Twelve Read online

  As expected, the girl arrived shortly, wailing for all she was worth in the arms of the nursemaid. Flora inspected her carefully, knowing immediately that her earlier assessment was wrong, this child would be a handful, her obsidian eyes twinkled with mischief already. It did not escape Flora’s notice that this child was her own nemesis as she had cleaved a tuft of her own hair and was pulling.

  “No wonder you’re wailing. I’d cry too if someone were tugging at my hair.” She chided the squalling baby.

  “I hardly think…” the nursemaid began, cutting herself short when she noticed whom she addressed. “I beg your pardon. Would you care to hold her?”

  “No, no. I’ll leave that to you.” Flora retorted with a smug grin as she pointed to her own chest. “Perk of position. You swaddle and soothe, I get to try to keep her out of trouble for the next eighteen years. I daresay, judging by right now, I’ll have my hands plenty full of her before too long. Isn’t that right Miss Bella?” She finished her comments to the child directly who almost seemed to narrow her eyes in reply.

  The nursemaid didn’t seem affronted until Flora called the girl ‘Bella,’ at which she tried to spin away. “You should at least learn her name.” she admonished.

  “I know her name.” Flora responded softly, even as her hand shot out to halt the spin with force. “But I, unlike you, am not her servant.”

  The nursemaid’s sharp intake of breath was not quiet. “If….if…if you won’t help me with her, then perhaps you will give her some peace. Being born into this world has surely exhausted her. You can leave.” She said on a raspy, harsh whisper.

  Flora laughed loudly. For a moment, Bella quieted at the sound. It was short-lived. Though the child resumed her screaming, Flora’s face was calm, nearly stoic, before she spoke. “Hear me clearly; I will leave when I wish, and stay when I wish. And, though you may not always see me, I am watching. I do not answer to you any more than I answer to the child in your arms. Do you understand?”

  The maid nodded mutely, her jaw slack at the rebuke.

  “I’m glad we cleared that up. And thank you, I do believe I’ll go now. This evening has been taxing.” Flora announced before turning to leave.

  Turning back, she smirked at the maid with an odd giggle. “Silly me…as if I need to leave through the door.” She announced before spiraling her finger into the air and disappearing, waiting until she was out of sight to laugh at the expression on the maid’s face as she went. She only narrowly managed it. The sound bubbled up to her lips with such force she nearly didn’t hold the outburst.

  Fern was seated in her favorite chair, flipping the pages of a book she wasn’t reading when Flora returned. Her sister was nearly cackling at something, though it was in conflict with the steam that seemed to rise off of her in thick tufts.

  “Whatever is going on?” Fern queried as she looked up.

  “Just enjoying the reaction.” Flora retorted off-hand, waving off further questions.

  Fern studied her, not taking the hint. “You got your new assignment then did you?”

  “You know I did.” Flora quipped, almost snapping the words out. “You’re next you know.” She wagged a finger.

  “Yes, I know.” Fern said calmly, turning yet another page she wasn’t looking at. “I believe it will be tomorrow though. Maybe.”

  “What makes you say that?” Flora glared.

  Fern heaved a hard sigh and closed the book. “It’s not going well. Breech.”

  Flora gasped at the one word that said it all. “We can share mine.” She offered lamely.

  Fern shrugged it off. “We’ll see.”