Chapter 3
As the night progressed the children all were taking care to watch Ryan, as both James and Michael slept, both Sofia and Amber were talking about the plan that Sofia had, but Amber was doubtful that it would work.
"Sofia how are you going to be able to do this, remember James doesn't have any memories of your amulet's magic, only the magic of Cedric's or what he learned at Royal Prep." Amber stated.
"I am sure that I will think of something, even if I have to do magic in front of everyone, I have to find a way for all of us to escape and find help." Sofia said.
Amber sighs when she sees the stubborn look in her young sister's eyes and says "Okay, just be careful."
Sofia smiles sadly and hugs Amber.
Meanwhile Miranda and Roland were trying to enjoy their 4th anniversary at the beach of their summer home.
As Miranda sat beside her husband wearing a simple one piece dark pink bathing suit, who was wearing a royal blue swim trunks, both were wearing sunglasses, sitting under a large umbrella, with Baileywick inside the beach house preparing lunch for them.
"Rollie, maybe this trip wasn't such a great idea, I mean Amber wasn't actually thrilled about the idea of going to a Summer Group Home for Children and we barely know anything about the owner of the place." Miranda said as she felt guilty about leaving her children with strangers.
Roland gives her hand a gentle squeeze and says "Miranda the children will be fine, they are going to have a blast and the next 8 weeks will fly by and before you know it the children will be back in our arms happily chatting about all the things that they learned and explored."
Miranda sighs and smiles at her husband saying, "You are right, I am worrying over nothing."
Meanwhile all the children were asleep or dozing only to be awoken rudely by a shrill whistle and the door bursting open to admit Ms. Malum.
"It's 5:00 am time to get up and get the day started you maggots!" The woman said, blowing the loud whistle again, making them all wince, but they all dragged themselves out of bed as the woman left them to get dressed.
After getting dressed and cleaning themselves as best as they could with a bucket filled with icy cold water and a few rags and some toothpaste that was stashed under Michael's mattress, putting it on their fingers and rubbing it on their teeth.
"We have to make the beds and do it perfectly, Ms. Malum demands 100% perfection of everything wherever you are." Michael explained as he quickly makes one of the beds with Ryan's help, while Sofia helped Amber and James make the other bed.
After they were done with the beds, Ms. Malums came into the room and nodded with mild approval at the neatness of the room and said "Line up and follow me."
As they left the room, the woman started to explain the rules of their stay here.
"There is no eating anywhere except the food hall, no stealing, swimming and no writing to anyone and when I have company over, you are to wear your nice clothes and speak when only spoken too and if you slip or try to speak out of turn you deal with me, am I understood." She twirls to stare coldly at the children who nodded.
"Good, now breakfast, today we are having gruel with bread and water, also another rule is no taking seconds, you are to eat what I give you and be grateful."
The kids just grimace when her back is turned as they follow her in a small dining room with two tables, one for her food and one for the children.
Both Michael and Ryan went to get the trays of food, for Ms. Malum was having a full English style breakfast with chilled orange juice, while the children got a small cup of gruel, with a small loaf of bread to split between them and a large pitcher of cooled water.
Sofia, James and Amber watched as Michael and Ryan ate their food slowly, so they mimicked their actions, but by the time they were done, they were still hungry, but they knew better than to complain.
Meanwhile next door in a large manor a young housekeeper named Hannah was busy cleaning up breakfast, when she notices the lack of children outside at the house that was a summer group home for children.
Duchess Kimberly AKA Grandma was sitting and reading the newspaper when she noticed that her friend and housekeeper was really quiet.
"Hannah, dear everything alright?" She asked.
"Yes ma'am, I just noticed the lack of children outside at the House next door is too quiet and I know that few kids got dropped off yesterday so I wonder why they aren't outside playing with the other kids in the neighborhood." Hannah said having a gut feeling something was off about that house.
"If it makes you feel better, I will stop by on my way to Tilly's and I will check in with Ms. Malum, but I am sure that she will just make sure the children are settled in."
Hannah was put at ease a bit and gave the older woman a smile and said "It would be fun to see the kids running around outside and having fun around this neighborhood again."
Kimberly smiles at Hannah saying "Yes it would be nice, things are so quiet here sometimes I miss having my children around when they were small."
"Your son and daughter grew up to be great people despite who their father was." Hannah said paling when she realized what she said.
"I am so so sorry Mistress! Please don't kick me out!" Hannah begged as she fell to her knees.
Kimberly knelt down beside the distraught woman and said "Hush, Hannah I am not mad, I wouldn't dream of making you leave, you are my friend."
Hannah sniffled and said "But you forbade anyone from mentioning your former husband."
