“I’m sorry Papa got upset at you.”
“It’s okay. I think he was just worried about his kids.” She opened the door.
“I think he was sorry…after you left.”
“We’ll smooth it out.” She smiled. “Don’t worry. Goodnight, Kat. Sleep well.”
Kat told her goodnight, and Meredith slipped out, hoping she wouldn’t run into Spencer, but the hallway was vacant. She hurried into Mishka’s room, where he was already in bed.
“I brushed my teeth.” He bared his lips to show her. “Even the ones in back.”
“Good for you.” She sat on the side of the bed like she always did, waiting for him to recite the prayer that had become their bedtime routine and the personalized blessing requests.
“Very nice,” she told him once he finished the prayer. She stroked his silky hair.
“Meri?” His voice sounded extra small.
“Yes?”
“You won’t leave us now, will you?”
“Well, I don’t have any plans to leave anytime soon.”
“I mean, you won’t go back to America, will you? Because Papa was so angry…you won’t just leave, will you?”
“No, I won’t. Your father was just worried. Grownups can sound angry when they’re worried, but usually they’re not.” She knew she wasn’t completely answering his question, but she hated to trouble him right before bed. Perhaps she could start preparing him for her eventual departure…tomorrow. For now, she smiled and kissed his forehead like she usually did before bed. “Goodnight, Mishka. Sweet dreams, sweet boy.” She stood.
“Meri?”
“Yes?”
“I love you.”
She smiled. “I love you too, Mishka.” She kissed his forehead again. “Sleep well.”
And then she turned off the light and left, a tinge of guilt running through her. Was it wrong to say she loved him? Would it give him the hope that she would stick around for a long time? But it was true, she did love him. As she went to her suite, she knew it was time to start developing a plan to make her departure less painful for him. Perhaps they could agree to be pen pals. That might make the transition easier. But right now, she was tired. She would have to think about that tomorrow.
The next morning, Meredith awoke to the sounds of birds chirping outside. She’d left her window open all night, and the sound of their cheerful song, combined with the sunshine and beautiful landscape, left her refreshed and recharged for another delightful day with the children. Until she remembered…Master Spencer was here. And just like that, it was as if gray cloudshad rolled in, and all her expectations for a good day evaporated right before her eyes.
She went about her morning routine, but when it was time to dress, she questioned her usual apparel of casual sporty clothes, which were good for playing tennis and soccer with the children but perhaps not what a respectable governess would wear. Still, she wasn’t sure she cared. Why should she pretend to be something she wasn’t? If the master didn’t like the way she cared for his kids, what difference did it make how she was dressed? Besides that, Kat and Mishka would probably wonder if she showed up at breakfast looking like a proper governess. Determined to let the chips fall where they may, she donned her jeans and T-shirt, put her hair in a not-too-neat ponytail, slipped on a pair of tennis shoes, and went downstairs.
To her relief, she was the first one to the dining room. The table was set with four places, and the coffee pot and sweet rolls were on the table. She filled her own coffee cup then slipped into the kitchen.
“May I come in?” she said quietly.
“Yes, of course.” Mrs. Warner smiled as she put a lid on pan. “How was your river trip?”
“Delightful.” Meredith smiled. “Well, until we got home.”
Mrs. Warner shook her head. “I’m afraid Master Spencer was a bit upset.”
“I didn’t realize it would be a problem. Or that he’d show up.”
“You and me both.”
“Do you know how long he’ll be here?”
“I haven’t a clue.” She turned down the gas on the stove. “He gave me no warning he was coming. Just showed up out of the blue. I suppose he wanted to surprise the children. And then they weren’t here. I heard him giving you hecky pecky over it last evening.”
