History Lessons by Fiona Wilde Read Free Book Online

No. But I will not tolerate your allowing others to walk all over you."
    "That was just Missy," she said. "She was upset."
    "By what?"
    Lucy should have known by his dark tone that her next words should be chosen carefully, but instead she spoke without thinking.
    "I told her I got the promotion and..."
    "You told her?" His tone was incredulous.
    "You didn't say I couldn't," Lucy said defensively. "If I'd have known it was supposed to be a secret..."
    "When someone in a position of authority vests you with a share of it, you should immediately act the part. By fraternizing..."
    "She's my friend!" Lucy said.
    "Is she?" he asked. "She certainly didn't seem like it a moment ago."
    Lucy started to reply but realized she had nothing to say.
    "Miss Primm, please come to my office at the end of your workday. I'd like to continue this conversation, but I prefer to do it in private."
    "Yessir." She curtsied slightly, and then blinking the tears from her eyes, Lucy Prim went off to begin her first day as the head of household maids at Hartford House.

     

Chapter Four

    Lucy stepped out of the receptionist's office, watching as the last of the other employees of Hartford House walked in small, chatty groups to their cars parked behind the tree line.
    Kegan's preschool director had been more than accommodating when Lucy had told her she'd be a bit late picking her son up. It was amazing, she cynically observed, how much more agreeable the woman was once she found out Lucy would be paying tuition a month in advance.
    She was alone now in the office and stood there for a moment staring at the pattern made by the late afternoon rays shining through the simple lace curtains. Above her she could hear Warren Ellis walking about in his office and could tell by the sound that he was pacing. But why? Was he thinking of what to say to her? Of what he was going to do to her?
    Lucy wasn't sure she could take another session with the cane. Even now her stomach twisted with fear when she remembered the brutal bite of pain she'd felt when it met her vulnerable backside, and how deep that pain had seeped into her skin. She'd spent the night sleeping on her stomach, staring at the digital display of her alarm clock as it ticked off the minutes. With each passing one, she told herself that no matter what she endured I was worth it.
    "I need this job. I need this job. I need this job," she'd repeated over and over until sleep had finally claimed her a little past two in the morning.
    Over breakfast Kegan had regarded her with serious eyes.
    "You look sleepy," he observed.
    "Mommy is sleepy," she said.
    "Why?"
    "Because I didn't sleep last night very well?"
    "Why?"
    She smiled, ruffling his blonde hair. "My head was too full of thoughts."
    "Why didn't you empty it, the way you tell me to?" he asked. "Like this?"
    He tipped his head to the right and gently tapped his left ear, displaying their quirky bedtime ritual.
    "Now see," she said with a smile. "That's what I did wrong. I forgot to empty my head."
    She leaned over and kissed him. "I'll remember tonight."
    "You can do it with me!" he suggested.
    "That," she said, "is a great idea. Now hurry up and eat. You don't want to be late for school."
    He'd been content with this simple solution and she'd packed his lunch as he ate, marveling at his uncomplicated view of life. For Kegan, everything was a matter of trust. But then again his world was so small and orderly. She took care of his every need. Lucy could not help but envy her son's innocent existence. Insulated as he was, he was free to grow and dream and enjoy just being. Too bad it can't be like that for adults, she thought.
    She wished it now more than ever. While her son was in town playing with his friends, she was standing in a centuries old house, friendless, and trying to think how to deal with the increasingly complicated feelings she had for her boss.
    Lucy wished again that she could just hate him. Or at least summon the backbone to march