North Mansion Part 9

            Mr. Clark joined the siblings for dinner that night. Eleanor seemed a little withdrawn around him, James immediately noticed. She ate little and answered whatever questions were put to her, but barely spoke of her own accord.

            “I have a couple people coming to visit next week, Eleanor, just so you know.”

Seeing he was trying to engage her in conversation, she asked what was on her mind

            “How do you know them?”

            “We served overseas together.”

He saw excitement in her eyes at this

            “Really?” She was immediately hoping to gain some insight on her brother through them.

            “Yeah, one’s wife just had twins a couple months ago, so they’ll be coming as well.”

Mr. Clark made some remark on twins and statistics. To James, it was obvious he was trying to sound impressive. The girl looked between the two men, trying to read through the tension from Mr. Clark and the distain or even disregard James showed to see what was going on.

            “And will they be staying long?”

            “The plan is for a week, I have some business propositions to put before them.” James replied, setting his napkin next to his plate as an indicator that dinner was over. “Chess, Eleanor?”

The tutor cleared his throat

            “Actually, Miss Eleanor has some geography she needs to finish up.”

James rose

            “When you have finished, Eleanor.”

            “I’m afraid Mr. Clark likes me abed before ten, James.” Eleanor replied, quite innocently, but maintaining her observation of her brother and the tutor.

            “Perhaps another night, then.” James amended with gentle smile towards the girl “Then I’ll bid you goodnight.” 

North Mansion Part 8

Mr. Clark arrived back at North Mansion on the date he had already set. James expressed the desire to meet him right away and as the staff took the tutor’s things to his room, the butler showed him up to the study and announced him.

            “Mr. Clark, milord.”

The thing about Mr. Flanders was that he knew when to be formal and when to loosen up. Now, he portrayed the stiff butler, one the tutor was unused to. James followed the butler’s lead by dismissing him with a nod of his head

            “Mr. Clark.” He shook his hand in a somewhat reserved manner

            “Lord North, may I extend my deepest sympathies on the passing of your father….”

            “Thank you.”

James didn’t offer him a seat, but returned to the chair behind the massive desk, perfectly spotless after the recent purge

            “Have you references? Your file has none listed.”

The man fumbled with the briefcase he carried and hastily removed a rather creased piece of paper

            “Here is one from my previous employer.”

            “Did he provide you with this creased paper? It is most unprofessional.”

The man made no response as he removed another from the briefcase

            “I’m afraid this one is no better.”

            “I assume that you are teaching my sister not just the basics, but giving her other life skills.” The insinuation towards the creased papers and unorganized briefcase would hardly have been missed, but somehow, the tutor failed to notice.

            “Of course, milord, Miss Eleanor is thriving under my guidance in all she learns.”

            “From what I understand from her, your courses do not allow her to learn at her own pace, which is, I may add, is faster then you are teaching her. From what I see in her, she is capable of so much more.”

The man seemed surprised by the hard critic of the new lord. He didn’t exactly know what to say in reply to it.

            “So, I am giving you two weeks to improve your teaching skills. If, by the end of this period, my sister and I are not impressed, you will be dismissed.”

            “Understood, milord.” The man said

            “I will be checking in periodically to ensure the material she is being taught is up to par.”

The tutor quickly assured the man that this would be a fine arrangement and left the office as soon as he could.

North Mansion Part 7

            James returned when he said and he continued to try to get to know his ward. Instead of both running separately in the morning, they took to working out together. At least partially, from what James could understand she also lifted weights and swam every day, but the varying time made it challenging for him to join her. He met the land’s tenants and farmers during the course of the next week. The girl chose to accompany him and soon enough he found out why. One of the renters had a son about her age and from he gathered, they hung out a good deal.

            “James, this is my friend Peter Blessing.”

            “Good to meet you, Peter.” James held out his hand, receiving a rather stiff greeting

            “You as well, milord.”

Eleanor caught her friend’s eye

            “Peter and I go hiking together on the weekends and hangout whenever we get a chance.”

