The Old Chandelier
The Old Chandelier The reception room was elegantly decorated. Above me stood a high corniced ceiling and a candelabra chandelier. To my left, if I had been able to observe it, was a fireplace and imposing mantelpiece. The carpet was Paisley type weave of blue and beige and the wall paper Herbert Morrison. Behind me was a wood panelled screen that enabled the room to be opened into a still larger one. This screen normally functioned to allow the adjacent space to serve as an office. As such, its thin wooden panels did nothing to attenuate any sound between that office and the chamber in which I was currently stood. In this case attenuation would have made little difference since, in accordance with my express wishes, Mia had left open the reception door on her …