CHAPTER 8
Thank you all for sticking with me :) Just a short one, but I'm nearly finished the next chapter, so I'll try and upload again tonight.
"Hi there, it's Dani again, I really need to speak with Mr Wingrave… Of course… thank you."
The au pair held the line, waiting for Henry's assistant to return, no doubt informing her yet again that he was unavailable at present.
"Hi Miss Clayton… unfortunately Mr Wingrave is unavailable at present, can I take a message for you?"
Dani silently tutted, shaking her head with disappointment, not at the situation, but with Henry himself. He took time to appoint the right person for the au pair position, someone that would be right for the children and Bly, and yet once she arrived, Henry simply left her to it. She had tried contacting him on numerous occasions, giving him the benefit of the doubt, and trying to justify his actions, but the fact of the matter was, he never made time to return her calls, or show any interest in the children. Even Miles had made comment before about how little he cares. It all seemed too unbelievable, and Dani wanted to understand it, needed to understand it, for Flora's sake. She was being tormented by something, and the au pair needed to build a picture of their past in order to re-build their future.
She hesitated for a moment, scrunching her face up as she tried not to say something she'd regret. It wasn't the assistant's fault, and having had many, albeit brief, interactions with her, she could tell from her tone that she understood Dani's frustration and wished she could do more.
"Thank you, I appreciate your time, but it's really Mr Wingrave that I need to be speaking with. Please can you… just… tell him I called… again… and urge him to call back. It's imperative that I speak with him. Flora is really struggling at the moment, and I'd really like his input," Dani said, quite deflated.
"Of course Miss Clayton, I quite understand. I will do my best… Good day," came the reply.
Dani hung up the receiver and let out a disheartened sigh. How could he not give a damn!?
She headed upstairs in search of Hannah and the children. As she reached the top of the staircase, Miles flew round the corner, dodging her before racing off.
"Hey, hey, hey Mr!… How about you watch where you're goin', ok?!… Slow down, stairs are dangerous… Miles?!… Do you hear me?!"
"Sorry!" came the distant insincere reply, Miles already out the front door.
Dani rolled her eyes. He was just a kid, but on some level she did have to agree with Jamie, he could definitely be a piece of work when he wanted to be. But hey, that's what she was there for, and she'd straighten him out in time.
"Hannah?" She called out, wandering down the corridor, looking around for them as she did so, "Flora?"
She spotted Flora's bedroom door open and made her way over to it. The young ward was tucked up, Mrs Grose sat on the side of her bed, ruffling the covers up around her.
"Hey, is everything ok?" Dani questioned, quite concerned to see Flora in bed of an afternoon.
"I don't feel feel good," the young girl said as Mrs Grose looked up at the au pair with a weak smile.
"I said she should have a little lie-down, maybe a rest will do her some good," said Hannah.
Dani nodded with a worried smile, her brow furrowing as her cogs started whirring again.
Hannah stood up and moved away from the bed to make room for Dani, who graciously took her place, leaning in towards her young ward and stroking her cheek gently.
"We'll just be downstairs, ok… If you need anything call out and I'll be right here…"
She brushed her fingers through Flora's hair before planting a soft kiss on her forehead.
Flora pulled the covers up around her and rolled herself over towards the dolls house. Both women shared a concerned look as they backed away and gently closed the door behind them.
They waited until they reached the staircase before interacting, as not to concern Flora.
Dani took hold of the banister with both hands, taking her weight, as she let out a deflated sigh. Hannah's expression was in complete agreement, placing a hand on Dani's, and giving it an affectionate squeeze. Dani cared so much, and that meant a lot to Hannah as she had cared for these children like they were her own. Dani's presence was relieving somehow, she knew they would be looked after, and the young American would protect them, always.
Dani lifted her other hand and placed it on top of Hannah's, squeezing back, appreciative of the gesture.
"I'm just… lost…"
"It's awful to see her like this… Lets see how she is after some rest, and perhaps we should call for the doctor tomorrow if there's no improvement," said Hannah calmly reassuring Dani that they would figure it out.
Dani looked up at her, silently nodding in agreement, her mind in overdrive.
"Come on dear," said Hannah, "Lets go and have a cup of tea shall we."
"Yeah… Let's do that," she said, thankful that Hannah was there. "I can make it," she said with optimism, "I think I'm getting better at it," she continued, Mrs Grose's eyes widening slightly.
Hannah of course had never actually tasted Dani's tea, but it was evident that it wasn't remotely drinkable.
"How about I show you again," she said, "practice makes perfect and all that."
"Is it that bad?" said Dani with a sheepish smile.
Hannah stuttered, "W… N… Y… It's… We'll keep trying."
Dani scrunched her face up as they set off down the stairs. "It's just hot water!… and tea!… and sugar!… I just don't understand how that can go so wrong?!" she puzzled jovially.
