“ Welcome to The SIRVA Mont-Fleur. You must be Madame Felicity Jameson. May I take this opportunity to welcome you to your new school? You can address me as Governess Hillier.”
Formally shaking the ladies hand Felicity remained quiet while the governess gave her a guided tour of the school. The governess introduced her to a number of girls in different classes and her new teachers all of which completely went over her head. She noticed that all the girls were wearing the same tartan long dresses, with white blouses Their polished black laced up flat shoes that were rounded at the front and looked like they had been polished up to the max, she wondered if the girls could see their reflection in them? Another strange resemblance the girls shared was that all the girls’ hair seemed have braids tied tightly to their heads. Felicity thought it was impossible to tell any of them apart, they all looked like twins; the only thing differentiating them was their hair colour.
She also noticed that the teachers were no different as they were all female wearing the same uniform as governess Hillier. All she wanted to do was to be shown to her quarters and relax; it had been a long boring flight with little or no conversation with the Madams chauffeur.
Governess Hillers stern voice soon broke her trail of thoughts. “Here at SIRVA we pride ourselves with our very own hand made uniform. As you can see the girls here all wear the same, the only time this changes is when our weather changes and the girls are given ample time and material to design a more suitable one!”
Felicity couldn’t even find the words to reply to this revelation as she was in shock. The girls designed their own uniforms? Was this for real? She couldn’t help but express her
bewilderment.
“As we have several hours before lunch you’ll be expected to change and join us in the kitchen quarters to help prepare lunch. I’ll have our house keeper escort you to your chambers so you can freshen up and change. There are two uniforms provided for you in your quarters, however from here on you will be expected to hand and machine sow the rest as you will need a further seven. Do you understand Madame Jameson?”
With a confused expression she replied, “Yes Governess Hillier.” “Very well then go back to the reception hall and wait for the housekeeper. Meet us in the kitchen chambers when you’re ready. I suspect you shall not need more than half an hour!” Felicity wondered why the governess was addressing her by her surname. And why did she have to help prepare lunch? Wasn’t the whole idea of private school to be waited upon? She felt betrayed from the Madame as she hadn’t expected this.
Chapter 2 After two very intensive years at the SIRVA, Felicity graduated in the original finishing program that had been running since 1954. She went to develop her efficiency and proficiency in all aspects of Hostessing, cooking and home management along with a greater knowledge of the manners of both western and non-western cultures. She also became competent in both English and French.
Felicity was sad to leave as she had made a number of strong friendships with several girls her own age, they all promised to stay in touch while exchanging their contact details. Felicity had become a lady in the two years, shredding her puppy fat to become tall and lean, exceptionally beautiful, and full of charm and grace.
Upon her return to the Madame’s she became the envy of all the women who she came into contact with. Her time at the SIRVA had groomed her into the perfect lady much to Madame’s pleasure and delight.
“You’ve become a lady and fulfilled your late mothers wishes Felicity. May I take this moment to congratulate you my dear? Bessie bring the champagne, we must toast this occasion in style.”
“I am indeed indebted to you Madame. May I take this opportunity to thank you for all you have done on my behalf?”
“Nonsense , your dear mother and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I think it’s about time for you to know more about your mother, would agree?”
Felicity tried to hide her excitement by biting the inside of her mouth.
“It would be a complete honour Madame.” “Your mother was by far the most beautiful, elegant, and gracious female escort I had working for me. She was in demand from many French and European noble men to accompany them, whether it was on a trip, business function, a night at the opera and so on. On rare occasions your mother would accompany these gentlemen around the world excursions and wealthy vacations. I discovered Adrianna as a waitress in a wine bar I often used to visit. She was just seventeen at the time, strikingly beautiful and tall and would often wait my table. One evening I gave her my business card and explained I offered a discreet service to only gentleman and often noble men around the world and if she would be interested in my business venture to give me a call, or to drop by my house at a time that would suit us both. Your mother smiled and accepted the card, several weeks later she arrived on my doorstep in a horrible state of hysteria, bruised and beaten severely, I hardly recognised her with her swollen eyes and lips. Once I invited her in and managed to calm her down she explained her situation to me the best she could. I had my private doctor examine her and sedate her as she was inconsolable and in fear of her own life. I had Bessie set up a room on the upper level of the house, attend to every one of her needs and nurse her back to health, it took a number of weeks before she eventually felt better, however she was hiding a few fractured ribs and it was difficult for her to get around and be active until six weeks had passed and she ventured down the stair cases all by herself and sought me out to thank me for my hospitality. It was extremely unusual for me to take someone in off the streets, the girls I had working for me were all highly educated and often came from moderately rich households, but your mother became my only exception to my strict rules. I immediately warmed to her; she was young and extremely vulnerable. Your mother’s story is one I’ll never forget, apparently before she got the job in the wine bar your mother shared a room with a number of undesirable girls that used to walk the streets at night offering their services to anybody who had a buck desperate to often feed their drug habits. Your mother was under the impression that she had moved to a better neighborhood and soon regretted her decision; unfortunately it was too late for her to change her mind. One of the girls introduced her to a guy called Lenny, little did she know he was the local pimp often beating the girls to go on the streets and to give him his percentage of their earnings, in return he would look after them if they encountered any rough handed men, sell them their drugs and generate more work for them. As soon as he laid eyes on your mother all his Christmases came at once, blonde, leggy, pretty not the type he usually had working for him, she was something else, the potential to earn him more money than the skinny deadbeats. And I must say what happened to your mother next was inexcusable. Would you like me to carry on dear?”
