Chapter 8

Gilbert shivered as he got ready for work. The seasons were changing, and the boarding house wasn’t warm enough to stay in his room at night. He’d been spending evenings in the parlour downstairs with the other residents, taking advantage of the fire Mrs Rose stoked at night. Clarke had again told him that his boss worked him way too hard after keeping Gilbert at his place for many days again. Gilbert wondered how long that excuse of hard deadlines would work, but he couldn’t think of any other explanation for what would become regular absences. 

He slipped into his waistcoat and pants, carefully tying the bow of his tie and checking his hair in the looking glass. He didn’t know whether to turn up looking rested as he felt or whether he should turn up looking dishevelled and as if he’d just been ill for a few days. Finally, he opted to leave his hair slightly messy, picked up his briefcase, and walked to the office.

“Are you alright?” Noel said as he walked in throu