Goddess of Destiny

becoming a governess

Ruby and Lily finally arrived at Collinwood and Lily cringed at how run down the place was "it could use some freshening up" Lily said

"Lily don't be rude" Ruby said getting out of the car "why couldn't I stay in Paris with Rosalie, Erik and my baby niece" Lily said

This annoyed Ruby bit "why do you have a problem coming with me...your sister and brother-in-law want some alone time so they asked me to take care of you for the time being is that simple enough" Ruby said shutting the car door

Ruby pulled out their luggage from the trunk and handed Lily her "Besides I'm sure their a nice family and maybe the kids inside are your age" Ruby said

Lily took her bag from Ruby "bonding... how reassuring" Lily sarcastically as Ruby sighed they were met with the grounds keeper

"Hello I'm Ruby Richmond I'm here to see Ms Stoddard about the governess position" Ruby said as Lily hid behind her feeling a little creeped out

"Oh yeah been expecting you" the man said as Ruby pulled Lily inside "this place is lovely" Ruby said looking around seeing all dust and cobwebs

"This place was designed for a staff of a hundred now they got a staff of me" the man said Ruby "Still not everyone has a house like this or a town named after them" Ruby said

Then she saw the picture in the foyer "Who's that?" Ruby asked for some reason the picture looked familiar to her making her eyes squint

"Barnaby maybe,  one of the real important ones of the way back..." the man said images went into her mind as she pictured herself Falling

"Ruby" Lily said tugging at her sleeve snapping her out of her daze "Barnabas" a voice said making ruby and Lily look back

"His name is Barnabas Collins" the woman walking down the stairs said "and he was the finest man this family ever knew" the woman said

She looks down and smiles slightly "welcome to Collinwood" the woman said then Ruby recognized who she was "Ms Stoddard" Ruby said

"You'll have to imagine us on a better day" she said as she lead both Ruby and Lily into a private room "the house has some 200 rooms most closed off to save heating" Ms Stoddard said

"We don't even go in the old wing anymore...sit...there are only 7 of us after all" Ms Stoddard said grabbing some scotch

"My daughter Carolyn and I,  my brother Roger and his son David...Willie who you've met Mrs Johnson and Dr Hoffman" Ms Stoddard said

"Who I suspect is sleeping over her legendary hangovers" Ms Stoddard said "she shouldn't be drinking if she's just going to get a hangover the next day" Ruby said

"What about David's mother" Lily asked Ms Stoddard looked at the little Lily "who is this" she asked Ruby "I'm watching her for a friend I hope you don't mind" Ruby said

Ms Stoddard hummed "Laura was lost at sea, David was only 5, he's had a rather difficult time accepting her passing" she continued

"I brought Dr Hoffman here to work with him for a month..." she said sitting down "that was 3 years ago...there are just a few questions if you don't mind... that were not on the application" Ms Stoddard said

"How do you feel about the president..." Ms Stoddard said standing up and walking a little away "never met him" Ruby said

"The war" she asked "I'm not up to date with news these days" Ruby said "do you think the sexes should be equal" Ms Stoddard said

This made Ruby snort "God forbid if that happened there would be a riot men would become unmanageable" Ruby said as Ms Stoddard smiled and grabbed her hand shaking it

"I think we'll get along well miss Richmond" Ms Stoddard said "Ruby, call me Ruby and this is Lily" Ruby said as Lily stood awkwardly to the side

Later...

Ms Stoddard went to introduce the rest of the family they passed by a room "Carolyn" Ms Stoddard called her daughter

Lily recognized the music as iggy pop "this is miss Richmond and Lily" Ms Stoddard said "Your from Paris" Carolyn said

"You listen to iggy pop" Lily said "you do to" Carolyn said "it's amazing but I don't have the new album yet" Lily said as Ruby ruffled her hair

"So your here to babysit the loony" Carolyn said "what have I told you about using that word" Ms Stoddard said "I'm here to teach david" Ruby said

"Good luck none of the others have made it past a week...Ms Richmond" Carolyn said as she shut her door "well she's a bright ray of sunshine isn't she" Lily said sarcastically

Later at dinner...

Ruby and Lily were seated at the table with Ms Stoddard when a man came in "chop chop Willie I'm starving" the man said

"And God help me if it's another bone dry pot roast..." the man was cut off when Willie set down pot roast on the table then saw Ruby and Lily

"Who are they?" Roger said "Miss Richmond this is my brother Roger, Roger this is miss Richmond David's new governess and Lily is miss Richmond's guardian" Ms Stoddard said

"I'm Ruby" she said with a pleasant smile on her face "what a stick in the mud" Lily mumbled as Ruby pinched her arm "ow" Lily said in pain glaring at Ruby

"Your a psychopath..." A person said walking in "I can tell you know just by looking at a person's face" the woman said "you must be doctor Hoffman" Ruby said

"Your face says I might look sweet and innocent but I have secrets..." Dr Hoffman said Lily snapped "that's none of your business lady" Lily said

"Lil calm down it's ok" Ruby said with a gentle tone "leave her be Julia" Ms Stoddard said "Your the doctor" Ruby said "Yeah and your the nanny and she's the bitch" Julia said pointing at Ms Stoddard

To be continued...