CHAPTER TWO

Elizabeth couldn't believe she was in Scotland, let alone that she was applying for a position as a nanny for the famous singer William Darcy, but yet here she was. Lizzie found that her hopefully future employer was very accommodating, when she received a text just as she was leaving the airport that read a car had already been acquired for her personal use; she was also pleased to find that the car that had been acquired was a yellow Mini Copper. What she was not pleased to find was a young man about twenty-nine with bright orange hair, and a rosy complexion sitting in the driver's seat with a grin on his face.

"Hello there, didn't mean to startle you!" he said, when Lizzie yelped as he popped up from where he was bent over retrieving something from the floor. "I'm Charles Bingly, but you can call me Charlie." He stated, as he unfolded himself from the car and held out a hand for her to shake.

"Elizabeth Bennet, but I prefer Lizzie." She replied uncertainly, as she took his hand noting he was quite tall.

"Lizzie, that's a wonderful name it means God's Promise, much better than Charlie which means free man." He made a funny face, and then placed a cupped his chin as if thinking deeply of something. "Hmm, I wonder what sort of promise you will be." Charlie muttered absently.

"I'm sorry?" Lizzie, asked confused by this tall pumpkin haired man, who didn't seem to find it necessary to explain what he was doing there.

"Oh nothing." Charlie responded quickly, shaking his head as if clearing the thoughts from his mind. "Now let me load up your things, and we will be off!" he exclaimed cheerfully, as he took her bags and moved to the back of the car.

"Please don't find me rude, but who are you? Mr. Darcy sent me a text about the car, but he didn't mention anyone being in the car." Lizzie said, hoping not to sound harsh, but she wasn't about to take off with a strange man, even if he seemed nice.

"Oh!" He exclaimed his face flushing crimson. "I am terribly sorry, for both mine and Will's lack of manners. I am a mate of Will's, we've known each other for years, and he asked me to escort you to Tempest Glen. He must have forgotten to mention it."

"Oh no! It's perfectly fine, I was just curious." Lizzie said feeling silly for thinking Charlie had some sort of dark motive. "But if you don't mind me asking one more question; what is Tempest Glen?"

His face lit up, as he slammed the trunk shut. "It's Will's estate, there is nothing quite like it. It has trees imported from the Amazon, and the gardens! There are twelve of them one for each month, and not to mention the ponds, pools, and lakes." Charlie grinned.

At his description Lizzie's head was filled with exotic images, of faraway places, and things. "I-it sounds beautiful." She replied

Charlie nodded his agreement enthusiastically. "You will get to see it all, in a little over hour. So let's get to it."

The drive to Tempest to Glen with Charlie, was pleasant. Lizzie found Charlie was from old money, and had more than he would ever need, but to keep himself busy he often went to impoverished countries, to do photography for magazines like National Geographic, and used his status as playboy billionaire to raise awareness for different causes; such as Human Trafficking.

"I know people see me as this ditzy happy go lucky guy, but truly I care for the less fortunate and people in general." Charlie confessed as they drove up to pair of gleaming onyx gates. "A lot of people with my wealth look at a problem, and throw money at it until it goes away or they stop caring. I don't want to do that, I want to be in the mud and dirt building wells and houses for these people." He said with a seriousness Lizzie never would have thought him capable of an hour ago.

They were both quiet for a moment lost in their own thoughts, when Charlie broke the silence.

"Well here is the gates, in just a few seconds you will be entering another world!" he said happily, reverting back to his cheerful boyish self.

"Anything I should know, before we enter this other world?" Lizzie asked jokingly.

"Yes, remember nothing is ever as it appears," he replied and Lizzie swore she saw a shadow pass over his face. "And don't be afraid to take advantage of your employer's wealth and status." Charlie finished with a grin; making Lizzie feel silly for thinking anything was unusual.

And then they were driving through possibly the most beautiful place Lizzie had ever seen. Snow and ice covered the millions of trees making them seem like sparkly crystal instead of actual plants. She spied the worn paths that led off the main road and lead into what she assumed were the gardens, they even drove by a three story greenhouse. Finally the road ended in a circular driveway with a snow covered gleaming onyx fountain with a statue of a mermaid combing her hair in the center of it.

The house or castle, Lizzie supposed she should call it, was enormous it was all grey stone the front doors were large worn wood with two hideous brass knockers that were molded to be some sort of leering imp. Their hideous grinning faces, gave her chills as if they would reach out and bite her fingertips if she tried to touch them. She was suddenly extremely grateful for Charlie's presence, it would have been extremely intimidating to approach this home alone.

Charlie exceeded expectation for his tall lanky frame, when he through open the heavy wooden doors exuberantly, and called for someone named Collin.

After a minute the person named Collin appeared. He was a short, greasy looking man in his thirties, with large bulbous eyes, and a simpering way of smiling that made him seem like he would smile to your face and then stab you in the back.

"Collin, this Elizabeth Bennet, she's here to apply for the position of Nanny. If you would please take her to see Mrs. Bell and Georgiana, I will retrieve her bags from the car." Charlie said, speaking to Collin a tone that made Lizzie think they did not get along too well.