            “I’m the only kid her age in the area.” He added “Everyone else is much younger.”

            “I see.” James said “And what do you do for school?”

The boy hung his head

            “After Dad left, I dropped school to work. I work in town at the grocery store, sir.”

James said nothing, but ideas were sparking in his mind. He kept himself from asking prying questions and guided the conversation to safer topics. 

Update: Insert paragraph: 

“Sir, may I have a word?” Mr. Flanders caught up to James in one of the corridors

            “Of course, Mr. Flanders, what about?”

The butler looked a little uncomfortable, but knew what needed to be done

            “Do you plan on continuing to leave periodically?”

            “At this time, I must. Why do you ask?”

            “I don’t mean to over step my position, but I am concerned for Eleanor. In your absence, she was not herself. I fear she feels Lord North’s death more keenly when alone.”

            “And what do you propose I do?”

The butler cleared his throat and maintained his demeanor and bearing

            “Take her with you sometimes. Find her a more engaging teacher then Mr. Clark. Talk with her or give her something to look forward to.” He appeared only slightly more awkward “These are merely suggestions, milord, I don’t want to…”

            “Don’t worry, Mr. Flanders. You have been here long enough to give advice, I believe. Thank you for bringing these concerns up. I will see that they are tended to.”

The butler began to leave

            “Thank you, milord.”

James reflected on the conversation and his ward’s behavior as he reached his office. He had to come up with a plan to help her with the grieving process of their father. 

North Mansion Part 6

He disappeared for two days later that week, leaving a note with for Mr. Flanders to give her. It informed her he had some work to complete and that he would be back before the weekend. Honestly, Eleanor needed a break from what felt like a visitor being in the house and to indulge herself in the massive library for two days was just what she wanted. For the week, her brother had lived in the mansion, part of her had been distracted from mourning, but with her guardian suddenly gone, she felt the hole her father left very keenly. She fell to silence, not striking conversations with any of the household staff. Her tutor was not there to engage her with learning or conversation, so she hid away. The butler became worried about her, she didn’t show up for meals and didn’t sleep in her bed, but on the floor of the library on a rug before the fire, or in one of the large armchairs. Once he walked in to find her in tears, but instead of speaking, she rushed past him, to spend the day out in the woods, returning only once her composure had, hours later. Mr. Flanders had no way of reaching James and so bore his concern in silence, but with diligent watching eyes. He felt it his responsibility to keep the girl safe in the lord’s absence. 

North Mansion Part 5

            James showed her all his former beloved coves in the forest and by the river. He told her of his many adventures in the very woods they rode and promised later to show her the tree house he had built. He would have added a worried statement about if it had lasted this long, but his building skills had been fine and the help of one of his friends, it had become a sturdy place. Eleanor chose not to show her favorite spots with anticipation of eventually needing them to get away from her brother and guardian. He knew exactly why she didn’t share and he respected her privacy. She did laugh aloud as he brought her to one of his favorites, a large boulder in the middle of the river

            “I have to admit, even this has changed since last I was here.” James said, dismounting and securing the horse to a tree. “The trees have grown so much around.”

Eleanor slid down and joined him in the scramble to the top.

            “But still, on a summer afternoon with food stolen from the kitchen and a good book. This was my idea of a good time.”

            “Did someone tell you?” she asked dubious over his words

            “No, wait, tell me what?”

            “About this spot? I come down here during the warm summer afternoons with food and a good book.”

His smirk grew into a grin.

            “I guess we really are related.”

Eleanor was beginning to fall in love with her brother. He was kind and attentive, but she couldn’t help think that he held back the person he had become and of that, she was terrified.   

North Mansion Part 4

Going through their father’s study proved harder then both anticipated. Eleanor found some of the things inside the office sentimental and dear to her and James found the paperwork rather tedious to sort through and even with the capable help from the butler, they made slow progress. Eleanor opened up more to him, however and her feelings spilled out a little more at being in the room her and her father had spent so long in.

