Sorry for the delay, people. Work was tiresome, and this was an important chapter.
Nanny Halloween
Chapter 7: A Day in the Sun
Niles couldn't deny he was feeling excited about the events to come, but saying he was a bit afraid was not stretching the truth, either.
He liked the fact the women were coming to stay in that cold and empty mansion (it was already time for someone to bring warmth to that place!), but he feared it all the same: all the times they had guests it had ended very badly, and for some reason he didn't want it to happen to those two.
It was not logical, once he barely knew them; at the same time, nothing else has ever made so much sense to him.
His conversation with Maxwell, the previous night, had been short and difficult. Niles had planned to be subtle, but as soon as the door was closed he saw the devious smirk in the man's face, and couldn't refrain from demanding a direct answer:
'What are you planning?'
'Me? Why do you always think I'm planning and scheming?'
'I'll ask again, and this time I expect an honest answer: what are you planning?'
Maxwell had looked at him for some moments, as if he could measure his interest in the matter just by the way he stood there, facing his Master.
'Nothing. I just liked them. Didn't you?'
Niles had no answer to that, so he turned his back to Maxwell and went to the kitchen to clean. He needed the physical exercise to clear his thoughts.
(He had spent some good hours making the room shine. Now and then he would sense another presence, stop and notice, by his peripheral vision, Maxwell standing at a corner, his cap covering half his face, a menacing glare on his eyes.
Niles would just sigh in exasperation the first times. Then, tired of the routine, he threw a wet sponge at the figure, that let out a loud 'Argh' and disappeared.
Childish vampires!).
Now, sitting at the big sofa, he looked at his watch. He had reorganized all of his day to accommodate the guests: he spent the morning with the usual afternoon duties (he reversed them, so he wouldn't have to take blood when the guests were there); he had even taken a lot more of blood, to not have to worry about it for at least three nights.
(He supposed Maxwell wouldn't be crazy enough to let them stay more than that. Fourth night from now was such a big no-no that Niles couldn't even think of the possibility without having his heart clench in worry.)
After a light lunch, Niles checked some things for the last time and went to the main room. It was almost 2 in the afternoon and the guests had not arrived yet.
He would be very disappointed if they didn't at all.
Realizing how restless he was, he decided to go out for his afternoon activities of the day. He thought about receiving the girls while trimming the bushes at the front of the house: maybe being just a normal guy would help them to dissociate him from the strangeness around.
(And sweaty muscular guy could make a good impression on a certain blonde.)
He was deciding if he should change his clothes when he heard the car approaching.
Niles run to open the door. He had left the gates open, and now CC was driving the car to a place close to the house.
He descended the front stairs to proper receive them, but before he could say anything, Fran was getting out of the car and talking to him, 'Don't worry! I left the rest of my luggage in the hotel. I brought only three bags', she approached and pointed at CC, 'Can you believe she made me bring just that?'
Niles just smiled at them when the blonde rolled her eyes.
'So, is everything all right?', Fran asked and looked at the house, 'Is Mister Sheffield waiting for us there?'
'Mister Sheffield has problems with sun light. He stays at his room during the days, and gets up to work at the nights'.
'It's not like we have a lot of sun, in here', Fran commented.
'Is it some disease?', CC asked.
'No, we don't always have large amounts of light here and yes, it is a rare disease. Please, let me help you with your luggage'.
They took the bags and entered the mansion.
'I have prepared two rooms for you, in the right side of the house', Niles points at the staircase at the end of the room, 'I'll show you…'
Fran stops him putting the bag she was carrying on the floor and putting her hand on his arm, 'Sweetie, weren't you ready to go out?'
Niles stopped and looked at her. She must have thought he was, once he appeared at the front door as soon as their car arrived.
The other explanation was that he was waiting for them in the living room.
'Yes, I was ready to start the… afternoon rounds…'
'So, don't bother with showing the rooms now', Fran said, 'I'm really tired, and I'd love staying in the house to rest while you two go and have fun'.
The blonds looked funny at her, and Niles blushed, 'I beg your pardon?'
'I'm not a rural person, but Blondie there is. She loves horses and stuff. Do you have any horses in here?', without giving Niles time to answer, she took him by the arm and was getting him to the front door, 'Arranging bags always tires me so much I must sleep to recover myself. Doesn't this big sofa seem comfy? Yes, it does. I'll try it!'
At the front door, the woman almost shoved the couple out and slammed the door, yelling, 'See ya!'
Niles and CC exchanged amused glances, and the woman recovered herself quickly, 'I hope you don't mind her. She is a bit crazy, and came talking about resting all the way here. But I'd love to see the estate'.
The man pondered over that: Fran wanted to stay in the house, what he didn't like; but CC said she wanted to see the state with him, what he liked a lot.
Did he really have any choice?
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They walked to the barn, Niles showing her this and that detail.
'What are the plans?', CC asked Niles while they walked side by side, 'Or maybe I should ask what were the plans before Hurricane Fine arrived'.
'I didn't know if you would prefer to stay at the mansion or to know the place, so I was waiting for you to arrive before I planned anything'.
