“Yes, ma’am. How many books are in the library?” Summer asks, looking at the ornate doors entering the room.
“This library holds over two thousand books. The one in the winter home in New York holds over three thousand. It is one of the masters treasured spaces, it must be kept clean. We do this two times per month. Now get to it and try not to disturb Master Jonah during his lessons.”
“Yes, Mrs. Evert.” Holding her supplies she glances out of the large window and sighs in regret. Guess being outside on this beautiful autumn day is out of the question. When she pushes open the door the scent of leather, oil and man strike her. A longing for home and family causes her eyes to tear up and she inhales deep thinking of her father. They spent many long afternoons studying together and she missed him dreadfully.
“Don’t think about them, just focus on the task at hand.” She sighs, looking around. It has been four weeks since she started this job and she is thankful every day for the sanctuary she has found. Not a moment goes by that she doesn’t wonder about her brother.
The library is magnificent. It is a two-story room, adorned with loving detail. From the large beautiful velvet curtained windows, to the mahogany colored wood shelves that line the room. Plush carpets cover the wooden floors and gas lanterns light the room, casting shadows all around. Summer decides to start on the bottom level, which seems to have less books than the top. The lower level looks to be set up for studying with club chairs flanking a large fireplace and a burgundy couch. One side houses an office with a closed door and the other side has smaller book cases. This section should be done quickly.
Two hours later she finishes with the bottom section. Summer glances at the clock and takes a break to get some water before returning to her work. “And now, section two.” She climbs the steps slowly and a smile lights her face.
“Oh, how lovely!” She exclaims to herself as she runs her hands over the books. “A wealth of knowledge at your fingertips,” she murmurs. An hour later, she hears someone enter the library. Time for fresh water, she thinks. She carefully carries the pail down the steps and almost screams when a little dark-haired boy catapults up the stairs towards her.
“Now see here, Master Jonah it is lesson time, not hide and seek time!” A stern voice snaps out sounding as irritated as he looks. Summer sighs inwardly wondering what on earth would possess someone to hire such a cross man to educate their children. He is roughly six feet tall, overweight, loud, smells like, well, mildew and he is a lecherous fool. Summer planned on discussing this with the child’s father if she ever meets him. It’s almost the middle of October, she has been here a month, and had yet to see him.
“Hello, Master Jonah,” Summer says with a grin. “Where are you off to in such a hurry?”
“I wanna read about pirates! Not do math!” He says sourly. Summer looking down at him and shakes her head in understanding. His dark hair is a stark contrast to his emerald eyes. He is beautiful, if one could call a five-year-old boy beautiful. The one thing that made her wait endurable was Jonah.
“Of course, who wouldn’t? What in the world would a pirate need math for? Certainly not for sailing the seas? Or for measuring the distance between points to find the perfect spot to bury his treasure.” She turns continuing down the steps leading Jonah back to his tutor. “There be no need to count all his jewels,” she says in a pirate imitation, “I’m sure a pirate wouldn’t mind if someone stole his treasure, if he can’t count then he wouldn’t know if anything were to go missing. Pirates don’t need math.”
“Well, Miss Summer, I didn’t think about that. Maybe I could do some math, then read about pirates?” He asks, looking up adoringly at her.
“What are you filling his head with, Miss. Denning?” The older man snaps at her. When he isn’t leering or pawing at her he is verbally abusive, and she suspects he treats Master Jonah the same way. That is not conducive to learning. Her father would have turned over in his grave if he could hear this man!
“Nothing at all, Mr. Sanders. I was just on my way to dump this water and start upstairs. I will stay out of your way,” she snaps winking at Jonah.
“Keep an eye out for me parrot, Master Jonah. I seemed to have misplaced it.” She leaves quickly, ignoring the gasp of outrage from the old man.
“Aye-aye, Captain Summer!” Jonah snaps out and then rolls with laughter. His laughter lifts her spirits and she is humming a song when she returns a few minutes later. She can hear they have started their lessons near the office downstairs. “Two more hours of cleaning and I should be finished with the bookcases and then I can start of the rest of the wood paneling,” she tells herself and begins to clean.
The sound of Jonah’s laughter draws him to his door. He opens it quietly watching the exchange and wonders who the new maid is, smiling at her antics. Parrot, indeed. He seems to remember something about Mrs. Evert hiring someone, but he had yet to meet her. Softly he closes the door and continues working. When he hears a lovely voice humming, he decides to