“I spent many hours in here with him.” She said softly, sinking into the leather armchair near the giant round window. “We used to talk here every night. About the day, future, problems, things we were thankful for.”

James set down the folder he was going through and came over, sitting on the edge of the other chair

            “Every night?”

            “Yes, no matter how busy he was with work or if he got in at midnight.” She blinked back tears and clasped her hands around her legs, resting her chin on her knees. She looked out the window in silence. James looked out, awed once again by the magnificent view afforded by the large window. The mountains and the ocean could be seen over the blanket of trees below.

            “Don’t stop talking about him.” He said “Trust me, it will hurt you.”

The aching in his voice betrayed loss of his own, not just this father, but another dear, dear person.

            “Come, let’s take a break. Did Dad still keep horses in the stable?” he could sense she needed a distraction

            “Just two. We would ride on the weekends or I would ride with a friend during the week. Want to ride?”

James agreed quickly to this and both parted ways from the study to change. James suggested a meeting place of the basement and when Eleanor looked confused, his eyes widened

            “You mean you’ve lived here your entire life and you don’t know?” he said in amazement “Just trust me, meet me in five…”

He reached the basement just before Eleanor did and walking through to the servant’s quarters

            “Back when there used to be more of a household staff, this passage way was used to get to the stables.”

He easily found the right wall hidden away at the end of the corridor in the staff’s area. The girl seemed stunned, but excited

            “When I was little and Dominique and Arthur came over to play, we would hide down here from Dominique. She never found us.”

It was hard for the girl to imagine James playing as a child. The walk was about a quarter mile and after a spiral staircase up, opened into the tack room. 

North Mansion Part 3

            Eleanor was in the dining room eating when James entered shortly after seven. She looked up and greeted him warmly and once he was seated asked

            “Did you go for a run?”

            “I did. The woods have change a good deal since I ran them last.” He began to eat and then looked up “How did you know?”

            “I saw you come in. Did you take the lower trail? It’s my favorite.”

            “Do you run?” he asked curiously

The girl nodded. She ran an average of six miles a day and combined it with other workouts. He seemed vaguely impressed, but she had been modest.

            “I am going to clear through Dad’s office today if you want to help or take stuff from in there.”

            “I can help.” She said, but her face grew serious. It was still very fresh and very hard for the girl.

He spread the dark raspberry jam over his toast and she looked curiously at him. He wasn’t what she remembered and for sure, she had not remembered the long scar running along part of his neck or the serious eyes that showed he had become numb to the pain he felt.

            “What do you do? For work, I mean.”

            “I’ve done a lot, Eleanor.” James replied “most recently, I’ve been instructing at a military academy. I was an officer in the military before they moved me to instruct at a couple training exercises. I went from there to a military academy to instruct there while continuing to learn during the night.”

            “I had no idea.”

            “It only half explains why I lost contact with you.” He said softly “It never should have happened.”

She shrugged

            “I could have written you and I didn’t either.”

Both lapsed into silence

            “What will you do now?”

            “I haven’t gotten there yet.” He replied “I have a lot to do and think about before I can pursue any career. Like getting to know you and figuring out how the best way to care for you.”

She wanted to ask what his immediate thoughts were, but she knew that would be too prying. When he brought it up she was pleasantly surprised

            “I was thinking, in regards to that, that perhaps an overseas boarding school would be the best option.”

His smirking smile at her surprise look made her realize he was joking and she had to laugh.

            “I’m jesting… Unless, of course, it is what you desire to do.”

            “It would be out of country.”

            “We will be traveling enough anyways.” He replied “Now, let’s get the study cleaned. I’d like to re-explore this place.” 

North Mansion Part 2

She scarce noticed the door open, but the slightest noise from him made her look up. She hurried to her feet as she realized it was her brother. He approached quickly

            “Hello, Eleanor.”

            “Hullo.”

He took both her hands into his by way of greeting her.

            “I trust your travels went well?”

            “Well enough. Now, let me look at you.”

