Page 3 of Sensing Selma
“Penny!”I said. “I wasn’t expecting you to come. I thought you and Cliff were still away.”
She shook her head.
“Are you okay?”I said as she joined us.
She nodded, though without conviction.
“Susan and Holly, this is my lovely accountant, Penny Copperfield. Penny, these are the Selma girls from Selma Sanctuary.”
Penny nodded at the girls then looked at me. “I need to talk to you a moment, Keely.”
“Sure.”I excused myself and took a few steps away. “What’s going on?”
“I know this is last minute, and I wish I’d known of this sooner, but...”
“But, what, Penny? Even if it’s last minute, you can tell me anything.”
“Part of it is my fault. I hadn’t realized you’d be shootingSense and Sensibilityin Derbyshire. I should have known, but for some reason I assumed it’d be here in Bath.”
“Oh? And is Derbyshire a problem?”
She nodded and my gut tied up in knots. I couldn’t afford to lose her.
“I’m really sorry, but Cliff wants me to help out with his Roman Baths documentary series. Even with the shoot being here in Bath it would have been complicated and taxing, but in Derbyshire...well, it becomes downright impossible. I mean, I do hope you understand...I promised Cliff that I would help out and...”
“Penny, it’s all right. Of course, I’m disappointed. I mean, you did such a good job. I trust you and...oh, but I do understand.”
I glanced at Abbie who was still with the Selmas. Judging by the concern in her eyes, she’d heard Penny’s resignation.
“In addition to that,” Penny went on. “I do have a lot of work to do at my family home at Copperfield Corner.”
“Yes. I understand.”
Abbie, along with Susan and Holly, joined us.
“I’m sorry,” Susan said. “We couldn’t help but overhear.”
Abbie looked at me. “I told Susan and Holly about our movie production company and about our next project.”
“I knew you were the director of Jane Austen films,” Susan said, “but I didn’t know you were responsible for those fantastic screen adaptations that keeps winning awards.”
I smiled. “Yes. We’ve been working quite hard.”
“Did I hear you right?”Susan said. “You introduced Penny as your accountant?”
“That’s right,” I said, tenderly patting Penny’s shoulder. “And I’m afraid we’re going to be losing her on this next project.”
“Um.” Susan looked at me and hesitated. “If I may be so bold...”
“Please,” I said.
“I worked as an accountant with the Schultz and Brodeur firm for three years.”
“Worked? You mean you don’t work there anymore?”
“That’s right. They’ve recently moved their offices to London, and I’ve not been able to find other employment.”
Seeing a very bright light at the end of this unfortunate tunnel, I smiled. “I know Schultz and Brodeur. My husband, Hugh, has worked with them. They pride themselves on hiring only the best.”
