Tommy's Rose

Chapter 4: Red faced

I had been staying with Tommy for around a week now, I got to meet my little brother Charles (Charlie) Shelby who was almost two years old, he was so cute and we actually looked a lot alike considering we had different Mothers, when we met we played until he fell asleep on the carpet by the fire in Tommy's study.

I loved exploring Tommy's house, it was huge and it really was stunning but I have gotten lost a few times and many of the maids have had to bring me back to my room which was right next to Tommy's because he wanted to keep an eye on me and if I ever needed anything he was right next door which was nice until the other evening...

You see I learnt that Tommy lost his wife Grace not too long ago, he was hurting like anyone would but he grieved in a way that made me uncomfortable..

It was early hours in the morning, I was going back to bed after getting a drink of water from the kitchen, as I was walking up the hall way towards Tommy's room a women came out of his room in her underwear and money in her hand but when she saw me she jumped in freight letting out a loud gasp and I dropped my glass from the shock, the noise of the glass smashing distrubed Tommy and he came to the door but I ran into my room pressing my back against the door waiting for him to go to bed.

I wasn't stupid, I knew exactly what they were doing because my Mum did what the lady was doing to get more money for us, she tried to protect me but I knew what she did behind closed doors, I just wished Tommy wasn't one of those men.

Since that night I had avoided Tommy like the plague, I made sure to wake up early, have breakfast then go explore the fields or hide away in the libary while he played with Charlie then he would go to work; When he goes out I help the maids with caring for Charlie, we have a lot of fun playing with his trains and looking at the horses in the yard and then thankfully most evenings Tommy comes back late in the evening so by then I've had dinner and I'm reading in bed. When Tommy pokes his head into my room to check on me I pretend to be asleep...

"PRIM?" I heard my name be called.

I knew that voice, that was Tommy so I slid off the chair in the libary and sat on the floor hiding with my book in my hands.

I had read four books since I arrived at the house, I read fairytale stories to Charlie before bed like what my Mother did with me, it hurt me that Charlie would grow up without a Mother but then again he gets to grow up with a Father and I never had that.

"PRIMROSE?" Tommy's voice got louder.

Aunt Polly came around the other day to vist me, she asked how Tommy was treating me and I explained what had happened, Polly seemed angry at Tommy's actions and said she'd speak with him and judging by how early Tommy is back home and how angry he is I'm going to say Polly said something to him?

"PRIMROSE WHERE ARE YOU?" Tommy shouted.

Oh boy he sounded annoyed.

Last night he was angry about something, he threw glasses around in his study and I'm pretty sure he broke a wooden chair while saying every swear word in history and now that I think about it I don't remember hearing Tommy come to bed either so I'm thinking he's also angry from lack of sleep?

Just then the door opened. "Primrose?" Tommy called breathlessly. "How could you not have heard me calling you?"

I gently shut my book the peered over the chair. "Erm the house is very big and I have small ears," I told him.

Tommy's cheeks were red from shouting and he looked pretty mad, he wasn't wearing his coat or blazer so he must have come in and threw them at the staff then came looking for me?

"Get up and come with me," He ordered.

I quickly got up and followed him out the libary. Tommy had long legs so I had to jog to keep up with him as he stormed through the house huffing and swearing under his breath.