She stood with perfect posture and head held high. He hadn’t known quite what to expect, but the girl standing before him was a perfect image of their mother. In fact, one of the portraits in the hall would easily prove it.

            “You look quite like Mum.”

            “Dad always said I had her eyes.” She replied, a catch in her throat at thinking of her deceased parents.

            “How are you coping with his death?”

The girl returned to her seat, drawing her knees up and clasping them

            “I miss him.” She spoke softly “You missed the funeral.”

            “I know. For that I am sorry. I came as quickly as I could.”

Mr. Flanders brought in the tray with tea and Eleanor rose to pour it as she had become accustomed.

            “Marjorie Wayworth was there.” The girl continued, handing her brother the dainty cup and tactfully leading the conversation away from her personal feelings. “She was most anxious to find out more about you.”

            “Is her daughter Gladys still at home?”

The girl nodded.

            “Then I am sure I understand why Mrs. Wayworth wanted to hear about me.” The man replied dryly, leaning forward and picking up the book his sister had been reading “Le Comte De Monte Cristo… In French.”

She smiled

            “I admit, I am indulging myself. Mr. Clark would be scolding me for reading fiction again.”

            “I take it Mr. Clark is one of your teachers?”

            “He is my tutor.”

            “And he disapproves of such reading?”

She tried her best to explain how the teacher felt about fiction when there was so much knowledge to gain from the other books. She went on to tell him that the tutor had taken a couple weeks off to allow the family mourning time.

            “And how do you find Mr. Clark’s teaching?”

When she lingered in searching for a response, half hoping James would brush past the question with a different one, he remained silent, however, drinking his tea while waiting for her response.

            “I believe I should be studying harder subjects and expanding my knowledge at a more rapid pace.”

It was more critical about her own personality rather then her tutor’s ability to teach. James guided her back to the question again and this time she was blunter in her response

            “I do not like his teaching style and I feel he does not extend me respect for the knowledge that I do have.”

It was the answer James had been looking for her to say. Suggesting anything to change at a time that was already so challenging was not what James was thinking. She asked a question before he could make any comment on her schooling.

            “So, where have you been the last seven years?”

He sighed, looking down at his watch

            “I’m afraid, child, that it too long of a story for tonight.”

Immediately she apologized, forgetting how tired he must be from his travels and rose to show him to his room. She was a sweet girl, but James informed her he knew the way to his room and bade her goodnight. 

North Mansion Part 1

After an arduous twelve hour drive, the young man pulled into the seven mile long driveway to the North Mansion. As he caught sight of the mansion at last, the realization finally sank in. The recent death of his father left him not only the stone home he now saw and the title of Lord North, but also left him as sole guardian to his fifteen year old sister. He had been gone the past seven years, rarely getting the chance to visit his father and sister. Stepping from the car, he ran up the steps to the home and knocked. It would be the only time he would knock upon the door of the North Mansion.

            “Good evening, milord.” The butler opened the door within half a minute of the bell ringing

            “Good evening, Mr. (Roger) Flanders.” James said “And how are you?”

The man had been running the household since before James was born. The old man led the way out of the foyer.

            “I am well, sir. I had the room next to your father’s study made up for you, if that is suitable.”

            “Perfectly. I shall clear out my father’s study tomorrow if you could spare the time to help.”

            “As you command, milord.” The man replied “For now, I am sure you are fatigued and wish to rest. Shall I bring tea to the library?”

James smiled, even after so many years, the butler remembered him and his habits.

            “Yes, thank you. And my sister?”

            “I believe you will find her in the library already, milord.”

            “Well, tea for two would be much appreciated - I’m afraid my sister and I have quite a bit of catching up to do!”

James found his way through the familiar hallways lined with paintings and portraits he had often studied as a child. As he entered the library, the enchanting light from the fire danced on the books, the fragrance of wood burning mixed pleasantly with the smell of old books. He breathed deeply. How often he spent entire afternoons reading in this very room. Then he saw her, a girl curled up in one of the large wing backed armchairs, deeply entwined in an enchanting book.