Note: I needed a couple of supporting characters, so I based Arthur & Mildred loosely on Mr. & Mrs. Crabb from "Mr. Selfridge". As per usual, I don't own these characters, nor the Eloise characters.
Going Home
~3~
Nanny took a sip of her tea, as she sat at the kitchen table in the cottage, having just read Wilkes' latest letter. They'd become accustomed to writing each other twice a week. She eagerly anticipated receiving his letters in the post. After a month in Halifax with her cousin, she longed to see him. She wondered if it was too soon to suggest a visit. Her cousin, Mildred, smiled as she entered the room, taking a tart out of the oven and placing it on the counter to cool.
Mildred was a tiny woman. She stood at 4 feet 10 inches, and didn't have an ounce of fat on her. She had short wavy red hair, which she kept tidy at all times. Everything about Mildred was tidy. Her clothing, her bedroom, and any workspace she set up. She was cheerful and kind. Nanny found her to be the only part of leaving New York that had been a blessing.
"Another letter from your friend?", Mildred asked, as she sat across from Nanny with her own tea.
"Yes", Nanny said with a smile, "I was thinking I should arrange a visit 'ere soon"
"That's a lovely idea!", Mildred replied, "I'd love to meet her"
Nanny nodded, not bothering to correct her. Mildred has her own gentleman friend by the name of Arthur. He visited them for dinner on the weekends and occasionally during the week. He was a kind man and Nanny liked him. Arthur was extremely short, no taller than Mildred,with a prominent nose and neatly combed hair. He worked as an accountant in London, and commuted on the train. Arthur had a fondness for sweets, Victoria Sponge cake in particular, which is likely why Mildred was always baking. There was no indication that they were anything more than just friends, but Nanny did wonder all the same.
"Ready for church then?", Mildred asked, sipping her tea.
"Oh Lord! I better get ready for sure, sure, sure!", Nanny exclaimed as she deposited her cup into the sink and snatched Wilkes' letter up from the table.
"We've been asked to an early supper tonight, by Arthur. He thought we'd go down there to the pub. Would that suit?"
"Aoww, yes! That'd be nice", Nanny replied, as she made her way upstairs. She knew if she stayed in this evening she would spend it re-reading Wilkes' letter in her room several times, and she wasn't sure this new habit of hers was entirely a healthy one.
"He'll be bringing a friend. I hope that'll be alright. His name is Ernie. He's a nice sort. Works as a dairy farmer, and Arthur thought he could use a bit of a night out. Thought you two might hit it off", Mildred called up the stairs from her place at the kitchen table.
Nanny stopped in her tracks on the landing, before turning and marching back down the stairs, "Mildred… what are you up to?!"
"Not a thing!", Mildred replied, raising her hands in protest, "It's just that you've been here a month Love, and you never leave this house unless it's to pick vegetables in the garden or go to church on Sundays"
"And 'ow does you pairing me up with some… some farmer… change that?"
"I thought you were lonely. I was just trying to help you Anne. Please don't be upset"
"Aoww!", Nanny replied as she exhaled and sat on the step, "I'm not upset"
Mildred got up and joined her on the stairs, sitting a couple steps below her, "So you'll go?"
"On a blind date with a stranger?! There is no, no, NO way Millie! … but I know your 'eart was in the right place"
"Oh, but Anne…"
"Stop, stop, stop!"
"Alright", Mildred replied.
Nanny felt guilty. Her cousin looked as though she was about to burst into tears.
"I'm sorry for sticking my nose in. I'll phone Arthur before he leaves and tell him it's off", Mildred said as she got up.
"Wait a minute Millie", Nanny said with a sigh, "I want to explain… You see… The letters. They aren't from a female friend"
"Oh?", Mildred replied, interested.
"They're from… a gentleman friend. A man I care very much for"
"I see", Mildred replied, wondering if she should ask, and deciding she should, "More than friends?"
Nanny nodded.
"No wonder you receive so many letters", Mildred said, sitting again, "Must have been hard to leave him"
Nanny nodded again.
"Why didn't you stay in New York then… Oh goodness! He wasn't… He's not married is he?"
Nanny's eyes shot open, "For Lord's sake Mildred! Of course not!"
"Sorry… but then why not stay? Did you not love him?"
Nanny's eyes shot open again.
"I'm so sorry!", Mildred said quickly, "I don't know why I'd ask such a personal question. Please forgive me"
"Aoww. It's alright Millie! The truth is… I do love him. Yes. Very much, but our being together just isn't possible"
"How sad"
"Yes. 'e is a knight you see. Far above my station for sure, sure, sure!"
"A knight! Lord!"
"Yes. I know… and Mildred 'e loves me too. Can you imagine that?"
"Very easily. You're a lovely woman", Mildred replied with a proud nod, "What's he like?"
"Well… I may be biased, but Wilkes is quite wonderful. Kind, generous, 'andsome, intelligent. 'e 'as been a widower for thirty years. 'is wife died young in an accident, and 'e was alone for years and years"
"Until he found you", she said with a smile.
