Moonlight Masquerade by Jude Deveraux Read Free Book Online Page B

know what my job is,” Sophie said. “Kim was rather vague about my duties, and she said it was temporary, so—”
    â€œOh no! Not at all,” said the middle woman. She was pleasantly plump and looked like she laughed a lot. “I’m Betsy and this is Alice. We want to welcome you to Edilean and your job will be to give Dr. Reede—”
    â€œOur dear Dr. Reede,” Alice interspersed.
    â€œYes, our esteemed Dr. Reede, a man loved by everyone, any and all personal service that he needs.”
    â€œOr wants,” Heather said.
    â€œWhat exactly does that mean?” Sophie asked. “Are we talking cleaning or handling his finances? Or what?”
    â€œYes,” Betsy said. “I mean no, you don’t have to clean, but actually he doesn’t have anyone now.”
    â€œHe did,” Alice said, “but she . . . Well she had to quit so, uh, she did.”
    â€œNot because of Dr. Reede,” Heather said quickly. “She really should have seen the cobwebs, but she didn’t, so—”
    â€œWhat Heather means is that you’re his personal assistant so you’re to do what you can,” Betsy said.
    â€œWhen do I meet him?” Sophie asked.
    â€œWho?” Alice asked.
    Betsy elbowed her. “Our doctor works long, hard hours, and sometimes he leaves early and stays late. You might not meet him for days.”
    â€œIf we can arrange it,” Heather said under her breath.
    Betsy glared at her. “Heather means that we have difficulty arranging his very busy schedule. It keeps him so busy because he lives for other people, and is always helping them. He never thinks of anyone but his patients.”
    â€œHe sounds like a remarkable man,” Sophie said. She remembered that Kim used to talk of her brother as though he were a pest, and that she didn’t much like his hometown girlfriend. “The most boring person on earth,” Kim used to say about the woman. “I don’t know what he sees in her.”
    The three women were staring at Sophie as though they expected her to say something, but she didn’t know what. “Should I come back later when he’s here so he can tell me what he wants me to do?”
    â€œOh no!” Betsy said. “He won’t be back until this evening. Late.”
    â€œBut what about his patients? Don’t they have appointments?”
    â€œWe cancelled them,” Heather said.
    â€œBecause of emergencies,” Alice added.
    â€œWhy don’t you go upstairs and make yourself at home?” Betsy said.
    Sophie had no idea what they were talking about. This was a job, not a home. Before she could expressher doubt, the three women opened a door and practically pushed her up the stairs. She went through a doorway, a door shut behind her, and she found herself alone in an apartment.
    Her first thought was that it wasn’t a very nice apartment. There were few windows, little furniture, and what there was seemed to be covered in gray. It looked as if people who wanted to get a new set of furniture had given Dr. Reede their old things. There was a fine coat of dust over everything, and as far as she could see, there was nothing personal anywhere. Motel rooms had more personality.
    There was one large room that contained a living area, an old dining table with three scruffy chairs, and a little kitchen that had some basic appliances. At the end of the room was an open door and inside was a bedroom with as little personality as the rest of the place. The bed hadn’t been made up, but it wasn’t a jumble. The bathroom, with a stack washer and dryer, completed the apartment.
    Sophie went back to the living room and called Kim on the landline and right away confirmed that it was all right for her to stay in Kim’s house.
    â€œMake yourself at home,” Kim said.
    Sophie went on to tell her where she was at the moment. Kim groaned. “Horrible,