More Than Scars (6 page)

A theatre? Yeah, I was completely blown away. I definitely had to do my own little tour.

About the time I was able to see both suites, Brianne’s tutor showed up. She was not happy about being separated. But I assured her I would still be here when she was done with her lessons.

My desire to see the outside of the mansion made my decision easy. Amelia and I dressed warmly, and headed out, after informing Stewart. I still felt the need to ask permission. This was so overwhelming! I tucked my cell in my pocket. It was my link to Brianne, since the tutor had the number as well.

I would have to get to know the young lady that would in a few years possibly be tutoring Amelia as well.

Amelia clung to my hand, as we walked the path to the stable. I heard the horses before we even reached the door.

I was going to enjoy this. Horses were a love of mine! I was sincerely in heaven now!

I hadn’t ridden since I was fifteen. It was a love that my father and I had shared. But I still respected the animals, and the desire to ride hit me the moment we walked into the warm stable.

Amelia tugged my hand to follow.

There were quite a few horses, but also the smaller ponies. These were for the girls most likely. I eyed them as I was tugged down the aisle.

“Can I help you Miss?”

I turned about at the voice, and offered a smile. “Hello! I’m Nerissa Meadows. The girls new nanny.” I felt Amelia hide behind my legs.

“Jack.” He pointed to himself. He was a stocky man with salt and pepper hair. “I run the stables for
Mr Byrne. I’m afraid I can’t saddle up for you without the Boss’ permission.”

I nodded. “We just came to look.”

Amelia tugged me again, and Jack noted this. “She wants to show you Anna her pony.” He led us further down, and stopped before a grey speckled pony.

“Is she yours?”

“He is,” Jack chuckled.

“A boy named Anna,” I chuckled. I looked down at the expectant upturned face. “I like it!”

“The next one here is Tinkerbell. This is Brianne’s pony.” Jack patted the warm brown face of Tinkerbell. “She’s a good steady girl.” He headed further in, and I was just starting to realize how enormous this place really was. “Now if you want to see a magnificent animal, you have to see Mr Byrne’s horse. He gets a regular work out by the Boss himself. Every morning…just this morning in fact. He’s here at sunrise to see his Zosimo.”

I drew in a breath, seeing the beautiful creature. He was all black and stood well over me.
“Zosimo?”

“It means survivor.”

I reached for the horse, and I heard Jack start to protest, then stop short as I stroked the face of Zosimo, and Zosimo tilted down to give me better access. “He has to be well over sixteen hands,” I gloried. I looked over at Jack and saw his paled face.

“What?” I felt like that was the question of the day.

Jack shook his head. “That horse won’t let anyone else touch him…not even me, just Mr Byrne.” He smiled. “What kind of magic are you Miss?”

I blushed, and felt a flip in my stomach, looking at the beautiful creature before me. A creature
who was leaning his head closer so I could rub his ears. “He’s like a little lamb,” I laughed. I rubbed the neck gently, giving him a good solid pat.

Jack shook his head. “That is amazing! Wait until I tell the boss!”

I stroked the black fur once more, and then reached for Amelia’s hand. “Come, I’d like to see the rest!” Zosimo protested as I walked away, and I liked that!

We finished our tour, and headed in doors for some reading. I sat with the little girl in my lap, and read through so many books I lost track of time. Suddenly lunch was upon us, and Brianne, done with her lessons for the day.

We had our lunches brought up, and enjoyed some girl time.

I couldn’t help but think of Liam, especially since the girls idolized him and spoke of him often. I ran through our meeting several times…especially our departure. Did it really happen the way I was remembering it? It seemed like such an intimate thing to do. And my name, he’d said my name so softly, then just as quickly called me Miss Meadows. Maybe it was just a moment of indiscretion. Well, it did crazy things to my equilibrium. A funny feeling would sweep over me at the memory, and I had to shake it off. I was here for the girls, not Liam Byrne. Still, thinking of him was not completely without merit! He did happen to have the voice of an angel, and a most compelling scent, and beautifully scarred hands.

My thoughts had been completely adolescent all day. I needed to get a handle on myself and be an adult!

By bath time I was back to being the woman and not the child. I worked through the protests of my young charges. They knew bath time would mean bed time. They didn’t want today to end. Neither did
I. It would be my first night here. In a room I did not know. I wondered if I would sleep at all?

I dried and brushed the
girls hair, dressed them in warm pajamas, and ushered them to their beds. Well, we climbed into Brianne’s bed and read a story first…one of the Amelia Bedilia stories. I then got Amelia to climb into her own comfy bed.

A knock came to the door, and Stewart called out. He politely nodded to me on entrance. “
Mr Byrne would like to say good night to the girls.”

“Of course! “
I laughed. I gave each a hug and hurried toward the bathroom. It connected directly to my bathroom, then my bedroom. I wanted to close the door, but held off, wanting to listen. At least I could enjoy the gentle timbre of his voice.

“Adolescent thoughts,” I chided myself. But it was true. I wanted to hear him.
Had a strange, unbearable need to hear him.

I sank down on my bed, and smiled, hearing the girl’s reaction to his arrival. I’m sure it didn’t set well with either
parties not to see each other so very often.

“How was your day my lovelies?”

Both girls tried to speak at once, inciting his warm chuckle.

The words that tumbled out of
them, seemed to involve me. For that I was happy!

“One at a time,” he ordered gently.

