One Big Happy Family

Chapter 23: Drogo Takes Care of the Problem

Jane March was happy. She was humming a tune while taking out her long cotton nightgown from her Carpet bag. Since she would only spend one more night at the Heavenly Inn, she didn't find it necessary to unpack all of her belongings — not that there were too many to begin with.

Jane changed from her day clothes and brushed her long, brown hair. Her thoughts drifted to that morning and her interview with the Bartholy family. Lorie, the little girl she was going to work with, seemed fairly easy-going. During the interview, she had quietly sat in an armchair, listening to Jane without interrupting her. Jane liked that — a child should always mind her elders.

"After all, children are to be seen, not heard," Jane thought to herself.

But Jane's mind mainly kept returning to Lorie's older brother, Nicolae. Now there was an intriguing man! Jane blushed thinking about his long, wavy chestnut hair and tall, powerful build. And then there were his eyes: steel-grey and so intense that they seemed to penetrate her mind... even her very soul. Nicolae's voice was low and masculine, and he had a slight, exotic accent. He was elegantly dressed and very well mannered, almost in an old-fashioned way. All in all, he was... spectacular — like a prince that stepped out of a fairytale, from a different time and place.

"He probably wouldn't be interested in someone like me," Jane told her own reflection as she gazed into the hand-held mirror she had brought along.

She studied herself carefully: long, oval face, pale skin, dark eyes and brown hair. Overall, not too bad... but nowhere close to Nicolae's beauty. Still... he had been extremely nice toward her and immediately offered her the position. So that was a good sign!

Jane crawled into the narrow bed and covered herself all the way up to her chin. Although the window was closed, the room was chilly and the quilt provided by the innkeeper — quite thin and threadbare. Fortunately, Jane was used to cold weather, having grown up in a similar climate.

She had taken the train from Sullivan, Maine to Mystery Spell the previous day. Her hometown was very small and isolated in a heavily forested area... quite akin to her current surroundings. Jane was the eldest of three children from a modest family. Her father had worked himself to death by the time Jane was seventeen. Her mother had a poor constitution, therefore Jane became the primary provider for the entire household. She had worked several jobs in Bar Harbor, mostly during the summer — when the New England wealthy spent the holidays in their vacation mansions in Maine. The rest of the year, Jane worked here and there, wherever help was needed. Although none of her jobs had been permanent, Jane was dedicated and professional, and she obtained only good references from her former employers. The nanny position at the Bartholys would be her first full-time job. She was excited, but also nervous... the Bartholys' home was bigger and nicer than any house she'd ever worked in before... including all of those fabulous Bar Harbor mansions.

"I'm a hard worker and a fast learner," Jane had assured Nicolae. He nodded and gave her an encouraging smile that reached his beautiful grey eyes.

"I'm sure you'll do a great job," Nicolae had replied in his deep, enchanting voice. "You've gotten some stellar reviews from several people," he pointed toward her resume before offering her the nanny position.

Jane sighed, thinking again about his handsome, square-jawed face. She closed her eyes and tried to relax... but found it difficult. The narrow bed she laid in was hard and uncomfortable, and Jane started tossing and turning in an attempt to find a good position to sleep in.

Once she had turned the oil-lamp off, the room was dark. The only source of light came through the rectangular window situated directly across from the foot of her bed. A pale moon was casting dancing shadows through the curtains. Jane could see the outline of the tree branches, as they swayed back and forth in the wind.