###
The next morning, Maggie was listening to one of the young women who helped her maintain the large house. “Maggie, I went to go into Miss Jill’s room thinking to clean it up but it was neat!”
“That should make you job easier then?” Maggie said a little exasperated. This was something that was good to hear but not something she needed to hear at the moment. She was in the middle of adjusting the week’s menu since Jill was around, she wasn’t sure she wasn’t going to have to go and get more groceries just to feed the young girl. She had no idea what the girl liked or didn’t like.
“Oh that’s not the problem!” the maid said, “I thought I would get her things in the laundry. I found clothing hanging from a make shift clothes line. She took the drapery pull and had pulled it over to a chair and had hung her clothing on it. She doesn’t have much.”
“Oh,” Maggie said. “I wonder if Lady Wilson knows.”
“Knows what?” Lisa came into the kitchen where Maggie was working. They had planned to meet and go over the menus. It was one of the things that the two of them did every couple of days.
The maid told Lisa what she had found. Lisa asked her to show her what she had found. They went to Jill’s bedroom. Lisa knocked on the door when there was no answer she went in. She found what the maid had said she had seen. They were about to leave when Jill came in.
“Hi mom,” Jill greeted her step mother wondering why she was in her room.
“Thank you Joan,” Lisa dismissed the maid. The maid left allowing Lisa to speak with her step daughter in private. Lisa knew of course what the girl was doing. She had done it herself when she herself was on the run.
Lisa pondered what to do next. She was in a quandary if she had not been in the room when Jill had come back she would have found some other way to get the girl some clothing. She didn’t want the girl to think they were watching her every move. That would not be a good way to build the trust she needed to have with her step daughter. Finally Lisa said, “Jill we do have a laundry service here. All you have to do is put things in the hamper.”
“But I …” Jill started, “I didn’t know how long it would take and I…”
“Is this all you have?” Lisa interrupted the young woman.
“Yes,” Jill replied.
“Let’s take a walk,” Lisa asked. She knew how to fix the problem in the short term. They left the residence and walked across the well-kept grounds. It surprised Jill to see that the landscape was almost natural looking with woods and flowers everywhere. It reminded Jill of an arboretum. In time they came to the palace PX. It was a building stuck in a corner of the grounds and catered to the palace staff. Lisa had found it a week or so before when she was out for a walk. She had been out clearing her head. So much had been thrust into her life she had just needed to get away from things for a bit. Although Georgia had been with her she had been left alone in her thoughts. It wasn’t that big; but she had been surprised to find it had a little bit of everything, including some clothing.
“What is this,” Jill asked.
“It’s a post exchange.” Lisa said, “We’re going to get you at least one change of clothing, and some under things. Later we’ll go out to a place in town.”
“Lamile was telling me about a place called Molly’s where she gets her things.” Jill said as they went up the steps.
“I’ve been there with her,” Lisa replied. She had treated the young woman to a shopping trip to Molly’s on her birthday. It had been Lamile’s suggestion. It had been a nice place, suitable for a young Thonian woman’s modesty. It was also a place that Lisa and Jill wouldn’t be expected to shop at. It was a small out of the way clothier in Mylea’s neighborhood. Not the glitzy place that she would be expected to shop at now that she was one of the Royals. “I think you’ll like it.”
They quickly made their purchases and left. As they walked back to the residence, Lisa spoke softly, “Jill I am sorry, I shouldn’t have entered your room the way I did. Joan found your clothes line, and she was telling Maggie when I walked in on them.”
Jill was quiet. Not knowing what to say to Lisa. Her grandmother had always let her have her space. She would never enter her room without first knocking unless the door was open. She suspected that a time or two her grandmother had been in the room when she wasn’t there but wouldn’t confront her with it. She learned to if not to hide things she didn’t want her grandmother to find, to make them harder for grandmother to find.
“Joan’s job is not to spy on you,” Lisa continued, “But if she sees something she will report it.”
“I know mom,” Jill said, her grandmother’s servants had done the same thing.
“The next time,” Lisa said suddenly, “come to me so we don’t put Joan in a position where she has to report her observations!”
“Okay,” Jill said.
The next morning Jill came into her room to find Joan dusting.
“Good morning Joan.” Jill said.
“Good morning, Miss Jill.” The maid said hesitantly.
“Thank you for looking after me so well,” Jill remarked, “I don’t know what Mom and Miss Maggie have told you but can we make a deal.”
“What type of deal?” Joan asked hesitantly.
“I’ll tidy up after myself,” Jill said, “and if I need anything to go to the laundry I’ll put it in this hamper. That way you won’t have to mess too much in here.”
“I still have to check the room.” Joan replied, “Miss Lewis will have my head if I don’t”
“I guess what I am saying is that I don’t need much looking after and if I need help with something I get you or ask for your help.” Jill asked her back was to the door as she spoke to the maid, she didn’t see Maggie stop and listen to the exchange, “Will that be all right with you?”
Joan who saw Maggie, hesitated for a moment as if thinking, watching her supervisor’s reaction. She saw Maggie nod and answered the girl, “Okay. This will be our secret.”
Every Last Mother's Child Page 32
