One Big Happy Family

Chapter 30: Peter to the Rescue

As soon as Drogo left, Sabrina returned to Lorie's room.  She found the little girl "teaching" her dolls about honesty and truth.  When Lorie spotted her nanny, she stopped instructing her toys and turned to her with a smirk on her face:

"So... Rose... what were you and my brother talking about so intently?"

Rose walked straight toward the little girl and sat down on the floor, next to the rest of the "class."  She squared her shoulders before replying:

"Drogo wanted to ask me about some of my references."

Lorie narrowed her eyes.  "What about them?"

"Just the usual stuff... how long I worked in each place, how I got along with the families..." Rose kept her eyes locked on Lorie's face.

"Oh... I see," Lorie said before picking the piece of chalk she used to write on her miniature blackboard.  She waited for Rose to elaborate, but the nanny remained mum.  However, Lorie wasn't finished with her interrogation quite yet.  She made an innocent face and asked:  "Has Nicolae called any of them yet?"

Rose felt a shiver run down her spine.  She shook her head, feigning an equal amount of innocence.  "Not that I know of."

"Hmmm," Lorie mused. "He usually takes care of those things.  Perhaps he forgot."  She stared into Rose's eyes:  "You should probably remind him."

"I don't think it's my place to do so," Rose retorted without batting an eyelash.

"Alright... then maybe I will," Lorie tilted her head to one side, scrutinizing her nanny.  "After all... it's for my own benefit... and protection."

Rose scoffed.  "Why?  Are you worried I am going to kidnap you?  Or steal all of your dolls?"

Lorie pursed her lips and shrugged.  "Well... one never knows."

"Fine.  Then you go and talk to Nicolae," Rose would not be intimidated by a six-year old.

"I think I will," Lorie replied nonchalantly.  She set the chalk back down and brushed her palms over her skirt.  She then proceeded to walk right by Rose and out the door.  Before exiting, she called out over her shoulder:

"You can wait in here until I'm done."

"Yes, Mistress," Rose replied mockingly.  "I won't move a muscle."

After Lorie left, Sabrina started to panic. She had no doubt that Lorie would convince Nicolae to contact one of the two families listed as references.  What if Drogo hadn't had time to get to them before his older brother called?  That would be the end of her little charade.  She had to think of something... and fast!  She got off the floor and tip-toed to the door, hoping to overhear what Lorie was saying to Nicolae.  Unfortunately, being a witch did not endow her with super sensitive hearing like vampires had.  After waiting by the door for a while, Sabrina decided to step into the hallway, hoping Nicolae left the door to his room open.  She was about halfway there when she heard a voice behind her:

"Rose.  What are you doing?"

The nanny froze in her tracks and quickly spun around.  She saw Peter standing there.  He had just walked out of his bedroom and was now watching her with a curious expression on his face.

"Oh," Rose giggled.  "Lorie and I are playing a game of hide and seek.  I was trying to be stealthy," she whispered and winked at Peter.

Peter nodded and grinned.  "Sounds like fun.  Can I play too?"

"Ummm..." Rose uttered.  "I..."

"I'm just messing with you," Peter chuckled.  He approached her, smiling conspiratorially.  "But I could help you cheat."