by Danni Roan
“Can you think of any alternative?” Cecil ran his hands through his hair once more. He would be bald by the end of the month if he kept this up, and his head already pounded from studying the papers he had been going through. “You’ll have to find someone else to do the cleaning at least for tonight. You know how Beverly and Jonas are. I can’t have them crashing this dinner party and ruining everything. If the stockholders see that I can’t even control two children, how will they feel about my managing the company?”
The stern looking housekeeper nodded. “The children always have been rather lively,” she hedged. “What if the girl can’t handle them?”
“She looked young and fit enough,” Cecil paced across the kitchen. “I left her in the parlor with them. If they haven’t run her off by now, perhaps she’ll stay. I just need her to stick for the night.”
“The parlor,” Mrs. August groaned. “I’ll have to bring in one of those horrid cleaning crews to get the house set to rights,” she shook her head with disgust. A heavy thump from the floor above had both Cecil and Mrs. August racing for the stairs.
***
“I won!” Bev bellowed at her brother from where she sat on the floor. “See my socks are dirtier than yours.”
“Let me be the judge,” Hester said. “So far you are both tied, three all. Let’s see then?”
Jonas flopped down onto the floor, with a heavy thump, lifting his shoeless feet for examination.
“Jonas, if you had moved the sofa and dusted the floor there, I think you might have won this round, but as it is Beverly’s socks are by far dirtier.”
“I’ll do it now!” the boy shot to his feet skidding across the parquet floor on his stocking feet until he came to rest against the bent wood sofa. Grasping the end, he pushed the sofa onto the Persian rug then scooted his feet up and down over the hard wood floor until it shown.
“Now look!” he gasped flopping onto the sofa and lifting his dirty feet into the air.
“Beverly, I think he’s got you beat now.” Hester sighed. “It is a shame too, you were doing so well.”
Bev shot to her feet giving her brother a glare, just as Cecil and Mrs. August burst through the door.
“What’s happened?” the housekeeper demanded. We heard a terrible noise.”
“We’re playing a game,” the children both replied, looking up at their uncle and the housekeeper, the turning on each other.
“I’m winning!” Jonas shouted, sticking his tongue out at his sister.
“What sort of game?” Mrs. August asked staring at the room. All of the newspapers that had been scattered about earlier were neatly rolled and stacked in the kindling bin. The toys were neatly stacked in the hall, and not a trace of discarded clothing could be seen.
“Hester is teaching us.” Beverly said. “She didn’t think we could do it because we’ve always had someone to help, but we showed her.” The girl shot Hester a haughty look full of pride.
“Yeah, we showed her,” Jonas stepped up beside his sister crossing his arms over his chest. “But I’m winning.”
“You have both done very well,” Hester agreed. “Of course the first one to get all of the toys and clothing back up stairs would undoubtedly be the winner, of course if it is too hard for you.” She moved toward the door as if to do the job herself.
Both children dashed for the hall snatching as many toys and other items as they could carry and racing for the stairs.
“Well I never!” Mrs. August huffed.
“No, I don’t suppose you did,” Hester replied, blue eyes snapping. “Has anyone ever considered putting those two to work before? Perhaps, if they had something to occupy their days, they wouldn’t be in the way.”
Cecil felt the grin spread across his face. The young woman had held her own against his nearest kin for nearly an hour already. Perhaps there was hope that they would make it through this day yet.
If Miss Hester could only keep Jonas and Beverly out of the way for a few more hours, he was sure all would be well.
“Mr. Payton,” a man in a black suit stepped through the door. “Your cousin Abel is here.”
Chapter 3
Cecil sighed with relief. His cousin, a man who had been working with his brother, the original owner of the business, for years, stepped into the parlor with a smile.
Abel knew far more about the business than Cecil did and hopefully, could bring him up to speed before dinner that night. Until three months ago, Cecil had been wandering the wilds of the west, not sitting through boring dinners, or business meetings. Always a restless soul, he had set out to explore the vast reaches of the country while his older brother had become a staunch businessman and wealthy entrepreneur.
When Cecil’s brother and sister-in-law had been killed in a terrible train accident, he had suddenly become the sole heir of both their wealth and spoiled children.
To say the transition was overwhelming was an understatement at best. He had been completely unprepared for the intricate snags and snares of business, not to mention the care of two children whose world had been shaken to the ground.
The fancy house, servants, and confines of the city pressed in on him like the weight of the world, and unlike Atlas, Cecil felt singularly unable to keep the globe in place.
“I’ve brought the ledgers,” Abel said smiling at his cousin. “Shall we go to the office?”
Reluctantly, Cecil agreed turning to follow Abel to the one room that no one seemed eager to enter. The room was too much like his brother, orderly, cold, and precise, but it was where business was expected to be conducted, and he traipsed behind his younger cousin preparing his mind for the staggering numbers he was about to deal with.