Brianne told him about lunch, and playing games, reading together. “Daddy I’m so happy Rissa’s here,” she admitted.

“Me too,” Amelia piped in.

“And what did you do with Miss Meadows today while Brianne was in school?”

“We went to see the
horsies Daddy. Rissa likes them as much as me! She petted Anna and Tinkerbell, and Zosimo!” Her hands clapped together.

Liam laughed at this. “No sweetheart, I don’t think she petted
Zosimo.”

“Yes Daddy she did. Jack said she was magic!”

“Magic, huh? Well, I’ll just have to ask Jack about that!”

“She is Daddy! 
Zosimo rubbed his face on her, and everything!” I heard the plea in her voice to be believed.

“Okay, okay,” he softly chuckled.

I bit my lip to stifle a laugh. Wait until he heard the same words from Jack’s mouth. A bit of pride welled up in my chest. Oh to be a fly on the wall! Jack said he went every morning. Did that mean he allowed Jack to see his face as well? I would like to be trusted in that way. Maybe one day I would earn it. The thought gave me a smile.

I broke from my thoughts to hear the sound of tucking covers.

“Daddy what if the monster comes tonight?”

“He wouldn’t dare! Not with Miss Meadows and her magic,” he teased.

I smiled.

“Ok,” Brianne whispered trustingly.

“Sweet dreams my loves.”

“Night Daddy!”

There was a pause, then another cause for a smile tonight. “Goodnight Miss Meadows. Sweet dreams.”

My heart fluttered hearing his fair well called through the joined rooms.

I blushed. Had he known I was listening?

“Good night,” I called back.

His soft chuckle made a thrill go through me. It was followed by the closing of the girl’s door.

I got up to check on them one more time. “I will leave my door open,” I promised.” I’m right through the bathroom if you need me.” With that, I turned out their light, and crawled into my new bed. Surprisingly, I don’t remember tossing at all. In fact, it was one of the best nights of sleep I ever had.

Chapter 4 Finding a Niche
             

             
My first week at the Byrne estate consisted of trying to learn the girl’s schedules. Not only were there school lessons for Brianne, but each girl also had art classes on Tuesdays. Amelia seemed to thrive on the art lessons.

They had piano lessons on Thursdays. They practiced on a beautiful piano in the sitting room.  It was a splendid room, as were all the rooms in this home. Well, all the rooms I had been able to view. I doubted there could be an ugly room in the whole of the estate. I enjoyed sitting on the couch and listening to Amelia’s fumbling fingers, and Brianne’s talented playing. I was shocked at the melody she could create with her little hands. She was only six! Couldn’t go anywhere but up from here!

              “She has her father to thank for that,” Stewart informed me one morning when I said something about her to Mary.

             
I took up Liam’s cup. “How so?” I began doctoring his coffee the way he liked it. For the last week I’d helped prepare breakfast. I liked being involved in the care of all the Byrne family. Secretly, I liked that only I prepared his coffee. He may not know, but I did!

             
“He was playing just as well, if not better at her age. He is fantastically talented. He doesn’t play as often as he used to. He can also play the guitar. His father indulged him with instruments growing up! God knows why he went the real estate route, and didn’t become a musician!”

             
Mary laughed. “Look about you Stewart! He chose a lucrative route!”

             
Stewart scoffed.

             
I lifted a brow to him. “How do you know so much about his childhood?”

             
Stewart grinned at me, as I set the cup of coffee on the now completed tray. “Why, I was Logan Byrne’s butler before I was Liam’s.”

             
I smiled. “So he grew up with you…no wonder he trusts you so much!”

             
Stewart nodded. “I watched both he and Ian grow up. They are good boys.”

             
“Ian is part of the business then?”

             
Stewart shrugged and grinned. “Ian does what Ian wants. He provides a face for the company, he does what Liam…Mr Byrne can’t. He’s not as focused on work as his brother, he’s more of a free spirited person. You will meet him soon I’m sure.”

             
Mary snorted. “Not if any of the other ladies in the household have their way! They all fight for his attention! It’s disgraceful!”

             
“Mary,” Stewart chided.

“What? The boy is gorgeous. I do not blame them….but a little ladylike decorum could be practiced!”

He rolled his eyes and left the room with the tray, heading to the office. I envied him! It had been over a week since I had been in his presence. I did get to hear him call through his goodbye every night…it wasn’t enough.

“How often do you get to see
Mr Byrne?” The words slipped out before I could stop them.

Mary chuckled. “I was just talking about what a gorgeous boy Ian Byrne is, and you are asking after Liam?”

I blushed.

She smiled. “Not often the last few years. I see him rarely actually. I see Ian more often.”

I bit my lip. “Oh.”

“That’s an awful forlorn oh,” she said softly.
“What is up with you little one?”

I shrugged. “I am just…intrigued I guess. The few times I’ve sat down in the office…the way he’s with his girls. I like him. I’d like to know him.”

Mary seemed to like my confession.

“But that’s silly! He’s just my boss.” I shook my head, pouring juice for the girls.

“Liam needs more people around him like you Nerissa! They see his way as strange…people are afraid of him! So no one tries.” She kept her eyes on the breakfast before her. “An attempt to know him can’t hurt. If he says stop, you stop. If he opens up a bit, and makes a friend…all the better for the both of you.”

I ducked my head. “I can’t. How would I do that? No, it’s silly.”

Mary smiled. “You are in charge of the two most important people in his life, and you ask how?”