Felicity nodded on in approval, blinking back the tears, holding her breath in anticipation to hear the Madame out without vomiting. She wouldn’t dare to interrupt the Madame in the event of missing anything that related to her dear mother. This was the first time the Madame had confided in her about her mother’s past, and she was keen to know if the Madame would reveal who her father was.
“Lenny went on to drug your mother while she was asleep , injecting her with heroin, in the hope that she would become another stupid junkie who had to rely on him for her drugs. He soon got his wish much to your poor mother’s horror; she became hooked after her first injection as most addicts do. He then gave her his heavy hand and had her walking the streets a few days later. What Lenny wasn’t aware of was that your mother then went onto to meet a client who would in effect save her or so she thought from the evil clutches of Lenny and for a month or so he did. Your mother planned her escape well while the girls were asleep and Lenny was playing cards with his so called associates, she sneaked out to her lover who was actually the owner of the wine bar I found your mother working in that was a good half an hour’s drive away from her old
neighborhood. Your mother soon cleaned herself up kicked the drug habit and started to wait tab
les, her lover Arthur had set her free and showed her a new life and she was forever in his debt until the night the ruthless Lenny caught up with them. Lenny shot Arthur in the head dead and dragged your mother back to her old lodgings. Your mother made several unsuccessful attempts to escape again and the third attempt is when I found your mother on my doorstep much to your poor mother’s relief I may add. I know this is a lot for you to take in Felicity and has probably come as a great shock to you. I appreciate if you need time to digest this new information. Your mother begged me to tell you the truth before she died as she wanted to deter you from leading such a horrible existence. I reluctantly agreed and gave your mother my word I would.”
Felicity was sipping the champagne wide eyed and eager for the Madame to reveal all she knew, she had questions that only the Madame could answer. After several hours of talking with the Madame with her revelations about her mother, the Madame quietly excused herself instructing Bessie to take her to her quarters.
Felicity finally had some answers, her mother died of a long battle with cancer and had been brought up in an orphanage since she was just two days old, she hadn’t know her parents, they abandoned her in a fancy crib outside the orphanage according to the nuns who took her in and looked after her until the age of sixteen. Felicity began to sob inconsolably, she was in shock she had no idea her poor mother led such a horrible existence before she met the Madame who then turned her miserable existence into something far more glamorous.
Bessie returned with what looked like a floral decorated shoe box.
“Madame Clemenceau instructed me to give you this. Welcome home my dear; it’s good to have you back.” “Thank s Bessie. Could you bring more champagne please?” “Yes of course dear. Can I fix you a bite to eat?”
“No thanks just the champagne, if you wouldn’t mind.”
Felicity began to open the box with care realising it was quite old; gently untying the beautiful red ribbon, on top of a stack of neat pile of photos there was a sealed envelope with her name on it in her mother’s calligraphic hand writing. Slowly opening the envelope it revealed what looked like a two paged letter:
My Dearest Felicity, You are the most precious beautiful gift a mother could ask for. I love you with all my heart and I am very proud you have grown into a wonderful young woman. No doubt the lovely generous Clemenceau has passed this onto you. I do hope you can find the time to read it and allow me to explain the choices I made in life and in time you can come to understand them. I had a relatively happy childhood in the orphanage with the nuns, they often bestowed lots of love and affection on us all in our time there, I was sad to leave when I turned sixteen, however I was young and ambitious and keen to get into the big wide world and become independent and successful at whatever I choose to do as a career. Unfortunately I got acquainted with the wrong kind of people who had very few goals in life except to feed their drug habit by whatever form they could. I was young and naïve living in the orphanage all my life and it hadn’t prepared me for the real world...
I walked the streets as a prostitute for a while in order to make a living, earn a franc, it was downgrading and stripped me of all my worthy morals I once had, I certainly wouldn’t recommend it. That’s when I turned to Madame Clemenceau for help. It is by far the best decision I made in my life and one in which I don’t regret. I daresay I wouldn’t be here writing this to you now if Clemenceau hadn’t turned my miserable existence in to a very glamorous, wealthy one, and I am indeed in debited to her for this.
