Dot tentatively approaches Mr. Carver...

Dot, a bit more composed since the train ride but still a little pale, cautiously pokes her head into the drawing room and clears her throat, hovering about the doorway.

"Ah... Mr. Carver? I'm very sorry to bother you, sir, but, um, I was wondering if I could just have-ah-a quick moment..." She swallows nervously. She had half been wishing she wouldn't find him to put off the inevitable confrontation.

In the drawing room, Mr. Carver and Nigel are arguing over how to renovate the drawing room. Well, "arguing" is inaccurate. Carver is shouting out demands at Nigel, while the architect is explaining, how outlandish and impossible those demands would be.



"IF YOU CAN'T MAKE TURN THIS ROOM INTO A MODERN LOUNGE THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL I AM PAYING...WHAT?"

Dot had just been about to retreat and save it for another day when Carver unfortunately notices her. She goes a few shades whiter than Gladys's laundered sheets.

"Ah... Um... I-I'm sorry, sir, if now isn't a good time I'll come back later. It wasn't very important, just a-a tiny thing about wages--it can wait!" She barely remembers to curtsy as she tries to turn and escape.

Nigel shoots Dot a look that clearly says Obviously it isn't a good time. There's also what may be a look of pity on his face?

Mr. Carver yells after her as she attempts to leave, "GIRL, IF YOU INSIST ON INTERRUPTING US, AT LEAST FINISH YOUR THOUGHT! COME BACK HERE!"

Dot freezes in the hallway, wringing her hands. It's tempting to just keep running, but an order is an order, and with Mr. Carver, it's more than that. She turns around and tiptoes back reluctantly, tripping a little on the carpet, and finally stands in the doorway looking about five years younger than she is.

"Ah... thank you for taking the time, Mr. Carver, I'm so sorry to have interrupted... It was, um... On the train up this morning, I don't know if you heard about the train robbery--? You see the thieves got my pocketbook, and some of the guests' things, and I'd just been to give some of my wages to my mother, and I was wondering--if it isn't too much trouble, that is--if I could possibly have this month's wages early?" He finishes the last bit somewhat rushed, suddenly becoming very interested in the patterning of the carpet.

Mr. Carver smirks and laughing, he turns to Nigel, "She's kidding, right? She must be kidding. Nigel, am I really hearing this?"

He turns back to you. "Girl, my maids are not getting an advance on their earnings until this place is spotless and they are all doing their job impeccably. Nigel, can I borrow your handkerchief?"

Nigel, flustered, offers up a beautiful white handkerchief.

Mr. Carver snatches it away and walks over to the fireplace, where it runs the kerchief over the empty grate. The tiniest bit of soot clings to the white. He marches back to you and demands, "DOES THAT LOOK IMPECCABLE TO YOU?"

((successful resolve + comp roll!))


Dot preemptively flinches as Carver advances on her, but finding herself face-to-face with a handkerchief rather than Mr. Carver's tomato-red noggin is perhaps not quite so bad as she had been anticipating? She cracks an eye open, wincing.

"Ah... y-es Mr. Carver, I completely understand--I'll just go to get my apron and duster, and I'll see to the downstairs right away," she promises, speaking at the speed of light, before turning to make as hasty a departure as she can manage. If she can just escape before the thinks of something else...

Carver lets Dot leave, turning once again to Nigel to complain about his renovation plans. Dot's adventures, meanwhile, continue here.