ask her.” She said referring to the young woman that couldn’t have been a day over 19. Trixie smiled and curtsied. “And this is Selene; she will be tending to Miss Alexis and Master Tristan.” She said referring to older black woman Bailey put in her early 30’s.
Tristan panicked and grabbed Bailey ’s hand. She gave it a gentle squeeze as she looked at Selene. “He’s shy around strangers it may take a few days for him to adjust to you.”
“He’s not shy .” She smiled. “He’s smart….he studies before he trusts…I like that.” She said complimenting him. Bailey was surprised to find him loosen his grip. “He and I will get along fine once he feels he’s comfortable with me….I can wait.”
Bailey looked down and saw Tristan studying her. No one had ever talked to him like he was able to think for himself except Bailey. Most grown -ups just treated him like a child and she knew that’s what he hated the most. He was in such a rush to grow up. He thought he was supposed to be the man of the family and felt he was letting them down by always being afraid.
“Why don’t I go show the children to their rooms .” She said offering her hands. To Baileys surprise both of them went with her. Tristan only looked back once and when he was sure Bailey was ok he turned back and followed Selene.
“Trixie will show you to your room now miss .” Mimmie said. “You look plum tired….I was told to let your rest till Ms. Montgomery gets home.”
“ Thank you.” She said as Trixie led the way. They had just entered the main hall and Bailey stopped to take in her surroundings. The main parlor was done in white tile with two large staircases on both sides leading up to the second floor balcony. As she stood in the middle of the room she noticed the balcony wrapped completely around the room. Selene had taken the stairs to the left and Tristan waived to her from the balcony before heading down the hallway.
“Your rooms are on the West side with your grandmother .” Trixie explained. “The Birmingham’s are occupying the East wing.”
Bailey looked over to the East wing and noticed she was being watched by an attractive gentleman she put in his early 50’s. He was tall and in decent shape for his age. It was obvious this man didn’t sit behind a desk but worked outside for a living by the tan on his face. It wasn’t one of those tanning booth tans so many men chose to visit these days. His face was ruggedly handsome yet he had a gentleness about him the made her feel warm inside. It was the eyes that held her attention though. She couldn’t tell if they were blue or grey but they seemed to study her as if trying to understand her role in this house.
“Ah…dear cousin you have arrived.” A male voice said from behind. Bailey saw Trixie wince and turning she understood why.
The man that approached her was a few inches taller and nearly 10 years her senior. He walked with an arrogant confidence of someone born to money. In his youth he may have been attractive but years of soft living were now evident on his frame and the fake tan of his skin from years of tanning booths left his skin old and muddy. His eyes were gla zed over and she could tell he had been recently hitting the bottle. She noticed the way Trixie backed away in fear and frowning she studied this man more closely. He was used to getting what he wanted and at that moment he seemed to want her. When he reached out to embrace her she stepped back and he frowned.
“What, no kiss for your cousin?” He pouted.
“ You must be Jasper.” She said gauging by his age. Graham had given her a basic run down of her relatives and who resided in the manor and who did not.
“ Ah….I see my reputation precedes me.” He said as his eyes blatantly raked over her body. It left Bailey feeling violated and she lifted her chin defiantly.
“ Yes…your years of womanizing and boozing have been brought to my attention.” She smiled sweetly. “Now
Tristan panicked and grabbed Bailey ’s hand. She gave it a gentle squeeze as she looked at Selene. “He’s shy around strangers it may take a few days for him to adjust to you.”
“He’s not shy .” She smiled. “He’s smart….he studies before he trusts…I like that.” She said complimenting him. Bailey was surprised to find him loosen his grip. “He and I will get along fine once he feels he’s comfortable with me….I can wait.”
Bailey looked down and saw Tristan studying her. No one had ever talked to him like he was able to think for himself except Bailey. Most grown -ups just treated him like a child and she knew that’s what he hated the most. He was in such a rush to grow up. He thought he was supposed to be the man of the family and felt he was letting them down by always being afraid.
“Why don’t I go show the children to their rooms .” She said offering her hands. To Baileys surprise both of them went with her. Tristan only looked back once and when he was sure Bailey was ok he turned back and followed Selene.
“Trixie will show you to your room now miss .” Mimmie said. “You look plum tired….I was told to let your rest till Ms. Montgomery gets home.”
“ Thank you.” She said as Trixie led the way. They had just entered the main hall and Bailey stopped to take in her surroundings. The main parlor was done in white tile with two large staircases on both sides leading up to the second floor balcony. As she stood in the middle of the room she noticed the balcony wrapped completely around the room. Selene had taken the stairs to the left and Tristan waived to her from the balcony before heading down the hallway.
“Your rooms are on the West side with your grandmother .” Trixie explained. “The Birmingham’s are occupying the East wing.”
Bailey looked over to the East wing and noticed she was being watched by an attractive gentleman she put in his early 50’s. He was tall and in decent shape for his age. It was obvious this man didn’t sit behind a desk but worked outside for a living by the tan on his face. It wasn’t one of those tanning booth tans so many men chose to visit these days. His face was ruggedly handsome yet he had a gentleness about him the made her feel warm inside. It was the eyes that held her attention though. She couldn’t tell if they were blue or grey but they seemed to study her as if trying to understand her role in this house.
“Ah…dear cousin you have arrived.” A male voice said from behind. Bailey saw Trixie wince and turning she understood why.
The man that approached her was a few inches taller and nearly 10 years her senior. He walked with an arrogant confidence of someone born to money. In his youth he may have been attractive but years of soft living were now evident on his frame and the fake tan of his skin from years of tanning booths left his skin old and muddy. His eyes were gla zed over and she could tell he had been recently hitting the bottle. She noticed the way Trixie backed away in fear and frowning she studied this man more closely. He was used to getting what he wanted and at that moment he seemed to want her. When he reached out to embrace her she stepped back and he frowned.
“What, no kiss for your cousin?” He pouted.
“ You must be Jasper.” She said gauging by his age. Graham had given her a basic run down of her relatives and who resided in the manor and who did not.
“ Ah….I see my reputation precedes me.” He said as his eyes blatantly raked over her body. It left Bailey feeling violated and she lifted her chin defiantly.
“ Yes…your years of womanizing and boozing have been brought to my attention.” She smiled sweetly. “Now
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