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Post by Monday on Mar 5, 2010 18:05:27 GMT -5
((lol. yay, i'm glad you liked it! and a chase is a kind of carraige. lol))
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Post by Thursday on Mar 30, 2010 12:31:05 GMT -5
((read it loved it. We'll have a writing party this weekend.))
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Post by Monday on Mar 30, 2010 15:56:27 GMT -5
((yay! :-) ))
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Post by Monday on Apr 17, 2010 14:49:23 GMT -5
((SO i'm reposting the beginning of this chapter because it seems that i've edited this little bit A LOT. I didn't realize just how much until i compared it to what i have on microsoft word. lol. plus there's more too it as well.))
Chapter 3 After knocking on the increasingly familiar door of Mr. Campbell’s residence, Nicky tried taking in a few deep breaths in order to calm herself. However, all that she accomplished was to make her feel even more pathetic. Really, she had no reasonable excuse as to why she should feel so anxious. By some miracle, she had actually gotten the job, even after that disaster of an interview. It was as if she had no possession over her own words and just blurted out the first thought that popped into her head. She had walked away from her first meeting with Mr. Campbell expecting it to be her last; Nicky had played the part of the fool so well during her brief questioning. Quite disappointed that she had done so poorly on her first attempt at finding a job, she was already resolved to do better at the next position she found. After all of this, it wasn’t that hard to image the shock she felt when she was finally informed that she had gotten the job after all. What a set of mixed emotions that aroused in her! It wasn’t as if she wasn’t confident in her ability to perform her job well. Nicky was convinced that there wasn’t a child out there that she couldn’t love, or at least care for, although her nieces and nephews seemed to like to try that theory now and then. And she was rather excited to be officially entering this whole new world that London possessed. Meeting all new people and seeing so many different places! Not to mention the anticipation of being able to watch over a young boy, to be able to comfort him and teach him. He was the reason she was here, after all, and she was quite honored to be someone’s guardian, even if it was just her job and not her right as a parent.
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Post by Monday on Apr 17, 2010 14:50:18 GMT -5
But even with all of these happy ideas floating around in her head the very thought of facing Bracken Campbell again after being so embarrassed was enough to make her anxious. His very presence had unsettled her. And it wasn’t as if she thought he was a bad man or even a frightening one, though he did look like he could hold his own in fight and probably had before. There was just something about him that seemed to make her thoughts go fuzzy and she didn’t much enjoy the sensation. Or at least she didn’t think that she did… However, before she could ponder her predicament any further, the very old door creaked open to the same man who had allowed her entrance just the day before. Nicky put on her brightest smile and stepped over the threshold. “Hello,” she said sticking her hand out in a genial way, “I’m Nicole Hughes, the new governess. I didn’t have the pleasure of making your acquaintance the other day.” The stately man looked to be in his late forties, Nicky guessed, had a well trimmed mustache streaked with silver, and proved to have a very nice smile after she made herself known. He took her hand in his warm one and gave it a hearty shake. “Pleased to meet you miss. You can just call me Stevens, everyone else does.” He leaned down to take one of Nicky’s two trunks as he spoke. “It’s wonderful that we’re finally going to have someone around to help out with the young master. He can be rather… energetic, but he means well, and he has a good heart. But I’m sure you already know that.” Nicky smiled. “I actually haven’t gotten the opportunity to meet him yet. I’m very much looking forward to it, though.” “Well he’s out with Mrs. White right now; I believe they went to the park. So you should have time to get nice and settled in before you make the young lad’s acquaintance.” With that, Stevens led her to a lovely but modest room in the servants’ quarters. As Nicky saw more of the house she was once again struck by how well furnished and kept the house was. But still, she couldn’t help but get the impression that with all of the lavishness displayed there was still no love in the rooms. The place somehow reeked of sadness. If it was at all possible, this was one of the things she hoped to cure, or at least start to help mend.
