Chapter 3

I walked onto the terrace in the lavender dress that I changed into. No one else was out there and I was much surprised. So since I had time, I looked at the grounds. I was completely overwhelmed by the vast size of the place alone. And it seemed that many of the places out on the grounds went untouched. It was as if children did not even live here. But I could tell that the Vaughn family children were not normal.

"Beautiful isn't it." I heard a deep voice say and I nearly jumped out of my skin. I turned around to see the Captain staring at me. I smiled at him but he just sat down at the table and looked at me to do the same. So I followed suit and sat down across from him. There were four chairs on my right and three on my left.

"Yes it is beautiful." I replied to him as I sat down. "I have never seen a place so large and so… amazing."

"Well I'm glad you like it." There was something about the Captain's voice that made me think he wasn't just saying it. If I wasn't mistaken I thought I saw a faint smile but then heard the footsteps of the children and the smile was soon gone. He looked to the door that they entered from. One by one the children stepped out onto the terrace. They spoke not a sound and sat down according to their age.

Not a moment later but the chef came out with the lunch plates. No one even dared touched their food until the last person was served. When the Captain picked up his fork then his children did the same. I could feel that they were all looking at me, as if I was being examined. I picked up my fork but did not start to eat until the Captain started to eat. This was all too formal for me, personally. But I said nothing.

I was not used to eating meals in silence. I could tell that something was seriously wrong with the whole thing. I continued to eat, however. I would look up from my plate to stare at the grounds and then I would look at the Captain and the children but none of them seemed to notice I was looking at them. I decided to give it my best go at trying to start some sort of conversation.

"These grounds really are beautiful. I have never seen such a house before. You have great taste Captain."

"Thank-you." He said quietly.

"So what happens after lunch?" I asked timidly.

"The children have their afternoon walk." He said sharply.

"I see. And then what?" I was going to get this man to say more than a sentence at this meal if it was the last thing I do.

"Their lessons." He was now getting annoyed with me, I could tell. He put his fork down and looked up at me. The children were very interested in what was going to happen next. It seemed as if this was not a usual lunchtime event. I was actually a little afraid of him. But I stared back at him. "Do you have a specific reason for pestering us with all these questions?" He asked me with harshness in his voice.

"I was just trying to get to know the routine around here. I don't want to miss out on something." I responded, almost sarcastically.

"Well I tell you then." He had that same hint of sarcasm in his voice as well. "We wake up early and the children take a morning walk around the grounds. Then they have their morning lessons. Then they go to their rooms and practice their respective instruments. Leslie plays the piano. Fredrick and Curtis play the violin. Bridgette and Louise play the flute. The little ones are learning bells. And then we come out here for lunch. After that they take an afternoon walk and then have their afternoon studies. They have exactly one hour of freetime before dinner. Then they are sent up to their rooms for reading and then they are off to bed."

"And when do they…" I was hesitant about asking this question. "when do they play, sir?" He looked at me curiously.

"My children don't play, they march." I was afraid of this answer but also extremely freaked out by it. I felt like I was in the twilight zone of music or something. It was all really frightening and curious as well. But I stopped asking questions of the Captain because I did not enjoy the look he kept giving me every time it looked as if I was going to say something.

"Tell me something Miss Anderson, are you always this curious?" He asked me with almost a glare in his eyes.

"I want to be journalist sir. I always ask questions." I said to him, being careful not to mention why I was really here. At least not now and defiantly not in front of the children. I had a feeling that the Captain already knew about my assignment. Because I had never told him last name.

"And you became a governess for what reason may I ask?" I could tell he was taunting me now.

"I have to pay the bills somehow don't I?" I replied quickly. "For someone who doesn't like questions you seem to ask a lot yourself don't you?"

"You are by far the most sarcastic governess I have ever come into contact with. You do know that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit." He said to me with that same scowl in his eyes.

"Yes but when you engage in a battle of wit you better come prepared." I replied to him. I could tell that the children were in amused by this minor battle of wits. They stopped eating their food to watch the Captain and I battle back and forth. We were silent for a moment but no one was touching their food. I stared into the Captain's gray eyes so long that they seemed no longer gray.

And as if out of no where a sudden rush of emotion came over me. I felt as if my heart had stopped beating or at least skipped a beat. I could not breathe. It was as if this wave of attraction had come over me. I had not taken time to notice the features of my employer. He had great cheekbones and a strong jaw. His face was actually very smooth for a retired naval captain. And his eyes… the longer I looked into them the more I could not look away.

"I prefer silence at meals Miss Anderson if you don't mind. Or are rules above the future journalist." I could not speak to him for some reason. I just lowered my head and shook my head. I knew I could not upset him any longer. But when he noted that I had stopped being sarcastic his mood almost seemed to drop. He seemed to be enjoying my playful wit which was the opposite of what I would have expected.

"Children I think it best that you go for your walk next. Miss Anderson, you are expected to go with them." I stood up but I did not look at the Captain again. I couldn't look into those eyes once more. "And please refrain from showing the children the same courtesy as you do me."

"Yes sir." I took a deep breath and walked back into the house and down the stairs. The children were all lined up at the door, waiting for me. Leslie and Louise kept looking at me and then quickly glancing at the floor. I knew that they were greatly amused at what had happened at lunch today. I did not find it funny at all but rather embarrassing. I opened one of the large double doors and waited until Gretchen had walked outside before shutting it.

As we started our walk I followed Gretchen so I could keep an eye on the children. I did not bother to try to make conversation with them because I felt I would only further embarrass myself. As we walked further into the grounds I looked up at the terrace to find the Captain watching us from his seat. Apparently he had not moved. I found it hard to take my eyes off of him. But I then caught him looking at me and my glance moved quickly.

For about an hour we walk around the grounds. None of the children spoke a word to me or each other the entire time. I could still feel that the Captain was watching us the whole time. I felt very uneasy about him doing so. After what seemed like the most painful hours of my life we walked back into the house. The children headed off slowly to a large room at the other end of the house.

"Miss Anderson." I heard that familiar deep voice behind me. The Captain was staring at me from the stars above. All the children walked even slower now as if to catch most of the conversation. "You'll be attending the children's lessons. Fredrick, Leslie, and Louise are in the room on the far right. Curtis and Bridgette are the room on the far left. Martha and Gretchen are in the center room. Spend one hour in each room with them." He then walked off towards his own room.

"You like him don't you?" Leslie said to me. I turned at her confused and bewildered at the comment. "I can see it in your eyes, especially in the way you look at him." I did not how to respond to this at all. At least in the movie they didn't bother Maria until much later. I was here for one day and they were already bothering me about liking the Captain. But I couldn't help think that it might true.

"I don't know what you are talking about Leslie." I lied.

"You're not a very good liar then." She said to me as she headed off to her room. What I did not see and what was defiantly not in the movie or the play was that the Captain had not made it completely to his room. He had heard every word that Leslie said. He continued to stare at me but fortunately I did not look behind me.

"Anything is possible. But how could I like a man as arrogant as he." I whispered to myself. But he managed to hear that as well. He then walked off quietly to his room. I headed off to the Martha and Gretchen's room first, hoping to avoid the entire subject of my attraction to Captain Vaughn all together. I refused to believe what my heart was telling me. I was refused to believe I might have feelings for him.