"Yes", Nanny replied, " If only 'e were a pauper like myself!"
"We're hardly paupers!", Mildred replied proudly, "I see what you mean though. It's unfortunate when people care for one another, but come from different worlds"
"I'm not quite sure what will happen to us. It's rather distressing", Nanny admitted.
Mildred looked at Nanny for a long moment, before patting her knee, "You'll carry on. As we all must. Love will find a way"
Nanny smiled and nodded, "Could I still arrange a visit? Would it be alright if we made up the third bedroom for 'im? Wilkes 'as a 'ome in Chesterfield, but that's quite a long train ride each way"
"Of course he may come and stay! Just let me know when, so I don't have Arthur staying that weekend"
"Arthur never stays the night", Nanny replied, thinking back on the last four weekends when Arthur said his goodbyes. Mildred always walked him to his car, before he made the long drive back to London late at night, "Oh my Lord! 'e used to stay, but I'm disrupting your lives now aren't I?"
Mildred laughed, "It's alright Nanny"
"I wasn't even sure 'e was your boyfriend!"
"I think we're much too old for a term like that"
"But you are… together?", Nanny inquired.
Mildred laughed again, "As long as we are trading confidences… Yes. We are. That's just between us though"
"Married or a knight Love?", Nanny asked, and they both burst out laughing.
Mildred slapped Nanny's knee playfully, "Neither. Just private"
"I'm glad for you Love. 'e is a nice man", Nanny said sincerely.
"Yes", Mildred agreed, "He is. So, we shall arrange it so both of our fellas aren't here the same weekend"
"Didn't it worry you? What people may say?", Nanny asked, "With you living 'ere on your own and Arthur spending the night?"
"It did. At first, but Arthur has been in my life a long time. Ten years. I suppose we just stopped caring what people thought… that is until you came along. This is your home too and so that's a bit different, but other folks can talk if they like. Not that they do. Nobody cares much what a couple of pensioners are up to"
Nanny laughed, "Your mother would 'ave cared!"
"Both our mothers! May they rest in peace. I know. I do, but I've made my peace with my sin. I forgave God for not allowing me to have children, which is why I was alone when I was young. It was God's will and I accepted it… and I like to think that God would forgive me now for giving in to temptation. At this age, and with the commitment we have, it doesn't feel so terribly wrong"
Nanny froze. Mildred gave her a funny look and she snapped out of it, "Aoww, I'm sorry! I just… when you said you two were together… I hadn't realized you meant TOGETHER"
Mildred blushed, and looked down, " I'm sorry. I hope I haven't made you uncomfortable. I know it's wrong, but after years of loving him… and, well, marriage isn't an option for us… we just gave in"
"I don't judge Love. It's your life"
"Thank you"
"May I ask why marriage isn't an option?", Nanny asked.
"Oh! Arthur is Jewish. Neither of us wish to convert. We are both so deeply rooted in our faith"
"I see. Well, I'm glad you've found each other", Nanny said sincerely.
"Thank you, and I'm glad you've found your knight in shining armor! Now then. I must call and cancel this blind date of yours tonight"
"Aoww, yes please do!", Nanny said as she headed to her room to get ready for church, feeling a little bit better, having told her secret.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
"William! Ah, my coffee! Thank you", Wilkes said, taking the tray from the young man.
"You've been drinking a lot of coffee lately", William pointed out, "Careful. It'll keep you up at night"
Wilkes nodded, thinking that is not what kept him up at night. He dashed his thoughts of missing Nanny long enough to praise William on his small role in the Broadway show he had just signed on for.
"You are welcome to attend as my guest any time! Just let me know the date you'd like to come and I'll have tickets waiting at the box office for you", William offered.
"Very kind. Thank you"
"Nanny always encouraged me so much with my acting. I wish she could come and see the performance, but I'd still love to see you there Sir Wilkes! How is she?"
"She seems to be settling in well. I'll be paying her a visit soon, as it happens. She requested I come at my earliest convenience in her last letter, so it seems I'll be seeing her very soon indeed", Wilkes replied with a smile. He was telling anyone who'd listen that he'd be visiting Nanny. He was so excited to see her, it was all he could talk about.
"Wonderful news! Please give her my best", William offered, before departing.
"I certainly will. Please say hello to your wife as well. Lovely young woman, Rachel"
"I certainly will Sir… and yes she certainly is", William replied, before disappearing around the corner.
Wilkes had spent the last few weeks simplifying his life. He'd resigned from several boards, and took a leave of absence from the Historical Society. He'd been in touch with his staff at the estate in Chesterfield and requested they have the house ready for frequent visits.
He had planned to fly to the estate and stay on a bit. He thought he'd get in touch with Nanny once he got there and he'd request that they get together, seeing as how he was only an hour away, but then she had written requesting that he come and stay at the cottage with her and her cousin for a week or so. An even better idea! Perhaps after his visit with Nanny he would go on to the Estate for a bit, rather than returning directly to The Plaza. All of that could be decided at a later date. The important thing was he was going to see Nanny!
TO BE CONTINUED