'You're lying'.
'Yes, I am. I was prepared for both possibilities. If we stayed in the house, I had already chosen a wonderful recipe to prepare for afternoon tea. If you preferred to wander around, I would take you to the barn to choose some horses'.
'I'm very good at riding'.
Niles cleared his throat at the images that passed through his head, 'I… suppose so. I kinda expected it from you'.
They were getting close to the barn, and CC turned her head to him, 'What do you mean?'
Niles started opening the entrance of a smaller area, where the horses were feeding leisurely, while CC observed the seven animals. 'I meant you seem a very confident and even bossy person, and riding put you on top – I mean, in control'.
She nodded distractedly, agreeing with him, but had her eyes already in the horses, 'They are beautiful', she praised.
'Yes, they are', Niles agreed fondly, gesturing for her to enter with him, 'I love horses, and I insisted on having them'.
CC observed how the animals seemed to trust Niles to the point where they quickly accepted her presence, once they seemed to understand she was with him. 'It seems they like you', she said, caressing one of them.
'I think they do', he answered, 'Animals usually are good judges of character', he made a gesture towards her and her new friend, who was already tilting his head to accept her caress, 'Obviously, they can be wrong'.
She knew he was teasing, and smiled, 'Maybe this big boy here will tell me the things I want to know'.
'Maybe he will', Niles murmured, knowing she was referring to the horse and, in some way, to him. He started taking the saddles and putting them on the chosen horses.
CC observed how he worked, and licked her lips at the muscles she could see when he moved. Today he had chosen a t-shirt, and she was loving it, 'It's great to notice they are accepting like this. It shows you treat them well'.
'I have great respect for horses, and would never harm any of them'.
'It means that huge thing we ate last night was not part of a horse?'
'Dear God, woman, what an idea!', he exclaimed, and she could say he was horrified by the concept. 'It was one of our lambs. I'm not surprised you didn't recognize it, once your species is not given to cannibalism'.
'We've already established that I'm not even slightly similar to sheep. I am too independent for it'.
'I guess someone has forgotten the concept of black sheep'.
Oh. 'Well… touché', she shrugged graciously.
Niles grinned at her and extended a hand, so he could help her to get on the horse.
(What both knew was not necessary, once she already said she knew how to ride and did it very well.)
She took his hand and felt when the other landed slightly on her waistline. He basically stayed close and touching her enough to feel her and to guarantee she would have someone to fall onto if she lost her balance.
(When she gets the idea, she almost does so, just to feel the strong chest and arms against her, but then resists – falling on top of a man was something Fran would do. CC enjoyed more the subtlety of the understanding they had, here.)
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At that time, Fran was already wandering by the living room, and observing it attentively. It was the first time she could do it without the people of the house around, and she wanted to make the best of the opportunity.
She thinks that the place is not that creepy when you know it is daytime out there, but the rocky walls provide a kind of heavy semi-darkness that brings dark secrets to mind.
The sofas have a red cloth, that seems comfortable and almost seductive.
There are some trinkets in a tall cabinet, but when Fran tries to open it to look closer, she finds it is locked.
She purses her lips in frustration and turns around. The walls are so distant she must walk for some time to see the paintings on the other side.
Just landscapes. No family photos or portraits, just nameless forests, lakes and mountains. No people at all in the images.
Fran raised a brow and decided to explore the kitchen.
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'I guess the other animals are not so fond of you', CC commented when they passed by a field with a lot of cows, that just observed them at a distance.
'What have you expected? Cows are not exactly what we could call affectionate beasts'.
'I just thought it would be funny if they approached and you patted their heads'.
Niles chuckled at the image, 'I think they must have mixed feelings about me – sometimes I appear and it is nice, and sometimes I appear and one of them is gone'.
'Do you really think they can make associations like this?'
'Beasts have the basic feeling of who likes them who doesn't. They can feel who fear them, too. And their memory is better than people give them credit for'.
'You are very sure of it. Interested in animal psychology?'
Niles looked at her as if he didn't know what to say. Then, he looked away, 'I just observe them and learn from their behavior. I appreciate the books, but certain things you must live to understand correctly'.
CC nodded, and then she realized what she noticed something was missing, 'Don't you have any dogs?'
Niles visibly frowned, 'We had, but they… died'.
'Oh, what happened?'
'A lot of things happened… and I decided not to have dogs anymore. You spend so much time with them that, when they're gone, it is… very hard'.
She smiled sympathetically, 'I understand. They pester and sometimes they got you crazy, but then they look at you and there is just love, there'.
She noticed he clenched his jaw, while nodding and looking away. It was obviously a difficult matter for him, and she decided to change the subject, 'I'm surprised you dedicated your time planning on how to receive us. You were obviously against it'.
He clearly relaxed, 'I'm a very religious man, Miss Babcock. When a punishment comes my way, I accept it'.
She grinned, 'Oh, please, stop the praise! You'll make it go to my head!'