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Post by Monday on Apr 17, 2010 14:50:57 GMT -5
Nicky had just finished unpacking her clothes and was about to settle into writing a letter to her mother and father when it was announced that Sebastian had finally returned home. As she left her room, she nervously rubbed the palm of her hands on her petticoat and suddenly had the terrible thought that he might not like her. She had passed his guardian’s interview, but it was Sebastian’s impression of her that mattered the most. When she entered the foyer, she had the additional shock of seeing Mr. Campbell himself, though she had no real reason to be surprised that he would want to see to the introduction of his own nephew to his new governess. However, Mrs. White was there as well and she tended to have a calming effect on Nicky. There was just something both caring and kind in her face that eased her anxiety. Behind the skirts of the lady was a boy that appeared to have light brown hair, although his other features were hard to make out. He was peaking his head around Mrs. White, just enough to keep one eye trained on Nicky. Mr. Campbell was wearing an expression somewhere between doubt and concern and this did nothing to sooth the butterflies in Nicky’s stomach. She hoped his nephew did not harbor the same feelings of mistrust that Campbell seemed to feel towards people in general. Or maybe it was just her that he seemed to doubt? Well she would prove him wrong. There was no reason in the world why she couldn’t be as best a thing as possible for Sebastian, aside from his own mother. This thought seemed to give fortitude to her actions and she stood a little straighter and smiled at the nervous boy. It took him a few moments, but slowly he gave her a tentative smile back. “Sebastian,” said Campbell, gesturing his hand toward the boy. His voice was even deeper and smoother then Nicky remembered it being. “This is Miss Hughes, Miss Hughes, Sebastian. She’s the very nice lady, who’s going to help Mrs. White watch over you from now on. Now come around from there like a good lad and great her properly.” While Mr. Campbell had been giving his rather surprisingly kind introduction, Nicky had been edging steadily closer. When she was a few feet away from him and Mrs. White she bent down to be eye level with Sebastian and stuck her hand straight out as if to shake his like a man would instead of giving him a formal curtsy. She somehow understood that the boy would appreciate this gesture more. Without fail, he edged around Mrs. White, who was smiling broadly all the while, and gently grasped Nicky’s hand. “How do you do?” “It’s wonderful to finally meet you, Sebastian.” This time when she smiled at him, his returning smile was immediate.
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Post by Thursday on Apr 18, 2010 9:31:48 GMT -5
((looks good except for a few grammatical errors. This reminds me of a patricia cabot book.))
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Post by Monday on Apr 18, 2010 10:59:59 GMT -5
((which one? and thank you! did you think that the whole thing with her meeting sebastian was good and made sense? i felt like some of those sentences didn't flow correctly or somethig. lol))
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Post by Monday on Aug 29, 2010 0:04:27 GMT -5
Nicky awoke the next day in her new quarters more than a little confused. She was sure that she would wake up to the drab accoutrements of her room at the inn but instead seemed to be in a very charming yet almost completely unfamiliar room. Hadn’t she just been disappointed to learn that she had, not surprisingly, been rejected to work for the Campbell’s and was preparing to pack her bags for home in defeat? With a jolt of revelation, Nicky remembered that she had just been dreaming, that her goal had really been achieved and had gotten the prized position as Sebastian’s governess. Like a flood, the events of the past day came washing over her. After finally meeting the young man in question, he was unfortunately whisked away to his French tutor, and Nicky didn’t get to see him again until they were all called to supper. And even then the stifling awkwardness was almost unbearable to her, not that it was any particular fault of hers or Sebastian’s. Mr. Campbell seemed distracted and distant and barely spoke two words to her throughout the entire meal though Ms. White tried several times to engage them both in a conversation. Sebastian as well seemed to be preoccupied. Once she caught his eyes from across the table and managed to make him smile with a quick funny face that she hoped only he would notice. She was satisfied to see her scheme work on the boy until she glanced over at Campbell and saw that he was looking at her with a mixture of both amusement and disapproval in his eyes. Nicky’s could feel her face heat up and felt extremely foolish. When she saw that Sebastian had seen the exchange between them and that his smile had just grown wider, she decided that it had been easily worth the embarrassment. Feeling vindicated, she turned her haughty gaze back on Campbell only too see that his regular look of discontent was back in place as he stared of into nothing. Lord knew what the man could be thinking of but for some reason Nicky found herself imagining the possibilities. Maybe he was worried about his business or if he had made a mistake in hiring her. Or perhaps he had quarreled with a friend and was wondering about how they could make amends. He could be worried about Sebastian, noticing as she had that the boy had eaten very little even after being reminded by both his uncle and Mrs. White to finish his meal. He might even be thinking of his poor sister, God rest her soul. Why she should want to know or even care in the first place was a mystery to her. Campbell was obviously a grown man, almost a full ten years older than her, she imagined. He didn’t need anybody to take care of him anymore then she did. She hastily put the man out of her mind and tried instead to think of the problem at hand, namely Sebastian.
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Post by Friday on Aug 29, 2010 0:36:15 GMT -5
((yay for continuing!!))
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Post by Thursday on Aug 29, 2010 16:27:09 GMT -5
((or he could be thinking about ripping off all her clothes with his teeth. Lol. Good. I like it. Glad your getting back on track.))
