The Nanny of House Herzen - Chapter 47
“Do you like this color? And the decorations?”
“Madam-to-be, would you please review the guest list?”
“Which cookies do you prefer?”
“These flowers are called clematis. Do you like them?”
Making decisions was not easy for Evelyn. As the unwanted youngest child and then the naive Marchioness who was sold for money, she never had such authority.
Even the ever-kind Carius often ignored Evelyn’s plight. In hesitation, Evelyin had to find the answers on her own.
“I think green would be nice. Something with a sheen.”
“Thank you. By the way, do you know if Lord and Lady Paulus are friends of His Grace?”
“I prefer the almond-decorated ones. If it’s alright, could you leave some?”
“I’ve never seen flowers like these before. If you can keep them blooming, I love them.”
And then she would hear a quiet laugh from behind. The man she thought had passed by would say with a satisfied look.
“I like your taste too.”
When Evelyn sighed and smiled, the door would close as if he had been waiting for her.
“Carius, please….”
It was no use trying to stop him. Once their lips touched, Carius always called for the steward.
“Tell the old woman not to bother her for the rest of the day. She’s busy. And I’m busier.”
“Yes, sir.”
With the old steward responded without a twitch of a smile, Evelyn was the only one blushing.
* * *
Though Evelyn was busy learning the duties of a future Duchess, her primary concern was still Johanson.
She would steal moments to nurse and play with the baby, acting like a nanny herself. Even when Beth subtly suggested rehiring a nanny, Evelyn refused.
She still felt guilty for having left Johanson for about a month. She wanted to ensure she raised her with her own hands, at least while she was nursing.
After being tested by various people and dealing with numerous tasks, seeing Johanson always brought her joy. From the beginning until now, there was no one in the mansion who needed her as much as Johanson did.
“Ma! Mama!”
Johanson was babbling a lot these days. She would lift her head stiffly, roll over, and wiggle her body, trying to move back and forth a little.
The small, high newborn crib was too cramped for such a wriggly baby. But placing her on the floor meant she would try to tear or chew on the carpet.
Evelyn lay down on the bed with Johanson.
She strained and grunted, trying to move with her tiny hands on the bed. Evelyn giggled and touched her cheek.
“Trying to move forward, are we? Go on, Johanson, you can do it!”
“Ba! Baba!”
Johanson wanted to move forward but kept pushing herself backward instead.
Evelyn watched her for a while, amused, before lying down comfortably next to her. It was something she never dared to do as a mere nanny, but now it didn’t matter.
Johanson struggled more and more, growing frustrated.
Finally, Evelyn smiled and picked her up, placing the now heavier baby on her stomach and looking into her eyes affectionately.
“Tired? Want to rest a bit?”
Johanson lay on Evelyn’s stomach, grabbing at the lace decorations on her dress.
Of course, she had little chance of success. The dresses of the former Duchess were not made so carelessly.
Under the Duke’s order to make it perfect, not a single one of Evelyn’s dresses had yet been completed. Evelyn, still lying down, raised her arms and gazed at the former Duchess’s dress. It was adorned with delicate lace, unlike her own taste.
Letting Johanson play, she gently patted her small back and murmured.
“I will… take good care of the child, madam…”
As she lay there imagining Johanson’s mother, she noticed a crack in the corner of the ceiling.
‘Hmm…?’
The more she looked, the stranger the crack seemed. Though she had been using the Duchess’s room for some time, she had never noticed it before, as she usually lay down only when it was dark.
Evelyn set Johanson down and stood up.
“Johanson, stay here for a moment. Be good, alright?”
“Myaa.”
Fortunately, Johanson could only move backward a little. Evelyn placed her securely in the middle of the bed and stepped onto the floor.
It wasn’t typical for her to inspect such a crack in the ceiling.
Evelyn wasn’t known for being particularly proactive. Moreover, she wasn’t yet the official Duchess.
But something inside her felt a strong urge. There was something up there.
The strange crack was conveniently located right above the dresser.
Evelyn dragged the vanity chair over to the dresser and cautiously climbed up. Unsure if the dresser was sturdy enough to hold her weight, she gave it a little shake. It seemed stable enough.
She stepped onto the top of the dresser. It was a risky move that would have made Carius furious if he saw it, but fortunately, no one was watching.
Standing on the dresser, she examined the crack in the ceiling. She carefully pushed the cracked area, and a rectangular panel shifted easily.
