“Yes, of course, sir. I’ll collect your luggage and take you to the car.”
They waited in silence for the carousel to begin its revolution. Bags slipped down the ramp and dropped onto the belt. Sebastian pointed out their luggage as it crested the top of the ramp and Henry removed each as it reached the bottom. Once all the bags were stacked neatly on the metal trolley, Henry escorted the pair to the Lincoln Town Car in the nearby parking garage.
The hot and humid air smacked Sebastian in the face. “Is it always this oppressive, Henry?”
“Sorry, sir. We do have humid summers here on the East Coast.”
Sebastian helped Nanny into the back of the air conditioned car while Henry loaded the trunk with their luggage. Before long they were on their way to their new home. Sebastian tried to relax as he stared out the window. Various cars, trucks, and greenery were passing by at a rapid clip. The Americans drove on the wrong side of the road and it unsettled him. Everything seemed off in this foreign land.
Thirty minutes later, the driver signaled to make a right hand turn. Tall, wide bushes protected the land and Sebastian could not tell what lay behind them. As they turned into the drive, he noticed a small white plaque with the words ‘Edgewood Estate’ engraved on it. The house loomed in the distance. It was a large, stone mansion, three stories tall, with a balcony extending from the center of the second story.
“This is Edgewood,” Henry announced with pride, looking over his shoulder at Sebastian.
“It’s rather small,” Sebastian complained.
“Don’t be petulant,” Nanny scolded. “You can’t always live in a castle.”
He sighed aloud. “I suppose you are right.”
“Now, Sebastian, be mindful of your attitude. If you expect the worst, that’s what you shall receive.”
The car came to a halt in front of the house just as a woman came walking down the stone stairs to greet them. She seemed to be in her forties, with mousy brown hair that was neatly pulled back into an unflattering bun. “That’s Alice, my wife,” Henry announced as he turned off the ignition.
Sebastian helped Nanny out of the car. Alice welcomed them with a warm smile. “Sir, I’ll be happy to take you on a tour of the house and answer any questions you might have. Henry and I are here to make your stay as comfortable as possible.”
Sebastian smiled back. “Thank you very much. Right now, I’d like you to show me Nanny’s room.”
“Please, follow me.” Alice led them up the stone stairs and into the foyer. Sebastian thought it large and forgettable, with nothing but a round table in the center, which currently held an oversized bouquet of lilies. They reminded Sebastian of his mother, so of course he detested them. A set of stairs began at both the left and right sides of the table and joined at the top into one staircase. Sebastian felt like he had just walked into an episode of Dynasty.
After Nanny was situated in her room, he joined Alice, who was waiting for him in the hall.
“I’ll take you to your room now. Henry will bring your belongings up to you shortly. We’ll leave Mrs. Jones’ things in the hall until she is ready for them.”
“Thank you. She is very special to me. Whatever she needs, see that she receives it.”
They walked together down the long, navy-carpeted hallway. At the end, Alice stopped and opened a large oak door. She motioned for him to enter first. “This is the master bedroom. Your mother instructed me to see that you are settled in and comfortable. Dinner will be ready at six o’clock,” Alice informed him. Her voice was formal, but caring. “Let me know if you need anything.” She turned to leave the room.
“Alice, please remove the hideous lily bouquet in the foyer. Nanny is partial to roses.”
“As you wish, sir,” she said, and left him alone in his new bedroom.
Sebastian took a good look around the generously sized room. A king sleigh bed, adorned in maroon and navy paisley Ralph Lauren linens, dominated the main wall—not really his style, but he didn’t particularly care. There was a small sitting area with a sofa placed on a hand-knotted rug fronting the stone fireplace. On the far right side of the room, glass French doors led to the same balcony he had observed when they drove up. The en suite bathroom was on the left side of the room.
