My Neighbor's Wife

Chapter 5

"Ah! Mrs. Barker, you're back."

It was the beadle- the right hand of the judge- who opens the door for Lucy. He gives her a malicious smile then opens the door wider and gestures for her to come inside.

It has been her second time in the house and yet it still amazes her. Opening the door there's a hallway that contains different kinds of paintings and portraits but, what's prominent in this hall was the big chandelier located at the top- it has intricate designs. There is an isle connecting the hall to the rear side of the house. Traversing the isle, at both sides, there were different rooms facing each other. At the end of the isle there's a grand stair case leading to the second floor.

She follows the beadle's lead. The beadle says something about the library and Judge Turpin being there so she guesses that's where they are going. They stop at the third door on the left. The Beadle does not bother knocking and just enters. Upon entering she sees Judge Turpin on his desk- writing something.

The beadle clears his throat and announces her arrival "My Lord, Mrs. Barker's back."

Judge Turpin stops writing then looks up to Lucy. He gives her a welcoming smile then motion for her to sit by the chair near his desk.

"Have you considered my offer, Mrs. Barker?" he asks "It was a great offer. You see... you'll just go with me in my business trip as my secretary- for a week. I'll pay you immediately once we got back here." He shakes his head the sighs "I don't see why you still have to think about it."

She is still hesitant but she knows that if she does not make a decision soon, the Judge will look for replacement. "Well, that's why I'm here sir. I've decided that I would accept your offer."

The judge beams at this. He holds out his hand for his new secretary to shake. She takes his hand and shakes it- he gives it a little squeeze.

"We will leave tomorrow morning at 5 O' clock. Don't be late- I'll meet you here."

She nods then stands up, exiting- the beadle escorts her outside.

Once she was out of the mansion she starts walking home.

She does not expect that they would leave so soon. Now, she was thinking of how she will tell Ben that she will be gone for a week. She has not mention to him that she is looking for a job- he would not agree. She has to think of an excuse to leave. She cannot just simply tell Ben that she found a job and then leave tomorrow- he would not understand.

She does not want to lie to him but, it's better for the two of them if he does not know- even though it pains her in doing so. She's only keeping it from him because she knows that if he finds out then he would not let her come- especially if he knows that she was travelling with a man whom she just met. 'But it was the judge- he can be trusted!' she reasons to herself.

The truth is: the only reason that she went out and looked for a job is because she really wants to bear a child- to start a family. Ben says that they can't for now; because, they still need to earn money. So, if she can help in increasing their incomes and savings, then why not? She would not wait too long to have a family of her own.

She also knows how much Ben wants a child; it is for their own good. She's doing it for both of them. She shakes her head then sighs. No matter how much she says to herself that what she's doing is good for them she still knows that she should tell it to her husband- he deserves to know everything. She thinks it's unfair because Ben is honest to her- he does not keep secrets from her.

She is so deep in her thoughts that she does not notice that she is already in Fleet Street- exactly in front of Mrs. Lovett's bakeshop.

She does not want to see her husband yet so she decides to go to Mrs. Lovett's shop- to pass time. She is about to enter the shop but stops when she sees that it was full of customers. She does not want to disturb the baker. She has no choice but to turn around and go upstairs and face him.