Niles grinned at her good-naturedly reaction, 'Talking seriously, I am still not sure we are able to have guests, after so much time living just by ourselves… However, if this story is so important to you, and Mister Sheffield didn't mind that you have forged that letter, it's not in my place to be against you staying here'.
CC looked at him to see if there was any glare thrown into her direction when he mentioned the forging, but there was none. 'We're not that demanding and yes, the story is worth it. People in New York love these bizarre foreigners who buy mansions in the countryside to live isolated from the world'.
'It sounds very romantic, when said like this'.
'That's how Nanny Fine sees it'.
'Nanny?'
'Oh, sorry. Once she managed to extract an interview from a young actor who had been avoiding me, and since them I sometimes call her this, just to mock her – the boy tried to sue her afterwards'.
'I see', he said, wondering what kinds of adventures those two had lived together. 'But, tell me: Miss Fine finds it all romantic. And you? What do you think?'
CC tilted her head in doubt, 'I still don't know what to think. You're bizarre, but I can't see the vampire vibe people talk about. I'll wait and see'.
Niles nodded, and then gestured for them to stop by a small mill-dam. There was a good extension of water with some ducks and other birds around, and some small houses for them in the middle of the dam.
CC noticed the sun was shining, there, and smiled, 'What an amazing place you have, here'.
'I built it for the animals, when I noticed they avoided the mansion', he looked at her, 'What do you think of getting off the horses and walk for a while? There is an orchard ahead, and a small garden'.
'Sure!'
Her face got illuminated, and Niles didn't know if it was the sun or the joy in both their hearts.
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Fran heard the opening door and got up from the sofa.
She crossed her arms on her chest and made her most annoyed face.
She had discovered that this Mister Niles was clever enough to frustrate her snooping powers.
She had gone to the kitchen, and discovered everything was absolutely clean and locked – the fridge, the subzero, even the cupboards. The man had made sure she wouldn't be able to see anything he didn't want her to see.
Even if she was suspicious it would not be useful, Fran went to the left side of the house – and, obviously, it had a locked door that separated it from the rest of the house.
Increasingly annoyed, she went to the right side: there she easily discovered the access to the second floor and opened the first door she found.
It was a classy room, and it was evident it had been prepared to receive a guest: Fran appreciated the details, as the open curtains and the made bed, and even the delicate gesture of a vase with fresh flowers in the nightstand.
(Damn caring man! It was difficult to hate him!)
Curious, she exited the room and went for the other door.
Opening it, she smiled to herself, because she knew immediately that it was CC's room: there were fresh flowers around it, in different and beautifully shaped vases, and even a solitary rose on one of the pillows.
(It was almost ridiculous how hard the guy had fallen. And she thought the same was going on with the blonde, even if she was stubborn enough to deny the obvious hints.)
Now Fran was in the living room, standing and expecting her face shows Niles how much she didn't appreciate his methods.
The blondes enter the mansion and Fran's scowl dissolves immediately: they are grinning foolishly at each other; CC is carrying a bunch of flowers and Niles, a basket with what seems a diversity of fruits.
'Hey, Fran', CC greets her with a joy she had just seen in the blonde when she is yelling at someone, 'We chose some berries and Hazel here is making us a pie he swears is the best we have ever ate'.
'That's great news', Fran smirks at them.
'Told you food was always great news to her', CC looked at Niles.
'I'll give you the credit for that. You described her reaction perfectly'.
Fran noticed once again how at ease they were at each other, 'I see you had fun'.
Not noticing the implication, CC waves her hand, 'It was amazing! The estate has horses and Niles showed me a place where the sun shines, with a small lake formed by a dam, and ducks and a garden'.
Fran crosses her arms again, this time taking the opportunity to smirk at Niles while CC was occupied arranging the flowers on her arms to take her coat off, 'Why, you took her to a discreet sunny place with ducks in a lake and flowers?'
He made a guilty face at the brunette, but CC interrupted any thing he was planning to answer, 'Let's go to the kitchen, already! Or are you chickening out?'
Niles grinned smugly at her, 'Never, you witch! I'm just after you', when CC started walking excitedly ahead, he approached Fran and stopped by her side, asking too innocently, 'How was your afternoon, Miss Fine?'
She squinted at him, 'You can be onto me, Mister, but I'm really very onto you, too. In more senses than one'.
He smirked at her, 'The battle is on, dear lady'.
'Yes, it is', she answered and added, softening her tone to one of playfulness and walking by his side, 'I hope you compensate frustrating my afternoon with delicious cooking, dear gentleman'.
He laughed at her, 'Say no more! You'll change your way of looking at food after experimenting mine!'
Fran couldn't help but smile at his excitement, because she could feel how he enjoyed the vivacious company she and CC had to offer. Of course, he had different approaches and interests in them, but Fran was content with the possibility of being – who knows? – his friend.
(The dark-haired guy was more her type, anyway.)
She wondered how much time had this vibrant man lived his days all alone, in that dark mansion, with no human soul to keep him company.
Luckily, she would have some days to unveil this and other mysteries of this house, and maybe, just maybe, help things to get better for everyone.