He reached into his jacket pocket and grasped his cigarettes. Sebastian had not smoked since leaving Heathrow and was desperate for a calming hit of nicotine. He quickly lit up and slowly inhaled, enjoying the strong smell of tobacco and the sensation of smoke filling his lungs. Pulling the brass handles of the French doors, Sebastian opened them wide and stepped outside. The property seemed nice enough, he thought, flicking the excess ash onto the pavement two stories below. He wanted to explore the rest of it.
Sebastian pulled open the bedroom door just as Henry was poised to knock. “Ah, Henry, thank you for bringing my things. You can place them right inside. I will unpack later. I want to look at the grounds.”
“Of course, sir.”
“Can you find me an ashtray and bring a decanter of scotch up to my room when you have a moment?”
After a brief hesitation, Henry responded, “Your mother has requested there be no alcohol in the house during your stay.”
“Of course she did.” Sebastian smiled politely. “Then why don’t we just keep that a little secret between you and me?”
“Sir, I know the legal age for drinking in your country is sixteen, but here in Pennsylvania, you must be twenty-one.”
“I’m not an alcoholic. I just want a bloody scotch. Can you do that one simple thing for me?” Sebastian snarled. “And for God’s sake, stop calling me sir.”
“Sebastian, while I’m in charge here, there will be no alcohol,” Henry informed him. “Please don’t put me in the position to have to report your misdeeds back to you mother.”
Sebastian lit another cigarette and walked away, fuming. How dare Henry stand up to him like that!
Entering the foyer, he noticed the lilies had been whisked away as ordered. At least Alice was efficient. Sebastian would have to be more cunning if he wanted to survive this wretched place. If Henry and Alice were reporting back to his mother, he would have to appear to be a model citizen. The only problem was, he had no idea how to do that.
Walking through the front door, he followed a brick path around to the back of the house. There were several acres of verdant, hilly land. Sebastian admired the immaculate landscaping. In the distance, he noticed a three-car garage and slightly past that was what appeared to be a stable.
Sebastian went to the garage first and opened the door. It was empty. Where was his car? Was his mother going to deprive him of this, too? She might as well just put iron bars on the doors and windows to make it look like an authentic prison.
Thankfully, in the stables, there were two horses. He approached the Arabian and patted its nose. “Hey, boy, how are you?” The horse rubbed his head against Sebastian’s hand, enjoying the attention. “Don’t worry. We’ll get you out for a ride very soon.” The smell of the stable reminded Sebastian of England, and for a moment he did not feel so lost and alone. Sitting on a wooden bench, he watched the horses for the longest time. There was much to ponder. What were Henry and Alice’s intentions? Alice seemed nice enough, but could Sebastian sway her to his side? His mother had already gotten her claws into Henry, who was acting more like his minder than his servant. So far America had not impressed him.
He rose and bade farewell to the horses and wandered out of the stable toward the rose garden. This will make Nanny very happy, he thought. Sebastian could not wait to take her for a walk through the garden. It was small by comparison to the one back home in England, but it contained many roses that he did not recognize and assumed they were American varieties. This would certainly excite Nanny and give them both a way to spend their summer afternoons if he were forced to remain on the grounds.
Sebastian opened the door to the greenhouse. It had been there for many years and a few of the glass panels were cr
acked, but it was charming nonetheless. The wrought iron holding the glass panels in place were corroded, and the paint was peeling. Inside there was a cobweb-covered garden table with various rusted planting tools, a utility sink, and a dusty café table and chair set. Apparently, the greenhouse had not been used for ages. Sebastian wondered what restoring it would entail. The only dilemma was not having the slightest idea on how to go about the repairs. Maybe this project could be the means for Sebastian to win Henry over to his side.
Reentering the house through a rear door, Sebastian ended up in the kitchen, where he found Henry and Alice preparing dinner. They looked up as he entered. “Henry, I’d like to repair the greenhouse as a surprise for Nanny. Do you think you could help me make a list of the items we would need to make the repairs?”
“Yes, I would be more than happy to help.”
“Good.”
