Enrolling Little Etta by Alta Hensley, Allison West Page B

pretending to be. Have you heard anything about this?" Philip was curious to know if other staff members were aware of her insubordination but choosing to keep their heads down.
    "Leda's always had a difficult time adjusting to the submissive lifestyle," Vivian answered. She may not have been a nanny, but Philip suspected that she witnessed everything at the school.
    "I have two sources telling me that she may not really be submitting to her papa as she is leading everyone to believe," Philip said. He was not going to give away his two sources, in case Vivian slipped up. She may have spent time around the girls, but disciplining them was an entirely different course of action. Would she have it in her to follow the rules of the school? It was not for everyone, and he would have to keep a close eye on her to make sure she did as instructed.
    Vivian's lips pursed together. "How would you like me to proceed, sir?"
    He made the rules of the institution; it was the nannies who instilled them.
    "You will keep a watchful eye over Leda. She is your responsibility, Vivian. Can you handle her?"
    Philip was not really giving her much of a choice. Leda needed the undivided attention of one nanny, and he had to trust that Vivian was up to the task. If he was not busy keeping an eye on Etta, he would discipline the little himself and remind her who was in charge.
     
     
     
     

Chapter IX
     
    "I'm Leda," the girl with dark brown hair said. Her hair was sectioned into two pigtails, just like Etta's. Leda was dressed in a blue and white gingham dress, with a petticoat sticking out from underneath to make her skirt fuller.
    "Etta." She chewed her bottom lip, glancing back at her nanny by the door.
    "Do not be scared of Nanny Mae. She is quite the pushover," Leda said. She kept her voice down. "Come here, I shall tell you everything you need to know about her to avoid getting spanked."
    Etta's stomach bubbled as she followed the girl toward the dollhouse.
    Leda handed her a doll. "Pretend we are playing."
    "But we are playing, aren't we?" Etta asked, not understanding what Leda was up to.
    "We just have to make it look like we are playing. The grownups do not pay that close attention to us," Leda said. She grabbed a hairbrush for her doll and worked the tangles from her hair. "I have been here for five years, Etta. If anyone knows what it takes to get out, I do."
    Etta felt overwhelmed. "Five years?" She'd been under the impression that she would be at the school for a little while, but she did not think her time would last that long. "Why so long? Can they not find you someone to marry?"
    "Marry?" Leda laughed and shook her head. "I am betrothed to Francis. He's my papa. Just as you are to marry your own papa someday."
    "I am?" Etta asked. She knew her uncle wanted her to marry, and he had enrolled her in the school to better help her chances of finding a good husband. Her nanny had made mention of Philip taking a liking to her and no one else, though he had not come out and said that he was going to marry her. She groaned, feeling confused.
    "Do you want to know the secret of getting out of here for good?" Leda asked.
    Etta frowned, thoroughly confused. If she was going to marry Philip, then there was no true way of ever getting out. Didn't Leda see that, too, about her Papa Francis?
    When Etta did not answer, the young brunette continued talking, while brushing her doll's hair. She focused on her toy, pretending to be enthralled with it. "The men expect us to submit to them in every way possible. Make them believe you do, and you will be set free."
    "Free?" Etta did not find the chateau that bad a place. It was odd and strange for her, but she did not exactly want to leave.
    "Yes. Once your papa sets you free and allows you to leave the Ashby Chateau, you will be able to escape his home. You do not really think that our papas live here all year round?"
    "Don't they?" Etta asked. Her mind felt heavily fogged with all of Leda's thoughts.