. There are three children to look after and her brother-in-law is pretty useless, she said. Anyway, she won’t be back for at least three months.’
‘Barbara said it might be as long as that.’
‘Barbara?’ Gloria frowned.
‘The woman who runs Housewives for Hire.’
‘Oh, right. Look, I’m sorry to love you and leave you but I have some ladies coming over for lunch today and I’ve still got a lot to do. Here are the keys. Make yourself at home, and please do ring me if you have any questions, though I imagine Georgia would be better qualified to answer them than me. Oh, and one last thing, there’s a side driveway which leads down to a huge garage underneath the house. There’s plenty of room for your car. Do use it. The remote is on the key ring. Also, Sebastian said to tell you he’ll be in contact. Probably by text. Or email. Now, I have to run. Lovely meeting you, Ruby. Give my regards to Georgia when you ring her. Bye.’
She was gone before Ruby could do more than say bye in return, leaving Ruby standing there on the back terrace, still slightly overawed by the place. She’d worked in some fancy resorts but she’d never been in a private home this flash before. Her own family home—which her father had sold once they’d all flown the nest—had been a standard brick veneer house in the Western suburbs with three bedrooms, one and a half bathrooms and no pool. Even so, it had sold for over a million dollars. Lord knew what this place was worth. Or what Sebastian Marshall was worth, for that matter.