When I knew I wouldn’t be around for you anymore because of this painfully excruciating disease, I confided in Clemenceau and asked that she care for you as you are aware I have no other family other than the Madame. She gave me her word she would as she had with me. Clemenceau became the mother I never had, taking me under her wing protecting me from the undesirable people from my past. I know you’ll have a bright and happy future whatever you decide to do and I wish you success in both your career and private life.
It is with the deepest regret that I can’t be with you, but please don’t forget how much I love you and always will.
Momie Felicity re-read the letter several times before she placed it back into the envelope, she wouldn’t let herself be ruled by more grieving, there was a time and a place and this wasn’t either of them.
At breakfast the next morning Felicity joined the Madame, they both exchanged their morning pleasantries. “Madame may I take this opportunity to thank you for confiding in me regarding my mother, it is now my wish to follow into her career.”
“Nonsense , Felicity my dear, your mother would never approve of this and I daresay she would be turning in her grave if she could hear you now.”
“It’s not nonsense Madame, if this career was good enough for my mother than it shall be more than good enough for me. Besides my minds made up and I all ask is that you can teach me all I need to know?”
“You could choose anything you’d like as a career. I was hoping after finishing school that you could enroll in to university, you have endless choices you can do whatever your young heart desires, travel around the world, or engage in charity work.”
The Madame was secretly pleased with her choice, but hid it well, she had to be sure this is what Felicity really wanted to do before she could embark on passing and teaching everything she had once learned.
“My heart desires this Madame, if you can’t be my mentor than I shall have to look for someone else, either way I’ll pursue it!” “Listen why don’t you go on vacation for several weeks, give it some more thought and if you decide upon your return that’s what you really want than I shall accept your decision and will become your mentor. How’s this sound?”
“Really Madame , that’s fabulous. I thought I could visit Monika my friend from finishing school as she’s having an engagement party over in New York next week, I’d hate to miss it!”
“Very well as long as you accept Monsieur Fredrik to accompany you and be at your disposal as and when you require?”
“Oh Madame , no, please, he’s such an old bore. Why does he have to come along, he will only cramp my style?”
“Yes, Felicity its conditional so don’t forget it. I couldn’t bear the thought of you in a completely different country alone; it would not rest well on my dear old conscience.”
Felicity reluctantly agreed.
♣
New York was fascinating, Felicity fell in love with the different kinds of old and new skyscrapers, The Woolworths Building was her favorite, the oldest by far with its neo gothic style it reminded her of the old European gothic cathedrals she had seen in many of her mother’s books. How she longed to travel and see them all one day.
Monika lived with her parents in Scarsdale in a large newly built Tuscan inspired villa designed by a European architect, new to the states; the architects name went completely over Felicity’s head; however she was informed that he would be attending the engagement party, much to her delight.
“Welcome my dearest friend; I’m so glad you could make it!” “I wouldn’t miss your wonderful engagement party for the world; although the Madame insisted before my departure that the awfully dull Monsieur Fredrik accompany me I’m afraid. I’ve booked in to The Hiltons Times Square on 42nd street, so I’m not too far away.”
They air kissed one another and Monika took her by the hand to give her a guided tour of the house.
Felicity couldn’t help but notice the abundance of French doors with splendid views to nature providing views of the lush landscaping and beautiful perennial gardens. Mediterranean influence was everywhere you turned in this building from the detailed exterior light fixtures and wrought iron gate, to the patio and presentation center staircase with wrought iron balustrades and the private decks in the private quarters. Each room was generously sized to accommodate large gatherings however still intimate enough for everyday living.
“This house is absolutely delightful . I couldn’t have chosen a better place for
my engagement party if I were to ever get engaged. You’re so lucky Monika!”
“It was my parent’s choice, this is their third property investment built in the last year, which they actually want to make into a home much to my pleasure. I grow increasingly bored moving around all the time and love the idea of residing here for the next several months or so. Daddies having the very talented architect who designed this house design Richard and me our own fabulous Tuscan inspired villa in lower Manhattan, I can’t wait. Anyway enough about me tell me Felicity is there a special man in your life at the moment?”
“Are you joking, I’m afraid there’s no one special yet. On the off chance I meet such a man you’d be the first to know.” “Well there will be lots of eligible bachelors at the party on Friday, you could have your pick, there’s time yet my friend.” “Oh Monika, I hope you haven’t been working your hands at match making on my behalf, I don’t know if I could even find the time for a man, the Madame has me running a really tight schedule since my return home. She apparently believes if I am left to laze around at home, nothing good will come from it so she has me doing all kind of chores to fill my days, none of which are particularly strenuous I may add, often floral arrangements and other tedious housekeeping duties that require so much of my time it’s like I am still at school in some ways!”
“I’m sure that the Madame means well by it, however tedious it is. Anyway surely this will all change when you decide on what you want to do next, university, travelling, and voluntary work and so on.”
Addicted To Greed Page 3
