Eliza and Julia looked around the entrance of the mansion in awe. It was a grand hallway with doors on both side and two separate wings to the house. The hall was painted a light sky blue and it was furnished with an old Victorian style yet it suited the style of the day.
Frau Schimdt walked bow-legged, and it was even more apparent inside then it was out. Her gate could almost be classified under a waddle but it wasn't that severe. She walked up the third door on the left and gently tapped three times with her knuckles on the sold white door. Eliza heard a grunt from the other side and watched as Frau Schimdt disappeared behind the door.
"Captain, we seem to have a problem," Frau Schimdt told the Captain as she began to close the door behind her and cross her hands over her stomach. The Captain looked up from his papers and set down his black ink pen. He was going over old reports and signing forms.
"What seems to be the matter?"
"Well, Sir, we seem to have fresh meat that has come to take my job, Sir." Frau Schmidt said with her chin held high and her voice strong with sarcasm.
"Hmm… Yes, there does seem to be a misunderstanding. I've forgotten to fire you haven't I now?" The Captain said with a smirk. The old women gasped at the news of her replacement and let out disapproval "OH"! "Is there… Something the matter Frau Schmidt?"
"I have been here for five years, Captain. I believe that I have held myself to your high standards and…"
The Captain stopped her in mid-sentence. "Go bring Ms. Eliza in; I will fix this little problem." The Captain smirked at Frau Schmidt. The old women smiled with relief and turned to go get the Girl and her daughter. "Wait," the Captain said, "I go out there instead." He scooted himself away from his desk and got up on to his feet and followed Frau Schmidt out the door.
The hallway was empty of anyone. The Captain noticed a door that was ajar and he could hear mumbling in the room. He quickly grew irritated with the thought of the mother and child roaming about his home unsupervised. He walked up to the second door on the left and swung the door open. He had caught Julia in mid bow and Eliza walking around the room. He startled them both and with one stern glare they both were scrabbling out of the room.
"You will kindly remember that some rooms in this house are off limits," the Captain said through tight lips.
"Oh yes sir," Eliza said with fear in her eyes. Just five minutes in the house and she was in trouble.
"Why?" Julia asked from beside her mother. The Captain glared at the child.
"Children should not ask "why" to an order." The Captain clasped his hands behind his back. "Now, I hear we have a misunderstanding."
"Yes, Sir, Captain," Eliza said shakily.
"Well… it seems as though we are in need of a governess not a housekeeper." The Captain glanced over to Frau Schdimt. "The job is yours, if you think you can control self and the child. Especially the child." Julia tugged on her mother's dress, to get her mother to lean down to her. The child whispered in her mother's ear and her mother stood up erect again. "Is there something wrong?" The Captain asked.
"Just the way you speak to me and my daughter, Captain. And Julia has to use the restroom, Sir."
"I see. Frau Schmidt… Show the girl to the nearest restroom." The Captain continued to stare at Eliza and he signaled for Frau Schmidt with his hand to take the child. "Follow me into my office, Ms. Eliza." He turned around and started for his office, he turned back around to notice that she wasn't following him. "Are you coming Ms. Eliza?"
Eliza couldn't feel her body; she didn't want to move from her spot. The man frightened her, but she was curious to know what he wanted to tell her in private. She gave him a nod and took a few shaky steps towards him as she gathered her strength some more.