"I know that I did at the time, but things have changed over the years and I am not that frail girl that was too sickly to get out of bed for weeks at a time."
"I agree with you there ma'am and you should be proud of your son especially since he bears his father's name." Hannah said.
"I am very proud of the man he has become, he is a great King and father, better than his predecessor." Kimberly said with pride in her voice.
Meanwhile back at the summer home, Ms. Malum was giving the children a long list of chores to do.
"I am going into the attic, while I am gone, I expect everything to be clean and neat when I come back and if I find a single thing out of place you will answer me, got it!"
Ms. Malum watched with glee as the children nodded frantically and said "Yes ma'am!"
They started on their chores, under her watchful eye for a few moments, before she decided to leave, once she was out of ear shot, James decided to take action.
"We need to get a hold of someone, do you guys have a phone?" James asked, smiling
when the boys nodded.
"There is a phone in the living room, be quick about it!" Ryan said as he limped over to a dusty shelf and started to clean it.
James quickly and quietly dials the number for their beach house.
"Hello?" Hearing the sound of his mother's voice was a relief to James as he started to explain.
"Mom! Please you have to get us out of here, this place is crazy, we are being forced to wear rags, eat little food, do back breaking chores."
There was a silence on the phone for a long moment and James almost thought she hung up, but then she sighs and says. "James, I don't have time for one of your prank calls, I want you to be on your best behavior for Ms. Malum and I will see you in a few weeks. Goodbye."
James just stares at the phone in shock for a moment before any hope he had was shattered as he hangs up the phone.
"That was a bust, we might need a new plan fast, if we want to survive the week." James said.
When Sofia was looking out the window, she spotted a familiar figure and whispered to the others.
"Guys, Grandma is here, we are home free!" Sofia said while everyone cheered quietly.
"There is a back door that leads to the backyard in the kitchens, come on!" Ryan said as he gestured for everyone to follow him.
Meanwhile Kimberly was ringing the doorbell, only for Ms. Malum to open the door as much as the chain allowed, smiling when she saw who it was.
"Kim, what a surprise, do you need something?" Ms. Malum asked in her sweet voice.
"No, I just came to check on how the children were doing, my housekeeper was worried about not seeing them outside yet and I wanted to put her mind at ease."
If the older woman was paying attention she would have notice the dark of the other woman's eyes as she said "I can assure you that the children are settle just fine, but unfortunately they all came down with a bad case of the flu and so I am keep them quarantined, they are now in bed resting, the poor dears."
Kimberly frowned in sympathy and said, "Well I hope that they recover quickly and I will leave you to do what you need to do, good day."
She leaves unaware that her grandchildren were subjected to their first ever beating at the hands of a woman who was an acquaintance of hers.
When she came to her porch she was greeted by Hannah.
"Well any luck?"
"It's just the Flu Hannah, apparently that's why she kept them inside, they will be better in a few days." Kimberly reassures.
Hannah grimaces in sympathy, "The dreaded summer flu, that is awful, I hope that they make a speedy recovery, anyway here is your bag packed and ready for your 2 day stay at the beach house." She said, handing the small duffle bag to the older woman with a smile.
With a look of gratefulness the Duchess takes the bag saying, "Thank you, Hannah you are saint, are you sure you don't want to come?" Hannah shakes her head, "Someone has to stay here and watch your house, while you are away, now go have fun and tell Tilly I said 'Hi' and with your permission I was thinking of making soup for the children."
Kimberly smiles and nods, "That is a wonderful idea and if Garrick calls, let him know that I will be out of town for the next two days." Hannah nods just as a carriage comes up the drive. "Well there is my ride, see you in two days." Kimberly said waving goodbye to the other woman as she climbed into the carriage and it was off.
Meanwhile at the beach house Miranda was trying to enjoy her sandwich, but she couldn't shake the feeling of unease from the call she got from James.
"Miranda what is the matter?" Roland asked concerned when he saw his wife staring off into the distance.
"Hmm? Oh it's nothing, I received a call from James, he was trying to pull one of his pranks on me, but I nipped it in the bud."
Roland smiles at his son, who was a chip off the old block when it came to pranks and mischief, but he was worried when he saw the troubled look on Miranda's face.
"If it was just a simple prank, why are you so troubled, my dear?" Roland wanted to soothe any worries that his queen might have on her mind.
Miranda shakes her head, saying "It was just some of what he said that had me worried, but I might have a bit hard on him about it."
Putting a hand over her own, Roland smiles gently at her saying, "I am sure that you weren't too hard on him, he has been known to get carried away at times with his pranks and tricks."
Miranda sighs with relief as the mild guilt she was feeling had faded as she gave Roland a kiss and grateful smile.