A Nanny For Keeps

Tyler could feel himself relax at Michael’s words. “I believe she will. This transition hasn’t been easy on any of us and I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate your mother’s help. The fact that she highly recommended Miss Marshall put my mind at ease. But still, I am concerned a bit. My girls ran the last nanny off with their pranks, and while I believe it was because they are still missing their mother and the nanny who went back to England, I’m not sure what I’ll do if they do the same to Miss Marshall.”

“I can’t imagine what you’ve been through. I am sorry for the loss of your wife. I’m sure Georgia will do her best to help your daughters. I wouldn’t be too concerned about them running her off. She’s taught school for several years now, and from what I’ve heard, she is very good with children.”

“Do you know why she came to New York?” Tyler hoped Michael wouldn’t think him too nosy, but he was curious.

“I don’t know for sure. My wife thinks it was from a broken heart.”

“Was she engaged?”

“No. But we all thought she’d marry her next-door neighbor. But he surprised us all—Georgia more than anyone, we suspect—and asked her sister to marry him instead. Georgia stayed in Ashland until after the wedding but, well, you can imagine how difficult it must have been for her.”

“Oh, yes, I can,” Tyler said. He was a bit surprised by the anger he felt toward Miss Marshall’s neighbor, realizing that he was now her brother-in-law. How painful that must have been for her. “I am sorry for the heartbreak she might be going through, but I must admit I’m glad to have her free to help us.”

And to know that she didn’t have a beau who might have demands on her time.

“I think helping you out will be good for her, too,” Michael said.

“I hope so.”

Their meal came and the conversation turned to business.

“So you want the larger office next to mine?”

“Yes.”

“It needs a fresh coat of paint and, of course, I’ll have that done. When would you want to move in?” Michael asked.

“How about the first of June? That will give me time to choose the furnishings, take the bar exam and see how things are going with the girls and Miss Marshall.”

“Sounds good to me. I’m glad to have you as a tenant, Sir Tyler.”

“And I’m glad you had space available. I’ll pay the rent starting now, of course.”

Michael shook his head. “There’s no need for that. We’ll have a contract drawn up to start in June. Until then, feel free to come by and take measurements or whatever you need to do. I’ll not be leasing it to anyone else.”

By the time Tyler left the restaurant, he felt he’d made a new friend and at least begun the tedious task of setting up office. He’d go look for furnishings at the shops Michael had recommended over the next few weeks.

For now, though, he looked forward to getting home and seeing the girls and Miss Marshall. But when he arrived back home, it was to find that Miss Marshall and his daughters weren’t back yet, and disappointment that he had no one but Tate to share his news with washed over him.

He made his way down to the kitchen to make sure Mrs. Biddle wasn’t upset that her lunch plans had to be changed. She seemed quite surprised to see him in the kitchen. “Sir Tyler, is there anything I can get for you?”

“No, thank you, Mrs. Biddle. I hope that Miss Marshall and I didn’t put you out too much with our change in lunch plans. She gave you plenty of notice, didn’t she?” Although he wasn’t so sure he’d given her enough.

“Oh, yes, she did, Sir Tyler. And Miss Polly and Miss Lilly were ever so thrilled about going.”

“Very good.” He made his way back to his study, glad Mrs. Biddle wasn’t upset. And he was happy his daughters had been excited about the day’s plans. Still, the house seemed much too quiet and he had a feeling he wouldn’t settle down to work until his girls were back home.

* * *

By the time Georgia put the girls down to nap, she was feeling better about accepting the position as their nanny. She’d been very pleased with how well behaved they were at Rebecca’s. And she was happy that they got along so well with Jenny. The girls had played outdoors while she and Rebecca caught up with each other. Their families had been friends for a very long time back in Virginia, and Georgia felt blessed that she’d been able to reunite with Mrs. Heaton’s family when she’d moved to the city.

“How do you think you’re going to like being a nanny?” Rebecca had asked as she’d poured them some tea.

“I don’t know just yet, but I’m going to try to do well at it. The girls have had so much to deal with—I believe they’re still grieving the loss of their mother and missing the nanny who’d cared for them since they were born. I pray I can help them adjust to living in America.”

“I’m sure you will, Georgia. You’ve always had a way with children.”

“I hope I can live up to your expectations, Rebecca,” Georgia said. “I would like to be able to help them and their papa.”

“He’s very handsome, isn’t he?”

“Yes, he is,” Georgia said. Much too handsome, in her opinion. And she was more than a little disturbed by the amount of time she’d spent thinking about him. She’d become adept at pushing thoughts of men— especially handsome ones—out of her mind. She did not intend to give her heart to another. Not after Phillip Wilson. The one man she’d loved—her best friend from childhood, no less—gave her the impression from an early age they would one day be married and then had asked her sister to become his wife!

After that, Georgia had come to the conclusion there wasn’t one trustworthy man out there—not with her heart, anyway. No matter how handsome he might be. “I’m sure he’ll have his choice of wealthy young women once they realize he’s here.”

“Perhaps,” Rebecca had said. “But he might not be interested in them.”

“I suppose only time will tell.” And she really didn’t want to think about that possibility. His daughters had enough to adjust to as things were.

She’d been relieved when Rebecca had changed the subject and suggested they take the girls on an outing. They made plans to take them to Central Park, and after they’d told the girls, that was all Polly and Lilly could talk about on the way home.

“Nanny never wanted to take us to the big park,” Lilly had said. “We asked, but she just was too afraid.”

“Well, there’s nothing to be afraid of. Perhaps she was a little nervous being in a new country and all,” Georgia said.

“But we aren’t nervous. Papa said America was a wonderful place and where Mama was born. What is there to be frightened of?” Polly asked.

Oh, the innocence of a child. “One should always be cautious when going out, but when people are in a place they’ve never been before, it isn’t uncommon for some to be quite apprehensive. Your English nanny was raised in a smaller place than New York City. So was I, and it takes getting used to going out and about in a place this large,” Georgia said.

If it hadn’t been for living at Heaton House and going in and out with the other boarders, she would have been quite fearful. It hadn’t taken long to understand why Mrs. Heaton always insisted her female boarders had male escorts, or went in a group if they went out of an evening. But Polly and Lilly were too young to understand that now. And there was no need to make them fearful. “But I soon got used to it and I’m sure your nanny would have, too, had she stayed long enough.”

“I miss her,” Polly said, “but I’m glad we have you.”

“Thank you, Miss Polly. I appreciate you saying so. Now rest a bit before you see your papa. He’ll want to know about your day when you see him.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Polly said, then yawned.

They’d played hard with Jenny, and Lilly’s eyes were closing as Georgia pulled a light cover over her. She pulled the shades on the windows and went downstairs to ask Mrs. Biddle for a cup of tea.

She wasn’t expecting to run into Sir Tyler in the foyer. “Miss Marshall. You’re back. I was just going to see if Tate had seen you come in.”

“Oh, we’ve been back awhile. I’m sorry—did you need me or the girls?”

“No, I was a little surprised that you weren’t here for lunch—”

“Oh! Should I have asked if it was all right to—”

“No, I gave you freedom to plan their days. And it’s fine. I wasn’t actually here at noon, either. I had lunch with Michael Heaton. I’ve decided to lease an office in his building, but maybe I should have waited a while longer. Do you think it will be too hard for them to have me working away from home with all the changes I’ve put them through?”