The Forgiving Heart (The Heart of Minnesota Book 1) by Becky Riker Page B
Authors: Becky Riker
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and paced the room. “You have been misinterpreting Mr. Beauchamp’s words to us. . .”
“Just to your sister,” Karlijna hurried to defend herself.
“To my sister, then,” he looked irritated at the interruption.
“Yes.”
Mr. Sodergaard was angry, “I do not pay you to judge what to say. I pay you to interpret exactly what is said.”
Karlijna knew this was true, but she had to be clear, “I will do as you say, sir, but I must warn you,” she pressed, “If Mr. Beauchamp continues as he has been, your sister will be very offended.”
A glimpse of hesitancy passed over Mr. Sodergaard’s face, but he shook his head resolutely, “Be that as it may, I must have accuracy in all translations.”
“I understand, sir. Thank you.”
Mr. Sodergaard nodded, seeming surprised at her submission, “Goodnight, Karlijna.”
CHAPTER TEN
Karlijna was relieved to find the next day would be busy with meetings.
There was no opportunity for Miss Sodergaard to carry on a conversation with Mr. Beauchamp until supper time. With that meal, came another business associate and his wife. Much to Karlijna’s relief, Miss Sodergaard was acquainted with the woman, and the two ladies conversed through the meal and until the company went home.
Karlijna doubted she could make it through the evening without at least a brief exchange between the two, but she was bless ed to find otherwise. Immediately following the guests’ departure, Mr. Beauchamp confessed his fatigue and took himself to bed. Realizing Miss Sodergaard was not wanting for her company, Karlijna took the opportunity to retire early as well.
It was well that the girl had slept well Thursday night, for she needed all her s trength for the following day. She awoke to the noise of someone pounding on her door. Looking over to discover Miss Sodergaard sleeping, she grabbed her wrap and went to open it. She was dismayed, but not surprised to see it was Mr. Beauchamp.
“Yes?” she blinked owlishly at the man, wondering what time it was.
“I need you to come and help me,” he looked angry that she wasn’t already at his service, “I plan to leave today so I need to get an early start.”
Karlijna no dded, “Give me fifteen minutes. I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”
The man grunted, but turned to leave.
Karlijna hurried through her morning preparations. She didn’t care if she did look thrown together. He was going home and then this trial of a week would be behind her.
It took less time than she had stated and Karlijna was down in the kitchen. Mr. Sodergaard joined them shortly and the b usiness was completed quickly. By noon, Mr. Beauchamp was packing to return home.
“You will take the noon meal with us?” Helga looked surprised as the man came down the stairs, suitcases in hand.
Karlijna who had been waiting with that woman in the parlor, translated.
“Of course,” he looked at Karlijna rather than Helga.
“That will be wonderful,” the older woman gushed at the answer, “I’ll tell Cook to make something special.”
Karlijna translated the message.
Mr. Beauchamp didn’t try to hide his disgust, “It’s a little late to change her menu now, madam. She is working to put it on the table.”
Karlijna took a deep breath and repeated, word fo r word, what the man had said. She hoped the remark, though mild compared to some of the things he said, was blunt enough to stop Helga’s effusiveness. Karlijna was to be disappointed.
“Well,” Miss Sodergaard huffed, looking from the handsome, but cynical face of the man to the inno cent face of the interpreter. She seemed as if she didn’t know where the remark had originated. “I guess Cook could change the menu if I asked her to.”
Karlijna lifted up a prayer for mercy as she repeated this to Mr. Beauchamp.
His eyes narrowed and he looked directly at Karlijna, “Well done,
“Just to your sister,” Karlijna hurried to defend herself.
“To my sister, then,” he looked irritated at the interruption.
“Yes.”
Mr. Sodergaard was angry, “I do not pay you to judge what to say. I pay you to interpret exactly what is said.”
Karlijna knew this was true, but she had to be clear, “I will do as you say, sir, but I must warn you,” she pressed, “If Mr. Beauchamp continues as he has been, your sister will be very offended.”
A glimpse of hesitancy passed over Mr. Sodergaard’s face, but he shook his head resolutely, “Be that as it may, I must have accuracy in all translations.”
“I understand, sir. Thank you.”
Mr. Sodergaard nodded, seeming surprised at her submission, “Goodnight, Karlijna.”
CHAPTER TEN
Karlijna was relieved to find the next day would be busy with meetings.
There was no opportunity for Miss Sodergaard to carry on a conversation with Mr. Beauchamp until supper time. With that meal, came another business associate and his wife. Much to Karlijna’s relief, Miss Sodergaard was acquainted with the woman, and the two ladies conversed through the meal and until the company went home.
Karlijna doubted she could make it through the evening without at least a brief exchange between the two, but she was bless ed to find otherwise. Immediately following the guests’ departure, Mr. Beauchamp confessed his fatigue and took himself to bed. Realizing Miss Sodergaard was not wanting for her company, Karlijna took the opportunity to retire early as well.
It was well that the girl had slept well Thursday night, for she needed all her s trength for the following day. She awoke to the noise of someone pounding on her door. Looking over to discover Miss Sodergaard sleeping, she grabbed her wrap and went to open it. She was dismayed, but not surprised to see it was Mr. Beauchamp.
“Yes?” she blinked owlishly at the man, wondering what time it was.
“I need you to come and help me,” he looked angry that she wasn’t already at his service, “I plan to leave today so I need to get an early start.”
Karlijna no dded, “Give me fifteen minutes. I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”
The man grunted, but turned to leave.
Karlijna hurried through her morning preparations. She didn’t care if she did look thrown together. He was going home and then this trial of a week would be behind her.
It took less time than she had stated and Karlijna was down in the kitchen. Mr. Sodergaard joined them shortly and the b usiness was completed quickly. By noon, Mr. Beauchamp was packing to return home.
“You will take the noon meal with us?” Helga looked surprised as the man came down the stairs, suitcases in hand.
Karlijna who had been waiting with that woman in the parlor, translated.
“Of course,” he looked at Karlijna rather than Helga.
“That will be wonderful,” the older woman gushed at the answer, “I’ll tell Cook to make something special.”
Karlijna translated the message.
Mr. Beauchamp didn’t try to hide his disgust, “It’s a little late to change her menu now, madam. She is working to put it on the table.”
Karlijna took a deep breath and repeated, word fo r word, what the man had said. She hoped the remark, though mild compared to some of the things he said, was blunt enough to stop Helga’s effusiveness. Karlijna was to be disappointed.
“Well,” Miss Sodergaard huffed, looking from the handsome, but cynical face of the man to the inno cent face of the interpreter. She seemed as if she didn’t know where the remark had originated. “I guess Cook could change the menu if I asked her to.”
Karlijna lifted up a prayer for mercy as she repeated this to Mr. Beauchamp.
His eyes narrowed and he looked directly at Karlijna, “Well done,
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