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Post by Monday on Feb 26, 2011 23:10:40 GMT -5
Bracken had made it half way to his office nears the London docks when he realized that he’d left behind several important papers. No doubt the distraction was caused by Miss Hughes but he couldn’t very well blame the woman for not knowing her new residence very well yet. In all honesty, the woman distracted him too much, more than most beautiful women did and he shook his head in frustration. Why Miss Nicky Hughes should bother him was a complete mystery. Annoyed at himself, he turned around and headed back to his home. Bracken strode through the front entrance several minutes later, his mind still preoccupied with his own stupidity and not paying the least bit of attention to his surroundings. If he had, he might have noticed his newly hired governess beginning a perilous trip down the stair banister without taking the time to see who could be bellow. By the time she had seen him and uttered a warning cry he had just enough time to look up before she toppled into him. They fell to the floor and he fortunately managed to keep her from hitting the ground too hard, however this ended with most of her weight landing on his abdomen. Though she may not weigh very much, the force of her landing on top of him was enough to knock the wind out of him. As soon as he had caught his breath he let out an oath that really wasn’t considered suitable for polite society, but considered it to be irrelevant in view of the present circumstances. She peered down at him with her translucent grey eyes as if shocked to find herself atop a grown man’s lap before her cheeks stained red and she was scrambling to get up. Before he could get up himself she was reaching down to grasp his arm and was basically dragging him to his feet. “I am so sorry, sir! I was such a fool, to not look before slid down like that!” Her gaze swept him up and down as if to look for any permanent damage she might have caused while Bracken had to resist the momentary impulse to laugh. Of course she would not apologize for making the trip down the banister in the first place, just that her game had met such a disastrous end. “Are you quite alright?” He waved his hand as if to dismiss the question. While he might sport a bruise or two the next day, it was not as if he hadn’t had worse before. No, what was really unsettling him was the look of true worry on her face. Did the lady always leave her emotions so unguarded? “Am I going crazy,” he asked incredulously, “or did you not just slide down the stair banister and into me?” He had the satisfaction of seeing her face flush red with embarrassment before he turned his gaze on his nephew who had just raced down the stairs. Just like that, the situation seemed to explain itself. “Oh I see. Sebastian, did you put Miss Hughes up to this?” The boy went pale but before he could speak, the woman in question replied for him. “This is entirely my fault, sir. I fully accept any punishment that you see fit, even if that means that I must leave, but please don’t place any blame on Sebastian.” Bracken was taken aback both by her earnest appeal for him not to hold Sebastian responsible and by her suggestion that she might be dismissed. The thought had not crossed his mind up until that point and he wondered what another person would do given the same situation. Surely firing her would be too severe for even the sternest of men? He then recalled how some of his acquaintances often talked of their governesses and realized rather grimly that she might expect much worse than a sacking from a cruel employer. Bracken may have been many things, but malicious was not one of them and he knew all too well how vindictive some of the British regency might be to those they considered lesser than themselves. Before he could get a word in, though, Sebastian started in on him. “You can’t get rid of Miss Hughes, Uncle, it’s not her fault! I tried to talk her into letting me slide down the stair banister but the only way she would let me go was if she tried it out first to make sure it was safe, even though I told her I had done it plenty of times before when no one else was around and that there was nothing to worry about. Please don’t sack her, Uncle!” He scarcely took a breath throughout this entire speech of his and Bracken was quite stunned with how passionate he seemed to feel on the matter. He doubted whether or not the boy had spoken so much at once in months. What was even more peculiar was that the two of them had barely known one another for a day and already they were coming to each other’s defense against him. He did not know whether to feel bemused or annoyed, joyous or apprehensive. He turned to look at Miss Hughes and she had the expression on her face that she would rather like to say something but was trying to keep quiet. Bracken was beginning to comprehend how hard it was for this woman to not speak her mind and decided to put her worries at ease. Looking back at his nephew, he said, “I presently have no intention of dismissing Miss Hughes, Sebastian. Although I might suggest you occupy yourselves with an activity a little less likely to cause you both or any hapless victims that you might run into, any harm.”
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Post by Monday on Mar 27, 2011 15:20:44 GMT -5
As Nicky lay in bed several hours later she reflected on the very long day she had. Though she was exhausted, her thoughts were peaceful for the first time in a long time and she knew she could give credit entirely to Sebastian. Exempting the minor incident involving the stairway banister which she tried hard not to dwell on, the day had been delightful and though Sebastian was still quite guarded, she was content to earn his trust with time and patience both of which she had plenty of. It was with these happy thoughts that she drifted off to sleep. She didn’t know precisely where she was but for some reason the word home came to mind. When she turned around a figure was approaching her and her heart leapt with joy though she wasn’t sure why. It became increasingly evident that the figure was a man but she could put no name to him as his features were shadowed. However, she knew him instantly as two kindred spirits would and as he drew nearer she reached out her hand for his. Without compunction he took her hand and drew her close to him. Their bodies where quite close as he whispered in her ear, “I’ve been waiting for you.” “I know,” she said, matching his hushed tone. She drew back enough so she could look into his eyes. His mouth drew closer to hers and she tilted her head up, eagerly awaiting his kiss- Nicky woke with a start and it took her several minutes to realize that she had just been dreaming, that the mysterious man had just been a figment of her imagination. It was hard to shake the feeling that it had actually been real, however, no matter what she told herself, and she tossed and turned in bed for an hour at least before falling back to sleep, swearing off romance novels for good. By the time she awoke again in the morning, she had forgotten the dream entirely.
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