She sat for a moment at the large and elaborate desk looking at the leather blotter and ormolu inkpot.
Then she remembered that if Charity was going to the shops she wanted some scent.
On the ship during a storm she had upset a bottle of French perfume she had bought in New York and it was one of the first things she had meant to replace when they arrived in Paris.
Knowing that Charity would not be far down the stairs and that she moved slowly, Vada opened the door of the sitting room and the door onto the passage.
Then she ran down the corridor and started down the wide stairway that led to the vestibule.
Charity had not reached the first floor when Vada caught up with her.
“Charity!” she called.
The old maid turned round.
“What is it, Miss Vada?”
“Please buy me a bottle of my us