“Is everything in order for dinner tonight?” Abel asked, smoothing his neat suit as he headed for a chair by the desk.
“Mrs. August seems to have everything in order.”
“Good, first impressions go a long way in dealing with shareholders. They have given you enough time to get things back together. Now, we’ll need to move forward with your brother’s plans.”
Cecil nodded understanding, but was uninterested in the plan. He was pondering the pretty woman who had set his wards to work in an unusual competition. Why hadn’t he ever thought of the idea?
“What about the children?” Abel asked opening a heavy leather-bound ledger onto the desk.
“I believe we have them well in hand.” Cecil smiled, curious to see if he was right.
Abel lifted his head, his dark hair falling over his eyes as he glanced at his cousin. Cecil was singularly unprepared to cope with the death of his brother and the business left to him, but his inability to manage the children, or even keep adequate staff at the house was far more worrying. Appearances were important in the city. Carver, Cecil’s brother, had been well respected as a shrewd, if hard businessman, and although his children had a reputation for being rambunctious, their little indulgences were overlooked.
Now, with everything depending on keeping the business going, Abel found himself worried that Cecil would make a complete mess of the whole thing. There was too much and too many people depending on this endeavor to go well for anything to go wrong.
“I don’t know what I would do without you Abel,” Cecil said slouching in the big desk chair and pinching the bridge of his nose. “You know more about this business than I ever will. Thank you for carrying on as acting manager.”
Abel smiled. He loved the business ever since his cousin Carver had brought him on and understood the workings in a way that Cecil never would. On top of that, the job had provided a good living and a lifestyle that Abel reveled in. Big parties, fancy dinners, and long business meetings exhilarated him.
Outside the office the sound of what seemed an army marching down the hall, made both men look up, just before Mrs. August arrived with tea.
“Never mind the noise gentleman,” she said softly, a disgruntled twist on her lips. “I’ve procured a cleaning crew to put the house in order f
or this evening.” Both her tone and expression spoke volumes on how she felt about the situation. “I just hope they don’t walk off with the silver.”
Abel grinned at Cecil as they watched the stiff backed woman exit the room. “I thought she was hiring a new maid to help with the cleaning,” he looked at the thick layer of dust covering the room and shook his head.
“She did,” Cecil felt the blush cover his face. “Things changed.”
“Don’t tell me the children ran her off already?” Abel shook his head. “That has to be a record.”
Cecil ran his hands through his hair. “No, I paid her to wrangle the children instead. I was desperate.”
“You hired the maid to watch the children?” Abel’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.
“She was there after they had run their latest nanny off, and all I could think was that someone had to ride herd on that pair before we lost everything. All she needs to do is keep them out of the way until after dinner tonight.”
“That’s a big gamble,” Abel studied his cousin’s disheveled clothing and wild hair. It had obviously been another difficult day in the household. The children had run off their care givers, few staff members would stay and put up with their demanding attitudes, and unruly behavior. Slipping toads in the soup had finished off the last butler as well.
“She got them to clean the parlor.” Cecil’s grin was bewildered.
“She what?” Abel’s voice echoed in the quiet room.
Cecil chuckled, raising broad shoulders. “I don’t know what she told them, but they were trying to outdo each other putting things away.”
“Maybe you should send them away,” Abel mused. “Many of the best families send their children to school.”
“I can’t do that,” Cecil lifted tired eyes. “They’re just children, and they’ve lost their parents. I’m sure everything will work out.”
“I hope so,” Abel said turning back to the desk. “I have my hands full just teaching you.”
Cecil chuckled. He didn’t think he would ever learn what he needed to know to continue growing his brother’s business, but for the sake of Jonas and Beverly he had to try.
“Let’s begin,” Abel said, leaning over the desk. “We’ll worry about the children later. Sooner or later I’m sure you’ll work out what to do.”
Cecil nodded. “One step at a time, cousin, one step at a time.”
Chapter 4
“Mama never let us go down to dinner when they had guests,” Beverly said as Hester brushed the tangles from her glossy red-gold locks. “She said children didn’t belong at the dinner table.”
“Nonsense,” Hester grinned. “Now look at yourself. You’re a beautiful young lady, not a child.” Hester had spent the past hour helping Beverly dress and fix her hair. The girl was too young to put her hair up yet, but she was lovely and deep down wanted nothing more than to be seen.
“Hester, I don’t know how to tie this thing,” Jonas marched into the room struggling with a string tie. “Are you sure we should go to dinner tonight? No one ever seems to want us. All of our nannies were supposed to keep us hidden away in our rooms when the guests arrived.”
Hester helped the boy with his tie, smoothing his dark locks over his brow. “You look very handsome,” she smiled. “The two of you are very bright and talented. You’ll make your uncle proud tonight. You just have to try.” She pinned both children with her eyes compelling them to understand. As Hester’s day had progressed, it had become obvious that both children desperately wanted to be seen. There behavior sprang more from boredom and lack of attention than mean spiritedness.
