Jack the Ripper – A Love Story ( Excerpt 25 )

Jack the Ripper – A Love Story ( Excerpt 25 )

  I reminded her quite firmly that she was an employee, with less than perfect references, so from the moment she arrived Miss Kelly was to be treated as a guest, nothing more, nothing less. She be-grudgingly accepted my instructions but I fear mainly because I left her no choice, but time will tell.

When I arrived home, Mary was in her room, getting settled in. Mrs Mc Ginty announced that dinner would be served in fifteen minutes, I went to my own room, freshened up a little and then knocked on Mary’s door.

Mary opened it immediately, ‘You don’t have to knock, its your house just walk in, I’ve nothing to hide!’ she said smiling. ‘That may be all well and good, but I don’t want to lower your esteem in the eyes of my servants,’ And as an afterthought I added, ‘When we are in my home, please address me as Jack, not Doctor, I want us to be friends.’

‘But I hope we are friends, Lord knows, I already owe you so much I didn’t know where I would sleep tonight and thanks to your friendship and charity, I have a room and a nice warm bed,’ Mary replied and made me feel so much better.

‘Shall we repair to the Dining Room, Dinner is about to be served, I think you will appreciate Mrs Mc Ginty, she is a wonderful cook,’ I suggested taking her arm in mine.

We made small talk throughout the meal and I found Mary to be entertaining company, she was treated with grudging respect by Mrs Mc Ginty, who had obviously heeded my warning. We ate and drank together in a wonderfully informal atmosphere.

Mary had me howling with laughter with anecdotes of when she worked in a Milliners shop. She can be slightly coarse, but I find her company quite refreshing, quite the breath of fresh air that my life needed. After dinner we parted, Mary to her room and me to my experiments in the cellar.

(C) Damian Grange 2018