Mayfield: A Saga

“Certainly not,” he said, looking across the table to the beautiful woman sitting across from him. “But as Miss Brown will now be Violet’s governess, you will be relieved of your childcare duties. I know it was too much work for you, my dear Hester. And I believe it would be of great importance for Miss Brown and Violet to become acquainted as soon as possible.” He smiled that smile that could make anyone want to do anything for him; such unspeakable charm he had. “You wouldn’t mind readying Violet for church tomorrow morning and accompanying us to the service, would you Miss Brown?”

“Of course not, sir,” Ellie answered, blushing as she dropped her gaze from Edward’s.

“Splendid!” he said, exhibiting some of his father’s cheerfulness. “I’ll show you to the nursery so you will not get lost tomorrow morning. We shall leave at 7am, so I do say you will have to begin to wake Violet up at 6am,” he said as he rose from the table.

Ellie looked to Mr. Remmington Sr. who was still seated at the head of the table. He nodded for her to go with Edward. Ellie had forgotten for a moment that it was perfectly fine for a servant to be alone with her master. Had she been back at home, it would have been extremely inappropriate and most unallowable for her to be alone with any man without a chaperone of some sort. “I hope you will be very happy here with us, my child,” Albus said comfortingly. “If ever you should need anything, please do not hesitate to ask.”

Ellie returned his smile and rose from the table. She walked past Hester’s icy glares and Martha’s warm beams. She met Edward at the entrance to the dining room and felt a warm heat grow inside her as she let him place her hand in the crook of his arm. Just the thought of being alone with this man was enough to make her blush.

He led her up the wide staircase and down a corridor to the right. He stopped in front of a closed door. He held a finger up to his lips to motion for her to remain silent. Even this simple gesture seemed somewhat sensual to Ellie. How she longed for it to be her finger touching his lips.

Slowly, Edward pushed open the wooden door and led Ellie into a darkened room. Had this been any other man in any other household, Ellie would have been frightened. But not of Edward. She couldn’t explain it. She’d only known him for a few hours, and she already completely trusted him with her dignity and safety.

From what she could see of the darkened room, it looked to be a playroom. There were a number of children’s play things situated around the room. A beautiful painted dollhouse caught Ellie’s eye, and she as immediately thrown back in time. Not too long ago it seemed, she led a life much like Violet’s. She had her own playroom with a dollhouse very much like this one. She would spend hours playing with that dollhouse as she could tell Violet does now; due to all the toy furniture and figures scattered around it. She was brought back out of her daydream by the sudden touch of Edward’s hand on her elbow. “This way,” he whispered. He was so close; she could feel his warm breath on her ear.

Edward led her to another door toward the back of the playroom and quietly pushed it open. This was little Violet’s bedroom. Ellie had to fight back tears as she took in the scene. It reminded her so much of her own childhood nursery. And there was beautiful, peaceful, little Miss Violet all safe and snug in her warm little bed, with her healthy and loving father smiling down on her. How Ellie envied her.