Alice stepped forward and handed Sebastian of glass of iced tea. “It’s homemade. It will quench your thirst on a hot day like this.”
Sebastian took the glass. He really wanted a scotch, but knew not to ask again. The tea was unsweetened and tasted refreshing, as Alice had promised. He thanked her with a small nod of his head.
“Sebastian, I took the liberty of picking up this driver’s education booklet for you. You will have to take a written test and driving test to get your American license. When you obtain that, your mother will have a car delivered for you before school starts.”
“Mother isn’t going to make you drive me?”
“I can if you like.”
Sebastian put his hand up. “No, that’s quite all right. I want the car.” He tucked the booklet under his arm, thanked them both, and retreated to his room.
The next morning, Henry knocked on Nanny’s door. It was slightly ajar, so he stuck his head inside her room. “I’ve come to collect your tray, if you’ve finished with breakfast.”
“Please, come in.”
Henry walked into her room and picked up the tray. “Do you have a moment to sit and talk?” Nanny asked him.
“Yes,” Henry responded, taking a seat in the chair opposite Nanny. “What can I do for you, Mrs. Jones?”
“I’m concerned about Sebastian. How do you think his transition is going?’
Henry contemplated the question for a moment and then replied. “As well as can be expected. He tried to get a bottle of scotch out of me yesterday. I sense a lot of anger in Sebastian. I’d even say he’s a spoiled brat.”
“Sebastian is a good boy. He just needs guidance.”
“He’s eighteen years old. Haven’t you given him enough guidance?”
“Sebastian was sent to boarding school when he was eight years old. I only had the opportunity to spend time with him during summer vacations,” Nanny answered. “His mother has been absent from his life, only stepping in when Sebastian gets in trouble.”
“He excels at that, from what Lady Irons has told me,” Henry interrupted.
“Sebastian feels as if he is in a no-win situation. His mother makes demands, so he rebels.” She took a sip of tea and continued. “Sebastian never had a father, and that complicates the situation even further.”
“Mrs. Jones, it’s clear that you love Sebastian. I hope I have a chance to get to know the boy like you do. But for now, I’ve been hired to keep tabs on him and report back to Lady Irons.”
“I understand, Henry. I just ask that you try to sympathize with what Sebastian is going through. Try to get to know him better. I promise I’ll do my best to make him realize he’s heading down a path that will only bring him harm.” Nanny looked into Henry’s eyes and implored, “Sebastian needs support. He needs to feel safe here. Can you and Alice help me do that?”
Before Henry could respond, Sebastian entered the room. He was unsure of what he walked in on, but it seemed to be a serious conversation. “Good morning, Nanny,” he greeted, bending down to kiss her on the cheek.
“Good morning, dear.”
Henry stood up and collected the breakfast tray. “I’ll leave.”
“Henry, I’ve studied the driver’s education book you gave me. Can you take me to DMV to take the test today?”
“You just got the book yesterday,” Henry reasoned.
“I’m ready to take the test.”
“Okay, I can take you in an hour.”
Sebastian joined Nanny in the library for tea upon returning from his outing with Henry.
“How was your day, Sebastian?”
“Fine,” he replied, sitting on the sofa next to her. “I passed my written test, but I have to wait to take the driver’s test, so it looks like my prison sentence continues.”
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic.”
“I’m not used to being stuck in one place, Nanny. I’m trying to behave. I’ve just been shopping with the hired help for construction materials.”
“Construction materials?”
“I thought it would be a good idea to repair the greenhouse in the garden.”
“I’m sure Henry will be happy to help you with that project.”
“Maybe. I just can’t seem to figure Henry out. One minute he’s the house warden and the next we’re going shopping together.” Sebastian took an empty tea cup from the tray and poured the steaming contents of the china tea pot into the cup.
“Henry’s in a tough position. Your mother has made demands on him, and at the same time he wants to get to know you better.”
“He wouldn’t give me a bottle of scotch. Said mother told him no alcohol should be kept in the house.”
