“Answer me.” Henry caught her arm. “If you are going to be a nanny to my cousin’s daughter, then I need to know what sort of person you truly are.”
“Henry?” Bastin’s voice sounded behind him, and he dropped Anne’s arm.
“Is something the matter?” Bastin came up beside them.
“Not at all,” Henry forced a casual tone. “I was just talking to Alice’s new nanny.”
“Papa! Alice shrieked and ran to him.
Bastin glanced at Anne before turning to his daughter. “Hello, sweetheart.” He picked up the child and kissed her.
She leaned forward and reached for the package tucked under Henry’s arm. “Baba!” she said.
“What’s that?” Bastin asked.
“She’s right. It’s a present for her.” He handed Bastin the package.
Jack took it and tucked it under his free arm. “A present!” he said, turning to his daughter. “Shall we open it?”
Alice tried to grab the package, and her father set her down on the blanket and placed the present before her.
“Excuse me, sir. If you don’t mind, I need to tend to something.” Anne said, looking close to tears. “It’ll only take a few minutes.”
“Of course, take as long as you need.” Bastin settled on the blanket next to his daughter. “I’ve been waiting all day to spend time with my favorite princess.” He smiled at Alice, who banged on the package with both hands.
Anne exited the room.
“What was that all about?” Bastin turned to Henry.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
Henry tried his best to appear nonchalant.
“Have you met Anne before?”
“Once at the college.”
“Only once?” Bastin frowned, indicating that he suspected his friend wasn’t forthcoming with the facts.
Wanting to avoid Bastin’s scrutiny, Henry strolled to the window. “I recall Mrs. Crawford saying something about working in a seamstress shop. How did she come to be your nanny?”
“She’s one of my sister’s protégées. Violet thinks she has tremendous potential. But the young lady is too proud to attend school on charity, and when the seamstress she worked for fell dangerously ill, she lost both her job and her lodgings. I suppose she would have had to move and leave the college had Violet not intervened.”
“What?” Henry turned from the window, genuinely shocked.
“She demonstrated good character, caring for the seamstress and her sick baby while the husband was at sea.”
My God! Of course, little Rupert’s father was a sailor.He recalled how Anne had chosen a stuffed bear clad in a sailor’s suit for the boy.
“Did you say, sick baby? How awful. Did Rup—I mean—what happened?” Trepidation crept into his throat.
“I believe they recovered. Then the husband came home and decided to take his family to his sister’s residence in Cornwell. I’m not certain, but I think Violet said he was good enough to return Mrs. Crawford’s rent for the month. And that is how Violet discovered that the young lady needed a place to stay. It suits us perfectly.” He stroked his daughter’s hair. “This little tiger is getting too energetic for Mrs. Teal. And Mrs. Crawford has an abundance of energy. Alice worships her.”
“Are you talking about our wonderful Anne?” Ottilie entered the room, and Henry went to greet her. “She displayed such bravery, nursing that sick woman and her child. We are lucky to have her.” Ottilie kissed both his cheeks.
“Mama!” Alice patted the half-unwrapped package.
Ottilie went to her daughter, and Henry turned to look out the window again.
