The Nine Oceans

Chapter 2

Tenet Mik

Douglas James Mont, Lord James of the Mont estates, younger brother to the current Duke Mont – meaning James was the brother typically left to manage the company his family owned while Justin did... whatever it was Justin did – threw down his stylus and stared at the double row of newly hired women who were joining the house staff today. The crisply ironed ridges of their grey uniforms contrasted sharply with the curves of the heavy wooden furnishings surrounding the space they were now occupying. Once she was certain he wasn't going to immediately start yelling, Miss Esther announced their names in turn and he was subjected to the irritation of watching all seventeen nervously nod or bow and mumble a greeting, one by one. Then they all stood there, awkwardly, and Miss Esther smiled out of wrinkles unaccustomed to that position while staring down her sharp nose at where he was sitting behind his desk.

"Is this all, or do you have another battalion waiting in the hall?" he asked, drumming his fingers on the pile of paper in front of him which was an actual priority.

"These are the new house staff members hired in by Lady Ann prior to her departure, Lord Mont," Miss Esther replied promptly. "You'll be seeing them working arou–"

"They're not working if they're standing in my office confirming their name pins match their names," he interrupted. "If they work in the house then put them to work. I assume they were hired for a purpose other than knowing their own names."

"I had simply thought –"

"Then perhaps you shouldn't," he interrupted again. "And, being mostly simple, your thoughts and staff members are not required in my office."

Miss Esther's mouth snapped shut into the frown her wrinkles were accustomed to, her throat shaking with indignation as she turned on the new staff members and ordered them out to work. They all quickly filed through the door, their matching uniforms blending together, and James picked up his stylus and turned back to his work.

"You could attempt at being polite," Miss Esther said, clearly intending to mumble it and, even after all these years, still having no idea of the acoustics in his office.

"I could," he answered, making her jump and then cower slightly under the glare he aimed directly at her. "But I see no reason why I should."

She darted out and closed the heavy door loudly. She was careful not to openly slam it, but the intent was there. James turned back to the contracts regarding the agreements and trade deals he was negotiating in preparation for the coming season and attempted to recover the thought process Miss Esther's interruption had jumbled. He was planning to finish the details of the major agreements before lunch, and then he had the requirements of drafting the schedule of new shipyard orders for the yard managers to review. The dry docks were overrun this season with orders for new ships and modifications now that Montrade had renewed their agreement with the Leshnatti enginemen union, and the construction scheduling needed to be properly arranged for the backlog.

"And just like that you're back to work." The dry voice was followed up with a quiet chuckle. "Did you even notice all those women are the type men who prefer women usually like to look at?"

"Uncle Lynn! You're up already." James ignored the question and smiled across to where his uncle was leaning against the frame of the open, hidden door.

"I'm too old and too used to hammocks to rest well in the beds you keep around here," Lynn said, grinning up at his nephew once James stood and came around his desk. "Besides, I woke up this morning thinking of your mother, and what she'd said when the Trident and the Gem crossed paths a few weeks ago."

"That we'd gotten word the Lindy was scuttled at the D'Vialle estate?"

"That's what she told me," Lynn agreed, sitting in one of the plush chairs when James held out a hand to offer it. "That's all she told me, actually. She was in a rush. I didn't think to ask on it until sometime before the sun came up this morning. But, Cromby shared breakfast with me, and then you had such a lovely parade through here I felt I shouldn't interrupt."