“I’m happy about that,” Nanny admitted. “I think you drink too much.”
Sebastian groaned in frustration. “Not you, too.”
“You’ve made too many mistakes, Sebastian. Your mother has to crack down if you have any hope of righting your path. Unfortunately, that now falls on Henry’s shoulders. He’s a good man. Give him a chance.”
“Nanny, I promised you I’d turn things around. I will not let the money you’re spending on my education to go to waste,” he reassured her.
“I’m glad to hear it.”
The next day, Sebastian found himself surrounded by glass panels, utility knives, and paint brushes. Various other tools where laid out and he wasn’t quite sure of their purpose.
“I’ll leave you to it,” Henry said.
Sebastian began to laugh aloud. “Henry, you can’t expect me to repair the greenhouse on my own.”
“I left you a do-it-yourself manual. I’m sure you can figure it out. ” He turned and began to walk back to the house.
“Henry, please,” Sebastian swallowed his pride. “I need your help. I’ve never done anything like this before. I don’t even know what half these tools are called.”
Henry slowly turned and smiled. “You’d like my help?”
“No, I desperately need your help.” Sebastian sighed. “Look, I know I can be a prick, but I am trying to be on my best behavior. I want to repair the greenhouse for Nanny. She’ll be so pleased if we can restore it. If you won’t do it for me, will you at least do it for her?”
Henry pondered the request for a long moment. “Okay, we’ll do this together.” He reached out his hand as a peace offering. Sebastian grasped it in a firm handshake.
A few hours later, Sebastian was nursing a bloody thumb, smashed under his own inept attempts with a hammer. Henry bandaged the wound. Alice supplied the iced tea.
“I think we should call it a day. We can pick up again tomorrow,” Henry said.
“Thank you. I really do appreciate your help.”
Henry sat back in the chair and studied Sebastian. “You’re an enigma. One minute I want to send you to your room for being a brat; the next minute you show me a glimpse of vulnerability and I’m amazed at the lengths you’ll go to for Mrs. Jones—the unconditional love you have for her.”
Sebastian shrugged. “I never claimed to be perfect. I’m just trying to figure out how to live my life under very difficult circumstances
.”
When the restoration of the greenhouse was at last complete, Sebastian proudly escorted Nanny through the rose garden to see the finished product, holding a parasol over her head to protect her from the sun. “What do you think?” he asked.
Nanny observed Sebastian and Henry’s workmanship: the glass was sparking clean and the wrought iron was freshly painted a crisp, bright white; the inside was swept and tidy; the planting tools were cleaned and neatly arranged on the work table; and the little café tabletop was decorated with a linen cloth and a simple yet elegant floral arrangement. She smiled, patting his hand. “I think it’s beautiful, Sebastian.”
He beamed. “I did it for you, Nanny.”
“You should do it for yourself, not me.”
“I have to confess—I really enjoyed spending time with Henry. I never could have pictured myself using a hammer or paint brush. Now I look at the finished product and see that I helped make this happen. Could you ever believe it?”
“Henry is good for you. You need a positive male figure in your life.”
Her comment reminded him the subject he was never allowed to broach—but he would try again, anyway. “Why won’t you talk to me about my father?”
“You know I can’t, Sebastian. Please don’t bring this up again.”
“She’s not here. How would she know?” Sebastian reasoned.
“Lady Irons has an uncanny ability to know everything, no matter what continent she may be on.”
“I appreciate your discretion, Nanny, but I’m eighteen years old. I think I deserve to know, and Mother won’t tell me.” He turned sideways to face her. “There must be something you can tell me. Why did he leave?”
Nanny pondered the questions for a long time. Sebastian waited patiently. Finally she said, “Your father didn’t leave on his own accord. Your mother found him in her bed with another woman. She sent him away that very day and quickly divorced him.”
“Seems a bit extreme. Why not just send him to another wing of the house?”
Life's What You Make It: Love's Great Adventure Book 1 Page 6