dmims Chapter 79 Moretti's Home
Chapter 79 Moretti's Home
After leaving Altair's room, old Clayton went straight to the castle's telegraph room.
Not long after, Amos Clayton, who lived in Tingen, received a telegram from his father:
"Go to...the import and export company, find Benson Moretti, and tell him to come to Morse town tomorrow. Count Altair wants to see him."
After reading it, Amos had an incredulous expression on his face. He put down the paper, rubbed his eyes, picked it up again, and looked at the contents of the telegram.
After confirming that he was not hallucinating, he could only shake his head helplessly, get up and go to the dressing room to change his clothes, and then take a carriage to the import and export trading company.
Amos knew perfectly well who Benson Moretti was, but his philosophy on raising Benson Moretti differed from his father's.
Old Clayton believed that although Benson Moretti came from humble beginnings and had a poor education, he was hardworking, honest, kind, and polite, and as a descendant of soldiers, he should be "given a chance."
Amos Clayton, on the other hand, believes that Benson Moretti has long since become a "former talent" and is no longer worth developing.
Even if the training is successful, there is no guarantee that the investment will be recouped, not to mention that Benson himself is far too inefficient at improving himself.
If it were just his father asking him to meet alone, Amos's carriage would be traveling back to Morse town, not to some import/export company.
But the telegram had already stated that it was Count Altair who had summoned him, so he had no choice but to go to the company to inform Benson Moretti.
When the carriage arrived at the company gate, Amos picked up his cane and went straight into the chairman's office. He then instructed someone to call Benson Moretti into the office.
Not long after, Benson Moretti knocked on the office door. Amos looked up and said, "Come in."
When the door opened, following Amos's gaze, one would see a person entering through the door. He was dressed simply but neatly and appropriately, with black hair, brown eyes, and regular features. However, perhaps due to his receding hairline, he looked older than his age, appearing to be almost 30.
Amos casually pointed to the seat next to him and said, "Sit wherever you like. Coffee or tea?"
Benson paused for a moment, then instinctively replied, "Black tea is fine, thank you sir, no sugar."
After pouring the tea, Amos handed it to Benson, sat down, and asked, "Benson, you've been with the company for over a year now, haven't you?"
"Yes, sir." After saying that, Benson thought for a moment and added, "It's been a year and nine months."
Looking at the person in front of him, Amos chuckled and said, "Benson, don't be nervous. I've called you here today mainly because of some personal matters."
"You know my identity. In addition to our own family property, my family also manages some assets for the Earl of Sheffield."
"You may not know this, but since the death of Baron Sheffield earlier this year, his youngest daughter, Altair Sheffield, has inherited the noble title and gone on to become an earl."
"As for Count Altair, she has returned to the town of Morse for the winter this year. Just now, she saw your family's file. She asked me to inform you that she wants to see you tomorrow."
After saying that, Amos took out his wallet and pulled out a 10-gold-pound note... but after glancing at Benson, he thought for a moment and then pulled out two more 10-gold-pound notes.
Amos then handed 30 gold pounds to Benson and said, "Your work for today is done. Take this 'clothing allowance' and buy yourself a decent outfit and a small gift. Head straight to Morse town tomorrow to see Count Altair."
.........
After leaving the chairman's office, Benson returned to his workstation, briefly handed over his work to his colleagues, explained the tasks that needed to be completed that day, and then left the company.
After leaving the company gate, he did not choose to take a public carriage, but walked and thought, as if he was pondering something.
When he looked up again, he saw "Crawford Gentlemen's Clothing Store" and chuckled to himself, "I never imagined that the reason I got my first high-end suit would be just to meet someone younger than me."
So he shook his head, didn't linger, and went straight into the clothing store.
As soon as Benson entered the clothing store, a male sales clerk in a white shirt and red vest greeted him and politely asked, "Sir, what would you like to buy?"
Benson looked around and found that there were not only complete suits, but also shirts, trousers, vests and ties displayed separately, and even the glass cabinets were filled with pairs of high-end leather shoes and boots.
After confirming that it met his requirements, Benson responded to the sales clerk's question, saying, "I need to buy a proper formal suit."
Upon hearing Benson's answer, the sales clerk in the red vest smiled and gestured for him to enter the store, where they began selecting clothes.
A shirt, trousers, waistcoat, and tailcoat cost £6; leather boots £8; a top hat made of silk cost £6; a bow tie £3; and a silver-plated cane £8.
The clothes, which originally cost nearly £8, were reduced to just £7.50 thanks to Benson's amazing bargaining skills.
As for the gentleman's other personal items, such as watch chains, pocket watches, and wallets, he did not choose to buy them, and the shop assistant did not choose to give them to him.
Benson then chose to buy a men's suit and a women's dress based on his memory.
After leaving the clothing store, Benson gripped the bag of clothes he was carrying. He had bought two men's suits and one women's dress, spending a total of £21.
Spending so much gold pounds at once made him feel as if he were still asleep.
But he knew clearly that this was reality. Of course, if it were really a dream, he would be willing to never wake up again as long as he could be with his family and live such a good life.
Benson, carrying the clothes he had just bought, waited by the roadside for a while before a public carriage arrived. He then boarded the carriage and returned to Iron Cross Street.
Before passing by "Slinn Bakery," he stopped and smiled at the bakery owner, Wendy Slinn, saying, "Mrs. Slinn, eight pounds of dark bread... and three servings of Tinggen biscuits and lemon cake, please."
Mrs. Sling, carrying the items Benson had bought, asked with a smile, "Benson, why are you off work so early today? I usually don't see you unless it's your day off... But you've come at just the right time, I have some freshly baked bread here."
Benson replied with a smile, "The company wasn't very busy today, and the boss assigned me other work, so I'm leaving get off work so early."
After Mrs. Slyn had prepared the weighed sixteen loaves of rye bread and three desserts, she looked at Benson and said, "You didn't forget the bag again, did you?"
Upon hearing this, Benson touched his forehead and sighed helplessly, "I forgot again."
"Alright, I'll find you a bag. You know, how come your memory is even worse than mine?" Mrs. Sling teased Benson humorously.
Benson, listening to her complaints, could only awkwardly scratch his forehead.
Before long, Mrs. Slyn handed Benson the bread and dessert she had packed, saying, "That'll be 22 pence."
After paying, Benson said goodbye to Mrs. Slyn, picked up the paper bag of bread, and headed to the "Lettuce and Meat" market across the street.
I bought a pound of good lamb for 10 pence at the market, along with some tender peas, onions, potatoes, and other items, for a total of 20 pence.
I bought three ginger beers for three pence from the vendor and then headed to my rented house. After greeting my landlord, Mr. Frankie, I went into the kitchen to prepare dinner before Melissa and Klein returned.