Fancy's Not My Name

You're One of Us Now

Mona's father let her cry into his chest until her sobbing eventually turned to hiccups. The staff—apart from Albert and Dottie's friends—had all left the kitchens by then. They were all silent as the man gently pushed a sniffling Dottie away from himself.

"I'm sorry, hon." He murmured.

From the size of the hand rubbing her shoulder she assumed Albert had come to stand behind her. Mona's father nodded to him, and with one last sad smile, the couple placed the envelope on the counter and left the house. Dottie could feel more tears gathering and turned around to hug the Butler.

His usually stoic demeanour dropped and he hugged her back sturdily. He didn't know what it was like to lose a parent, so he could only imagine how the girl was feeling.

He turned slightly to look at the group of girls still standing there and gestured for one of them to grab the letter. Mary moved forward to to it and Albert slowly guided Dottie out of the room. They all followed him as he guided Dottie toward the servant's rooms. Lori led the way when they reached the top of the hall. She opened to door to the room she shared with Dottie and Albert deposited her on her bed.

He squeezed her shoulders before nodding to the rest, and leaving the room. As he was walking a servant stopped him to tell him the Master was looking for him.

He nodded to the boy and made his way to the grand staircase. He knocked on the man's study door and waited to be called in before opening the door. Albert was motioned to sit, so he took one of the chairs facing his employer's desk.

"Tell be Albert, what was that infernal screaming?" He asked irritably. "I could hear it all the way up here."

Albert studied the scowl on his face before answering.

"It was Dottie."

Mr. Cutler immediately snapped to attention. His eyes were wide and curious. It amused the Butler, how much his boss cared for a girl he'd only known, properly, for a month.

"What happened? Is she alright?" He rushed.

"She is safe, but whether she will be alright is another question." Albert replied vaguely.

"What do you mean? Speak clearly, man!" The Master demanded.

"Two people, ones she knew, arrived to deliver to her a letter from her mother. It would seem, it was her final goodbye."

The old man sat back in his chair. To be honest, he'd forgotten the girl's mother was still around. His mind had been too set on asking her to join their family to really consider that possibility. Albert seemed to read his thoughts and smiled slightly.

"It is true that Dottie's been rather secretive about her life before coming here. We've only met one person from that life, and it was certainly not her mother." Albert's tone had taken on a joking note. Mr. Cutler frowned.

With his growing fondness for Dottie, protectiveness had also blossomed. He hadn't outwardly said it, but with the way he'd ordered Albert to remove the green-eyed boy, indicated that he still wasn't trusted.

"I don't like that boy, not yet. To think he's been sneaking around the property with her all this time. And the way Clarisse caught him, outrageous!" He bellowed.

"You must remember sir, that he wasn't the only one to be caught by your wife. Dottie was fully accepting of their, position." Albert pointed out.

Mr. Cutler grumbled at him. The image of an innocent, untouched Dottie had already taken root in the old man's brain. He didn't like the idea of Dottie being touched by someone. If she accepted their offer for adoption—which he was hoping she would—that Jake boy would have to work hard to gain his approval.