"As you say," he said too formally, and then added in almost a condescending tone, "Sir."

Charlie blatantly ignored him, and turned to Lizzie. "Follow Collin, and he will take you to Mrs. Bell, Will's housekeeper. She and Will's sister with be conducting your interview just be yourself and I'm sure the job will be yours." Charlie then leaned in close and whispered in her ear. "Don't worry about Collin; he's a creep, but he won't do anything." And with that Charlie strode out into the cold winter weather.

Lizzie only got a brief glimpse of the stone foyer, before Collin led her into large room with wooden paneling on the walls and a large green marble fireplace that was crackling hungrily. An older Woman with silky black hair with a dramatic streak of white framing her pleasant, but serious face, sat in an overstuffed arm chair; beside of her was a much younger girl around eighteen or nineteen, with curly chestnut hair and a grinning face.

"Elizabeth, why don't you come join us." The older woman said with a hint of a Scottish brogue. "You can sit here." She said gesturing to another overstuffed armchair in front of her.

"Oh thank you!" Lizzie replied with a nervous smile, self-consciously tugging on the black leggings with rips in the front and her ratty oversized cardigan, as she took a seat. It had seemed a very edgy thing to wear when she had gotten dressed earlier, but in retrospect it wasn't exactly professional.

"How old are you, Miss Bennet?" Mrs. Bell questioned, getting right to the interview, and while this obvious bluntness should have unnerved Lizzie; it didn't. She wanted to get this interview over with as soon as possible; and reach the verdict if she would have the job or not.

"Twenty-one." Lizzie responded, watching the two women's faces. Mrs. Bell's gave nothing away, but the younger woman-Georgiana-looked please at Lizzie's age.

"Do you have any previous experience with children?" Mrs. Bell continued.

"Yes," Lizzie responded quickly, "I worked at a daycare for four years, and I believe you should have a reference from my boss in my resume."

"Yes, I do." Mrs. Bell replied. "So Elizabeth, I'm sorry to be so frank, but what made you decide to come all the way to Scotland, and work as a nanny?"

"I needed a fresh start, and a job. I have the experience to work at this position, along with being a CNA under my belt, and who in their right mind would turn down the chance to work in such a beautiful place." Lizzie responded, as honestly as she could, but purposely excluded her removal from Nursing School. They didn't need to know everything.

This response seemed to satisfy Mrs. Bell, because she gave a slight smile and grin. "I admire, your moxie. You have met all my requirements, and I believe Georgiana feels the same," Mrs. Bell turned to the younger woman who gave an enthusiastic nod. "Well then it's settled. Welcome to Tempest Glen Miss Bennet."

10 MONTHS LATER….

Elizabeth had been at Tempest Glen for almost a year; after acquiring the job she had not only been given her own room, but her own quarters which was set on the same floor as the children. The children Flynella, who preferred the name Flynn, and Sterling, were both quiet and pale, and to be honest not much had changed in the ten months she had been there. They had finally become comfortable with Lizzie, around the sixth month, and they often told her if they wanted to do anything special, or if they needed help with their classes. Neither one of the children did well around other kids, and instead of being sent to school, they had a tutor. The tutor was a surprisingly young woman, who was also Charlie's sister, her name was Caroline. She boasted of the same bright orange hair, and fair complexion as Charlie, but that's where the similarities ended, she was a bony woman with a condescending expression.

The kids loathed their lessons with her, and learned a lot less than they would have with a less cruel teacher, but it was not Lizzie's place to Judge Mr. Darcy's choice of tutor, but after the third time the kids came to her crying that Miss Caroline had snapped at them; Lizzie put her foot down; with Mrs. Bell's support. She informed Caroline if the children came, and complained once more of her being unusually harsh; she would be informing Mr. Darcy.

The complaints had stopped, but Elizabeth had acquired a very dangerous enemy, and knew that at every opportunity Caroline was trying to get her fired, but Elizabeth cared a lot more about the Sterling and Flynn's comfort than her own position.

Lizzie's final verdict on Sterling and Flynn's behavior had two causes; the first being the lack of their parent's attention and presence. Lizzie had been employed a year and had not seen so much as an acknowledgment from either parent of their children's existence. The second was the superstitious nature of all the employees, including the seemingly sensible Mrs. Bell. The children were not allowed out of their rooms after dark, if someone mentioned a bad stroke of luck any employee within earshot would make the sign of the cross. Lizzie believed in God, and his hand in all matters, but this was ridiculous. She also believed it was causing the children a sense of unneeded fear, and never missed an opportunity to encourage the children to explore the gardens and the world in general. She wanted them to know that having an inquisitive mind was healthy, and there is a difference between have a healthy sense of caution and blaming every little mishap on imps and pixies. It didn't seem if Lizzie was making much progress, but she knew that there was always hope, and then something happened that she felt would completely change the Flynn and Sterling attitudes.

William Darcy was coming home for the winter.