Marry a Stranger Read Online Free

you are looking for a job. Is that right? He also told me all about your coming to London, and having nowhere to stay, and about his permitting you to remain here until you can find somewhere else—which was sweet but quixotic of him, and entirely like him! As I told him, the world might look a little askance at a man of his years and position taking pity on a young and inexperienced girl! ... Although, of course, as your father was an old friend of his it does make it all rather different ... ”—sending clouds of Egyptian cigarette smoke into the air and watching Stacey through the fog.
    Stacey looked almost horrified by her words, and a sudden, vivid color mounted in her cheeks.
    “Oh, if you think I did the wrong thing in coming here ... ?”
    “Not at all,” Miss Hunt reassured her soothingly, actually smiling this time with her eyes; “but I think you would be making a grave mistake if you remained here very long, to say nothing of inconveniencing Dr. Guelder, who, as I say, is quixotic. And that’s why, although I’m really terribly busy, I’ve come haring off here this afternoon to put a proposition to you which will not only solve your immediate problem but, if you accept it, will probably lead to better things for you in the future—much better things than banging a typewriter and answering a telephone could ever possibly lead you to!”
    Stacey’s eyes were large with curiosity, although she was still rather hot about the neck as a result of that direct accusation of having thoughtlessly placed the reputation of a man of Martin Guelder’s eminence in jeopardy. It had never occurred to her that his offer of bringing her to his flat was a trifle unconventional, and it had apparently not even occurred to Mrs. Elbe—although it had obviously rather shocked Miss Hunt! But doubtless Miss Hunt was a rather close and particular friend of Dr. Guelder’s!
    “I have a little gown shop in Bond Street,” Miss Hunt explained, “and although I wasn’t thinking of taking on anyone new to help at the moment, I’m perfectly willing to give you a trial job if it will help Dr. Guelder—and you, of course! As you’re quite inexperienced you would have a great deal to learn, and at first you might be more useful to me merely serving in the shop and perhaps lending a hand with the accounts and so forth, but in time you would be permitted to model clothes—and I expect you’re interested in clothes, aren’t you?” with a doubtful glance at the rather faded summer cotton dress Dr. Guelder’s protégée was wearing, and the distinctly shabby white sandals. “And you could live with me in my flat—at least for a time—and I’d pay you a sort of pocket money ... ”
    Stacey drew a long breath.
    “It sounds as if it might be—very nice,” she said, because she was quite sure that that was what was expected of her.
    Vera Hunt rewarded her with a slightly superior smile, and lighted another cigarette, this time placing it in a very long and unusual turquoise and silver holder.
    “Of course, my dear, it’s up to you! But there are heaps of girls of your age who would simply jump at such a chance, and since you want to live in London — ”
    “I came to London to get a job,” Stacey admitted.
    “What sort of job?”
    “Oh, nothing in particular—I know I’m not trained for anything — ”
    “And most girls do train for something nowadays! You’re a little behind the times, my dear.”
    “I’m afraid I’ve lived in a rather behind-the - times country village,” Stacey told her, as if it was something to feel slightly ashamed of. “And my father needed a housekeeper, so I had to remain at home.”
    “Well, I’ve no doubt you were quite a good little housekeeper,” Vera answered with that mirthless smile. “But what do you say to my offer? At the risk of seeming repetitive I do want you to understand that it is not quite the right thing for you to stay on here in this flat, and I promised Dr.