Nanny Diaries 2 - The New Litter

Schools

"I don't like it." Henrietta insisted as I buttoned up her Deepdene blazer for her.

"Don't like what, pickle?" I asked, grinning at her, because she looked so smart in the strict uniform with her hair in pigtails, decorated with ribbons. I had played a light hand since we got the girls back to Meadvale. They were still looked after like all my other nurslings, but I gave them a bit more space to talk to the others and feel their way into their new life. It was good for them to be surrounded by nurslings, and with Caris as a guide, they had settled well enough into the routine. It felt right for them and was hoping that they would be happy once they found their feet.

"This uniform...this place...I want to go home, Nanny." She said, her little face gazing up at me, those big blue eyes full of fear and dismay.

"School uniform is a British thing I suppose...and although not every school demands hats and school coats...or diapers...almost every school has a uniform of some sort...and you need to go to school my dear," I pointed out, tightening her blue striped tie. "And you are home...I thought we had got past this, pickle."

"I am not a nursling...Nanny."

"Maybe not...inside that pretty little head of yours...but you are changing into one, slowly but surely, and I don't think you were happy in California, were you?" I suggested brightly, in an effort to jolly her along. I liked Henrietta and her sisters, and I was worried about them, and not because of what was happening to them in Meadvale. I had dealt with Caris, who had no real affection from her parents, and had seen her blossom when given some love and attention in her life, and I felt there were definite similarities with the girls. They did not seem to miss their father, or anything about their former life.

"No, Nanny." She admitted, as I turned to grab her heavy navy-blue duffle coat and helped her thread her arms into the sleeves.

"You have a family here who love you for who you are, not what you can earn for them, and want you to have the time to grow up naturally," I said, as I did her up. "You have missed out on so much of your childhood...so, my advice is just let yourself settle down...you have had a lot of stress in the last few days, pickle."

She had tears in her eyes as I popped her pacifier back in, and then helped her into one of our new four-seater child-carriers. Bella would push one, and me the other, and I must admit that I was proud of the sight of my seven nurslings, all looking so smart in their uniforms. I felt that Deepdene would help my newbies. They would have to work hard, and they would be tired out at first, which would help them settle. And they were surrounded by cousins, who would all look out for them. I did not think the girls had friends in California. They were not at school and the only other children they seemed to see were working on their television shows, which had been an intense working environment, not a playground. Bringing them back to Meadvale was not what they wanted, perhaps, but I had to think that it was what they needed, and I was sure that when they got over the culture shock, they would be happier.

"What do you think, Bella?" Annie asked, a little mischievously, as we sat down for a coffee on our way home. Annie and I were in our Norland uniforms, obviously, and Bella was in one of her gowns, a lovely dark green creation, under an elegant matching cloak. Back in the care of her mother and grandmother, she was being treated as half-child, half-adult, which was quite difficult for her, and Annie liked teasing her a little. I actually thought that she looked nice.

"I am sure the girls are young enough to adapt, Miss Stewart." She replied, sitting quietly next to me, as I was in charge of her until I delivered her back to her mother. "They are surely better off with family."

"As are you, of course..." Annie said, stifling a giggle. I gave her a stern look, because I did feel sorry for Bella.

"Yes, Miss Stewart."