Chapter 2

The next morning I was running late. My alarm didn't go off on time so I rushed into the shower. I put my wet hair up into a pony tail and grabbed my suitcases. I hurried down the stairs at a quarter to six, fifteen minutes later than I had planned on. Luckily the cab was late as well and just arrived. So I put my luggage into the trunk and got into the car.

For the entire hour and a half ride I was extremely nervous. My hands were trembling and my palms were sweaty. I had no idea what to expect from a retired naval captain and his seven children. I had never been a nanny before. I had not siblings, no cousins, or anything like that. But Abby thought that I might be good with children. Perhaps it was because I was still a child myself. But would that be good enough for the Vaughn family?

When I reached the house I was in shock. The front year alone was twice the size of my apartment building. There was a cobblestone pathway that led up to the front doors. There were millions of flowers and trees spread about the yard. I had to take a moment to take it all in. So I grabbed my luggage and made my way up to the house. If the front yard is this magnificent I can only imagine what the inside of the house looks like.

When I reached the front door I saw a brass lion doorknocker. I let it fall against the door twice. A few moments later a tall and skinny man answered the door. I walked inside and was even more overwhelmed. There were paintings and tapestries everywhere. There were even a few sculptures. I stepped carefully onto the marble floor. The butler took my luggage up the grand staircase that was behind me. I stood alone in the entryway, frightened to death.

"You." I heard a deep booming voice say. I jumped out of my skin practically. I turned around to see a tall man. He had short dark brown hair. He had a clean shaven face but his skin was darker. He had cold gray eyes but the longer I looked in them I could see a hint of blue. He stood straight up his hands behind his back which made him seem even taller.

"Are you the new governess?" I nodded and smiled. He did not smile back at me however. He just looked at me for a while. He motioned for me to turn around and I did so. I felt like I was being examined to see if I was suitable to be a governess for his children. "I do hope you will stay longer than the last one. She only lasted three hours."

"Oh." I said to him.

"Yes. Now you will meet the children." He turned to the grand staircase and pulled out none other than a whistle. I couldn't decide if I was disgusted or humored by this action. He blew into it a couple if times and his children all came out of the rooms. I looked up at them curiously and wondered how they could every answer to a whistle. They all came marching down the stairs in a straight line. He then turned to me and handed me a whistle.

"Listen up. Each one has their own call." He blew into the whistle three times and the eldest girl stepped forward.

"Leslie." She called. The Captain then blew into the whistle two times but it was drawn out. Then a boy stepped forward.

"Fredrick." The captain blew into the whistle making a bird like noise. The girl next to Fredrick stepped forward.

"Louise." She was then followed by more whistles. Curtis, Bridgette, Martha, and Gretchen were the other children. He then looked at me.

"Well let's see how well you listened. But when I want to call you, you will hear this." He proceeded to blow some annoying whistle into the whistle and I put my hand.

"I don't think I could answer to a whistle. It is for animals. I would be too humiliating." That was the first I had spoken to him since I had been there.

"The first rule in this house is discipline. You will use your whistle and you will answer to your call." My face was growing red hot with anger from this man's sense of pride and stubbornness.

"And what should I do to call you?" I asked.

"You may call me Captain." He said slowly.

"Well Captain, I am afraid I won't be needing this Captain." I handed him the whistle. "I shall call the children by their names, Captain. I do hope you understand, Captain." I smiled at him. To save me from further embarrassment the butler came into the room letting the Captain know he had a phone call. He walked out of the room and left me alone with the children. Of course unlike Maria, I knew a few or thing or two about children.

"So you are our new governess I presume?" Leslie said to me with a scowl on her face.

"Yes I am. I bet you are thinking you don't need one." She looked at me for a moment.

"I am sixteen and too old for such things."

"Good to know then. If the rest of you will please tell me your ages and repeat your names for me." The older boy stepped forward.

"I'm Fredrick and I'm fourteen."

"Do you ever go by Fred?"

"No." He said sharply.

"I'm Louise." The next girl said to me. "And I'm thirteen."

"I'm Kurt and I'm eleven, almost."

"Good age, eleven almost." I said to him with a smile. The next girl stepped forward.

"I'm Bridgette and I'm nine."

"I'm Martha." The little was tugging on my skirt hem. I bent down to her level. "And I'll be seven on Tuesday."

"Really. So what do you want? A pink parasol?" She nodded. I had watched that movie too many times. The little who did not speak earlier but was introduced by her father came up to me next.

"And you're Gretchen." She nodded and smiled.

"How old are you Gretchen?" She held up five fingers. I smiled at her and then stood up straight up. "You are practically a lady." Now I wasn't going to make the same mistake that Maria made by telling them I had never done this before. But I wasn't here to play babysitter. I was here to get the story I needed. The children will help you gain a better knowledge of the Captain. Things from several different perspectives are good. A little voice in the back of my head told me.

"Alright children…" a voice said. The maid was entering the room. "It is time for your afternoon walk." I walked over to the banister to head to my room but turned back to look around me. And I found a small toad on the floor. I walked over to Louise and smiled her.

"I believe you forgot something." I handed her the small toad. There was a smile upon her face.

"You're smarter than the others." She whispered to me. I then turned around and followed the maid up the stairs to my bedroom. There were many bedrooms. Each one had the name of a child on the front door. I expected them to be well decorated. But each one was written in small block letters on the top center of the door. This house was nothing like I expected. I had seen families with four or more children and the house was filled with toys, clothes, and was usually a complete mess. But not this one.

"Here is your room." The maid said to me when we reached the end of the hall. She opened the door for me and I stepped inside. It was a very simple room. There was a bed in the corner and a desk opposite it. There was full length mirror next to the dresser. Near the bed was an empty bookshelf. My clothes had already been unpacked any my suitcases were hidden underneath the bed.

"Lunch shall be served out on the terrace. You will be dining with the children. You have about one hour to get yourself settled before you are requested to be out there." The maid said to me quickly before walking out the door. I managed to hear her talking with the butler, making wagers how long I'd last. In fact I was beginning to wonder how long I'd last myself.