Just Believe
Chapter Three: Tinkerbell
J.M. Barrie
Two hours and four china shops later, I was finally on my way back to the de Maurier household. I wasn't sure if Emma had returned yet, so I walked around to the back of the house and entered through the kitchen. From the low setting of the sun I guessed it was past dinner time and the bustle in the kitchen told me I was correct.
I scanned the tops of the heads and couldn't find the red-gold hair of Lily. Setting the box of china on the empty kitchen table, I looked for Sarah. She had chosen to come with me instead of going with Mary, something that had upset Mary to no end I was certain. I didn't realize Sarah had bustled past me till she was almost out of the room. I called out to her and quickly followed her into the dining room.
"Good evening, Mr. Barrie."
"Good evening, Sarah. Do you know where Ms. Howard is?"
"She's upstairs putting the boys to bed. They wanted a story and since Ms. Howard couldn't help in the kitchen, she offered to take care of the boys."
"Why can't she help in the kitchen?"
Sarah shrugged. "No one knows how it happened but she had a nasty gash on her hand. Mrs. Ramsey told her to go the doctor to get stitches but she refused."
I nod, trying to remember if she had the wound before I left or if it was inflicted afterwards. "There is a crate in the kitchen that has a set of eight teacups and saucers. If you could make sure they're washed and put in the cabinet. I would appreciate Madame du Maurier not find out about it."
Sarah smiled slightly. "Of course, Mr. Barrie."
I nod my thanks to Sarah for the information and watch as she effortlessly gathers up the remaining plates at the long table. There had been four settings that had been used and one that still remained untouched.
"Would you like your dinner now, Mr. Barrie?"
"No, thank you. I'll just grab something myself when the kitchen quiets."
"Alright then," Sarah nods and quickly leaves the room. I debate what to do with myself. I don't want to intrude on the boys and their story but my curiosity concerning Lily's hand urges me to see her. The front room den with the roaring fire and book lined walls had become my sanctuary since moving into the house so it is there that I decided to go. The door gives me a straight on view of the staircase so I would be able to see Lily when she comes downstairs.
Porthos is still in front of the fire, though he seems to have moved a bit closer to the fire. I had bought the dog for Mary when we had gone to Switzerland for our honeymoon. She had fallen in love with the puppy but unfortunately the puppy fell in love with me instead. I tried to get her to play with him but she refused, believing that encouraging those behaviors would only lead to an ill-behaved dog. It was that attitude that convinced me we should not have children in our house. I feared her attitude would carry over from pets to children. The bottom step to the staircase creaked and brought me back to the present.
"Ms. Howard?"
She paused in the doorway, her hands clasped behind her back, I noticed. "Yes, Mr. Barrie?"
"Come in, please." I motioned to one of the chairs in front of the fire. She merely looked at me in disbelief. "Would you like to sit down?"
"I don't want to be inappropriate, Mr. Barrie."
"Nonsense."
"But Madame de Maurier-"
"Isn't here yet. Please, sit."
Hesitation still lingered on her face as she crossed the room and took the chair I pointed to. I hated social standards and I suppose this was my way of thumbing my nose at them. If Emma decided to come back early from her charity event, this scene would be the first she would lay eyes on: a maid and me sitting in front of the fire watching a snoring mass of fur. I actually have to cover my mouth with my hand to hide a smile. I glance over at Lily to see if she noticed but her eyes are trained on the Saint Bernard.
"How old is Porthos?"
"He's almost ten now." She doesn't say anything else, her eyes still trained on the dog. Her hands are hidden from view, tucked under the folds of her skirt. I find myself staring at the lines of her face: the upturned nose and sharp angles of her cheekbones and chin. I can't help but smile. "You look exactly like Tinkerbell."
She gives me a surprised and confused look. "I thought Tinkerbell was a small light."
"In the stage production yes, but in the actual story she's a real fairy."
"Ah. So I look like a fairy to you."
"Your face, yes."
She smiled slightly. "Thank you, I think."
Had I meant it as a compliment? I suppose I did. "You're welcome."
"Were you able to find the china?"
"Yes, I was. Sarah's in charge of washing it all and putting it away. Madame de Maurier isn't supposed to return till late tonight so our secret is safe."
"You have no idea how appreciative I am to you."
"The boys really seem to have taken a liking to you. They haven't closed themselves off to you like they have everyone else. You have no idea how appreciative I am to you."
"Those boys are very special. They mean a lot to me as well."
"Sarah told me that you hurt your hand. May I see it?"
Her hands became buried underneath her skirt folds even further. "It's nothing, really, just a scratch."
"Please?" I held out my hand, showing her I wasn't going to relent. She must have realized this and produced the bandaged hand. She had wrapped it in a dishtowel but it had already bled through the fabric. Carefully, I untied the knot and pulled the cloth away from the wound. It was a mess. I couldn't even see the wound. Her entire palm was sticky and red.
"I'm afraid you're going to need stitches in this."
She snatched her hand back and tried to clumsily tie up the knot again. "Nonsense. It'll close up in a few days."
"Sarah?" I called. It only took a moment to hear her footfalls on the hardwood flooring.
"Yes, Mr. Barrie?"
"It seems Ms. Howard will need some stitches in her hand. Would you be so kind as to accompany us to the hospital?"
"Yes, Mr. Barrie, of course."
I had hoped having another woman come with us would appease Lily but judging from the look on her face, it did not appease her in the least. If anything, it made her angry.
"I'm quite capable of treating a cut, Mr. Barrie."
Sarah crossed the room and put her arms around Lily's shoulders. "Come now dear. It's no good arguing with Mr. Barrie. You'll always lose."
I smile at the thought of what Sarah referred to. She had cut her finger while making dinner one night and was forced to accompany me to the doctor's. Mary was mortified that I had taken one of the maids in our car to the doctors. I was trying not the make same mistake twice by inviting Sarah along this time. In the end it seemed to placate Lily, who merely sighed in defeat.
"Right then. I'll bring the car around. Sarah, if you would be so kind as to inform Mrs. Ramsey of our outing."
"Yes, Mr. Barrie."
I grabbed my coat and exited the house as quick as possible, not wanting to risk Lily changing her mind or putting up more of fuss. Apparently she didn't. By the time I had the car warmed up and in front of the house, Sarah and Lily were both standing on the curb waiting.
