Six Numbers

Chapter 1-5

The following morning he completed another tour of his new home and wondered when it would all just become a regular part of everyday life he wouldn’t think twice about. Whenever it was, it was a long way from that day. He still couldn’t believe this lovely home and its beautiful, imported furniture was all his. He owned it. Forever. He shook his head.

After he finished breakfast, he went into the study, sat down at his new desk and switched on his laptop. He went to seek.com and placed an advertisement for a butler. By the same time the following morning he’d received three replies, although one of the applicants had no experience and since Benjamin didn’t either, he sent the man a ‘thanks-but-no-thanks’ email.

Out of the other two applicants, Mr Robert Clarke, a forty-year old, clean cut and handsome British man, was the clear choice.

“I see you’ve worked for the aristocracy in England,” said Benjamin as he looked through the man’s curriculum vitae.

“Yes, for eight years until the global financial crisis. They had to let me go,” he explained in his delightful British accent.

“And now you work for the…” Benjamin referred once again to the curriculum vitae. “…the Hansons. Is that the mining family?”

“Yes, that’s correct. Wonderful family.”

“Wonderful? Can I ask why you applied for this job then?”

“Certainly. Let’s just say a teenager-free environment is going to have a more calming effect on my nerves.”

Benjamin could easily understand that. He’d often encountered the odd belligerent teen at Exclusive Menswear. Usually spotty jocks who’d come in to hire a suit for their high school formals. Little boys pretending to be men, but who still chuckled at the word ‘erection’.

“Then all there’s left to ask is when can you start?”

Robert’s face, which had remained suitably expressionless throughout the interview, lit up like a department store window. For a second or two. “Please call me Clarke. I think it only fair to give the family enough notice to be able to find another butler. Is a month too long to wait?”

Benjamin shook his head. “There’ll just be more for you to clean.”

After discussing terms the two men shook hands and that was the last Benjamin heard from Clarke until the weekend before he was due to commence his duties. Contact was in the form of a short phone conversation Sunday evening, just long enough to arrange Clarke’s time of arrival. The following morning Clarke appeared at Benjamin’s front door with one small suitcase in each hand.

“You travel lightly,” Benjamin commented.

“I don’t need much, sir.”

Benjamin was taken aback at being called ‘sir’. Clarke was six years older than he was. As a boy, Benjamin had been taught to respect his elders. It felt awkward having someone older refer to him in such a formal manner.

“Call me Benjamin. ‘Sir’ makes me sound older than I am, or want to be.”

Clarke nodded. “Very well. I will call you Benjamin. Unless you have company, that is. I have my standards.”

“Not much danger of company,” said Benjamin. “Okay, I guess you should follow me. I’ll show you to your room.”

They walked down the hall and up the stairs.

“Your room will be at the opposite end of the house to mine. Just down here.” They turned right at the top of the stairs and followed the carpeted hallway to the end. “You can use the main bathroom. I have my own en-suite so you’ll pretty much have it to yourself. Is there anything else?”

Clarke gave the room a cursory glance and returned his attention to Benjamin. “No, sir. This will do very nicely.”

“Good, I’m glad. And remember, call me Benjamin. ‘Sir’ makes me feel uncomfortable. I’m not one of your aristocrats.”

“Thankfully,” Clarke replied with a slight nod of his head.

“I’ll leave you to it, then,” Benjamin said. “Feel free to have a look around and when you’re ready, come down for a coffee. Or a tea. You guys drink tea, don’t you?”

“Coffee will be fine,” Clarke replied.

Benjamin left Clarke to settle in.