Meredith clutched her shopping bag handle, twisting it around her fist and wondering about the mother of these children. What was she like? What would she have to say about the new nanny? This was obviously a very rich family. What would the woman of the house think of Meredith and her funky bag of thrift store threads? She knew from experience that women could be the worst critics. Would she even give Meredith a chance to explain herself?
As the car pulled up to the front of the house, the driver announced in German that they had arrived. She smiled and politely said, “Danke schön,” waiting as he hurried around to open her door and politely tip his head. He reached for her shopping bag, but it was so twisted she couldn’t release it. Not that she wanted him to carry it for her. Her cheeks grew hot with embarrassment as she timidly approached the beautiful house.
Seriously, who did she think she was? What was she doing here? She paused to give the house a good once-over, asking herself what Maria would do right now. Sing, perhaps? Well, she wasn’t about to do that. She continued up the walk then rang the bell. While she waited, she took several deep breaths. The driver remained by the car. Apparently, he was worried too. He could probably see that she didn’t belong here. Perhaps he wanted to remain on hand to take her away if the homeowners sent her packing.
The tall, intricately carved wooden door opened to a stout gray-haired woman wearing an apron and wary expression. “You’re the new nanny?”
Meredith forced a cheerful smile. “Yes, ma’am. I’m Meredith Cardwell. Your boss hired me today.”
“Excuse my saying so, but you seem a bit young to me.” She opened the door wider. “The other nannies were older. Althoughbeing young like you are…may be better. Easier to keep up with the children.” She peered at the shopping bag then looked up. “Where are your bags?”
Meredith quickly explained her misfortune and how she’d been robbed yesterday.
“Oh my, dear me. That’s terrible. I’m so sorry.” She stuck out her hand. “Forgive my manners. I’m Mrs. Warner.” Her handshake was warm. “Welcome, Miss Cardwell.”
“Thank you.” Meredith followed her into a large foyer with a hardwood floor and a large oriental carpet. “This is a beautiful house.”
“Yes, it is surely nice. And not so hard to keep when that’s all you have to do.” She began to ramble about all the responsibilities placed on her.
“Well, I hope I can lighten your load.”
“You and me both. Now, let me show you to your room. You can get settled, and then I’ll take you to meet the children.”
“How many children are there?” She braced herself.
“Only two. But sometimes they make enough noise you’d think they were a dozen.” She led the way up the handsomely carved wooden stairs and then down a long hallway. “Those are the children’s rooms.” She pointed to a couple of closed doors opposite each other. “The two share this bath.” She motioned to the opened door where a soiled white bath-towel was flung on the floor. “I just tidied it this morning, and it’s already messy. Thanks, I’m sure, to the young master. I told him to come clean up.” She made atsk-tsksound then opened a door at the end of the hall. “Here you go. Good southern exposure in this room. But it can get a bit warm in the afternoons in the summertime. But just open the windows in the evening, and it cools off nicely.”
Meredith glanced around the spacious room. With creamy white walls, wood plank floors, oriental carpets, and carvedwooden furniture, it was slightly sparse but elegant. She’d never stayed in anything this nice before. “It’s lovely.”
Mrs. Warner pointed out the wardrobe then opened a door. “Here’s the bath. I haven’t had a chance to touch it today, but other than a bit of dust, I’m sure it’s in order. If you need more towels, just let me know.”
“Oh, it looks perfect to me.” Meredith ran a hand along the edge of the claw-foot tub.
“You make yourself at home.” Mrs. Warner smiled. “Come down when you’re ready, and I’ll introduce you to the children.”
Meredith thanked her then resisted the urge to pinch herself. Was this for real? This beautiful home. This comfortable room? She gazed out the window toward green grass and evergreen trees going up toward a hill. She peered around the corner and even spied a swimming pool. Really? This place was heavenly. And only two children? Even if they were noisy and energetic, how hard could that be? This seemed like a dream job to her, and she couldn’t figure out why the other nannies hadn’t stayed. But she hadn’t met the woman of the house yet, nor had Mrs. Warner even mentioned her.
As she unpacked her meager belongings, she decided it must simply be that the children were energetic. Perhaps they were quite young and demanded a lot of attention. That might be hard on an older nanny. But Meredith knew she was up to it. After all, this was only a temporary position. She hoped to stay long enough to earn her fare home. And who knew, it might even prove interesting. She gave her shoulder length dark blonde hair a quick brush and, checking her image in the bathroom mirror, she wondered if she could pass muster with the children’s mother. She decided to continue wearing the linen blazer, which lent a tone of seriousness to her otherwise summery dress and, bracing herself, she went down the stairs.
As she descended she took in the trophy heads of various game animals mounted on the tall walls. She hadn’t noticed them before, but they gave a masculine feeling to the house. In her opinion that didn’t seem like something the woman of the house would appreciate. Well, unless she was a hunter. Meredith remembered a girlfriend from high school who used to take hunting trips with her dad and even got a bighorn sheep one year.
Pausing at the end of the stairs, she heard children’s voices in what sounded like an argument. Following the sound of the voices, she arrived at a messy playroom with toys and games and puzzles and things strewn about. A sturdy redheaded girl who appeared to be around twelve was holding onto the younger boy’s shirt collar, shaking him rather fiercely but not hurting him. The boy was adorable, with straight shiny hair and dark eyes. He appeared to be several years younger than the girl bullying him and didn’t look the least bit intimidated by his bullying sister.
“George, you do as I say. I told you to clean this room. Now do it!”
“I won’t.”
“You will!” The girl gave him an even harder shake, and the boy’s dark hair flew into his eyes. Meredith, still unnoticed, was tempted to step in but decided to let it play out a bit more so she could learn something about these two squabbling siblings.
“You will tidy it by dinner, George, or you will get no dinner.”
“You don’t make the rules,” the boy replied hotly. “You’re not the boss of me.”
“I am too. Papa said to make you mind. And I will, or you’ll be sorry.” She put her face close to his, glaring so angrily her freckles stood out.
“You think you’re queen, Kat. But you’re not. You’re just a stupiduglygirl with a beet-red face and orange hair. Ugh.”
“You shut up!” She shook him again then released him hard, allowing him to fall backward and hit his head on a low play table. The boy let out a loud howl then went quietly limp. Meredith ran to him, worried he was seriously injured and blaming herself for not stepping in sooner. Cradling the child in her arms, her heart pounded as she looked down on his pale face, eyes closed.