Jonas shot a look at his sister. “I don’t think we ever make anyone proud.” The boy hung his head examining his highly polished shoes.
“I’m very proud of you,” Hester offered. “You did far better than I would have expected with the cleaning game today. Of course, if you don’t think you’re able to behave properly at dinner, I can have something sent up to your room.” Hester bit her lip, seeing the gleam of determination and competition spark in Jonas’s eyes.
“I can do it,” Jonas declared. “I’ll be better than Bev.”
“I can do it too,” Beverly said stroking the satin ribbon on her pale green dress. “Will you keep points for us to see who’s better? What if we do something wrong?” Bev’s voice echoed with fear. “Everyone will hate us.”
“You will be just fine.” Hester pulled the ribbon from Beverly’s hands, smoothing it into place. “If you’re worried about what to do, copy what everyone around you is doing. Beverly you’ll mimic the women, and Jonas you mind the men.”
“What about you?” Bev asked. “What will you do?”
Hester looked down at her filthy apron and smudged dress. “I’m only a servant dear,” she smiled. “I have no place at a fancy dinner party.”
“But if you don’t go,” Jonas said, “how will we know we’re playing the game right? You said that if we earn enough points, you’ll take us to see a show.”
“I’m sure you will tell me what happens,” Hester grinned. The boy’s competitive nature and his sister’s desire to be the best at everything had been a boon for her throughout the day. It had kept the children working hard to impress her.
“I’m not going if you aren’t,” Bev said her eyes filling with tears, as doubt made her lower lip quiver. “I’ll be too frightened. We always ruin everything.”
“That’s not true,” Hester’s heart hurt at the girl’s words. “You’ll be fine. This is the world you were born for.” Hester smoothed the girl’s hair with a hand. “Can you imagine me showing up dressed like this?” Hester grinned, looking down at her old dress and blackened apron.
“You can wear one of Mama’s dresses,” Beverly’s eyes were imploring as she grasped Hester’s hand. “You have to come, you’re our governess and governesses come to dinner.”
Hester tried to protest pulling back even as Jonas grabbed her other hand, but the children both insisted. If she refused now, the children would think she didn’t believe in them. Reluctantly, Hester allowed the children to lead her down the hall to another room. She had come too far in this game to turn back now. The children, though spoiled, arrogant, and full of trouble, were still children. They wanted to know that someone cared. It wasn’t their fault that grownups had let them down by allowing them unchecked reign of their behavior.
“I’m not sure this is the right thing to do.” Hester insisted, looking at the beautiful array of dresses in the wardrobe of an elegantly decorated room.
“It is,” Beverly stated, her eyes growing stormy as she looked up at Hester. “If we can do it, so can you. We’ve had more fun today than we have in ages, and it’s all because of you.”
“Please Hester,” Jonas begged. “You have to keep score for the game and see which one of us wins.”
“But these aren’t mine.”
“Mama wouldn’t care,” Beverly’s eyes were filling with tears. “You’re just borrowing it for tonight. I come in here and try on Mama’s things all the time when I miss her. How is that any different?”
Hester pulled her bottom lip between her teeth studying the pretty dresses. Reaching out she ran her hand over the simplest dress she could find.
Below stairs a gong sounded and Hester jumped. The moment of truth had come. She had been hired to keep the children occupied for the evening, and she was doing just that. Her hands shook as together she and her charges walked down the stairs.
***
Cecil looked up at a soft tread on the stairs as his guests filtered through the dining room door. His breath left his lungs in shock at the lovely woman walking toward him flanked by Jonas and Beverly. Could this be the same girl he had hired to watch his wards just that morning? Then she had been wearing a plain day dress covered by a filthy apron, but now, garbed in a powder blue gown, nipped in at the waist by a wide belt. The smooth lines and lack of bustle offset the young woman’s slim figure, and the see-through mutton sle
eves accented well sculpted arms.
“Children, greet your uncle,” Hester said trying to keep the tremor from her voice as she touched at her hair with trembling fingers.
“Good evening Uncle Cecil,” Beverly smiled, offering her uncle a small curtsey.
“Uncle,” Jonas greeted in a very grown up voice, marching to the bottom of the stairs and shaking his uncle’s hand.
“What on earth!” Mrs. August exclaimed as she walked into the hall. “How dare you wear the mistress’s dress.” The old housekeeper’s eyes flashed with anger.
Hester flicked her eyes between Mrs. August and Mr. Payton. The former had hired her as a maid, the later, the caregiver of two troubled children.
“Mr. Payton,” she spoke pulling her courage about her like a cloak. “I believe you entrusted me with your niece and nephew. They have asked me to accompany them to dinner. If you wish me to leave after, I will go without complaint, but a promise given is a promise kept.”
