Little Secrets

by Alta Hensley

  Chapter XXI

  "Headmaster Philip would like to speak with you in his office," Nanny Agnes said to her charge.

  Eliza's stomach always knotted when she had to talk to the headmaster. It worried her that she was in trouble—and not the kind that resulted in firm discipline with her bottom being smacked. Her fears went back to Preston's abandonment and how she had worried that she would not be able to continue at Ashby. With the recent trouble Charley had brought upon the chateau, she wondered whether her days were numbered and she might be forced from the school. What would she tell her father if she returned home?

  The young woman pushed herself up from the floor of the playroom and took her nanny's hand as she walked out into the hall. Pleased that there were no papas staking out the hallway, demanding to speak with the headmaster, she poised herself at the door, giving a firm knock.

  "Come in," he called.

  Eliza turned the handle and stepped into the office. "You asked to see me?" She picked at her fingernails anxiously as she dragged her feet across the floor, coming to stand in front of his desk.

  "Please, have a seat."

  Although she would have preferred to stand, so that she might be able to run if necessary, she sat upon the couch, trying to sit like a lady with her ankles crossed. "What is it that you would like to speak to me about?"

  Headmaster Philip pushed an envelope across the wooden table. "Your papa sent you this message by courier two days ago. To be honest I thought it was another letter threatening our reputation, or asking how to gain access to a school of littles. Charley has made a mess of the chateau, but I imagine his troubles go well beyond our institution."

  Eliza reached across the table, taking the letter, frowning when she found the seal torn. "You read my letter?"

  "As with all littles, you are under our care. It is the responsibility of an adult to decide if the letter is appropriate for you to have. It would serve you well to thank your headmaster, unless you would prefer not to receive a letter in the future."

  She bit down on her bottom lip, refraining from pointing out that the letter was addressed to her and that she should have been the only one opening it. Starting an argument with him would do not a bit of good. "Thank you." She opened the envelope, glancing over the few short sentences he had handwritten and signed to her. "May I keep this?" she asked, desiring to keep it in her room.

  "Yes. The letter is merely a formality, little Eliza. It is not the reason why I called you into my office today."

  "Oh," she said, surprised by the news. She had not expected a letter to be delivered from her papa, but there was more? Her knee bounced anxiously as she sat, trying to contain her thoughts and fears. "Will my papa be visiting me soon?"

  Eliza had been anxious for him to visit with her again.

  "Yes. He is in fact making arrangements for the two of you to be wed next week."

  She gasped, stricken with the news. "Am I leaving Ashby?" Eliza did not wish to leave, but she understood that her papa had brought about quite a scandal and was probably no longer welcome at the chateau.

  The headmaster's laughter was soft as he stood, coming around the desk to position himself in front of her. His hand came to rest on her shoulder. "Do not trouble yourself with the problems your papa has caused. While you are at Ashby you are to be little, and I do believe another year, perhaps even eighteen months, would be beneficial to allow you more of a carefree nature. I worry that the past week has regressed everything we have worked to achieve."

  She did not quite know what he was saying, other than it sounded as if he was disappointed in her. "I promise to behave."

  Headmaster Philip nodded, smiling as he leaned on the edge of his desk. "I have no concerns about your conduct, little Eliza. All little ones go through a rough patch. It is the fact that you harbored the knowledge that he intended to write the article that worries Nanny Agnes and myself. We have discussed at great length what we feel would be most beneficial to your education."

  Were they not going to discipline her for knowing about the note? She had not known what her papa would write, and had begged him not to ruin Ashby. Eliza loved it at the chateau.

  "Your papa Charley has asked both your father and myself for permission to marry you. It has been granted by both parties. You will marry Charley Lockwood, but that does not change your enrollment or involvement as a little at Ashby. You will be expected to live in your nursery, and Nanny Agnes will continue as your caretaker when your papa is not visiting."

  "I do not understand." Nothing sounded as though it were changing, except for the fact that he would have her hand and she would wear a ring on her finger. "Why marry me now?" She could not fathom a reason for the wedding to happen with such haste. Her understanding when she had enrolled was that the weddings happened after graduation. What had changed?

  "The specifics are not for you to worry yourself about," the headmaster said. "The arrangements are being made as we speak. I suggest you return to the playroom."

  "Am I to be the only one wed?"

  Philip sighed and folded his arms across his chest. "At the moment, yes, but we are expanding the littles' school to include unruly wives in desperate need of discipline. You will not be the only married woman in our care. You are just the first. Let me be clear, little will change, except perhaps the simple fact that your husband will be anxious to consummate the marriage, and our new rules will allow such to happen between husband and wife."

  She did not dare ask whose idea it had been to have them wed in such haste. "Will the other littles be able to attend the wedding?"

  "Assuming they are all on their best behavior, we will have your friends from both here and back home in attendance. The wedding will be in our ballroom around the back."

  It seemed that the headmaster had everything all planned out for her marriage to Charley. "Will I be dressed as a bride or a little?" Eliza felt uncertain about what was expected, and did not wish to sully her reputation or Charley's.

  "I can assure you, little Eliza, that on your wedding day, you and your friends at Ashby will be dressed as young ladies. I do not have the desire to see to it that the reputation of our school is ruined. Charley has done well to rectify the situation. I do not intend to undo the good work he has done." He pushed himself from the desk and walked toward the door, opening it for little Eliza.

  Outside in the hallway stood Nanny Agnes, having waited for her charge.

  Eliza stood without needing to be told, she knew her time with the headmaster was over. She folded the note her papa had sent, carrying it with her. "Did my papa inform you of his return?" The letter had not contained any specific information, and she wanted to spend the evening cuddled in his arms.

  "At the latest it will be next week, but I gather that he will come to see you within the next day or two," Headmaster Philip said. "Do not worry so much about when he will return. I can assure you that he is excited to marry you."

  She nodded, feeling quite excited too about the news of the upcoming wedding. "Thank you, sir." Eliza followed her nanny into the hall and back to the playroom. She had no pockets on the dress and there was nowhere to stash the note she would treasure until his return.

  Clara glanced up as the door opened, her blonde hair flipping over her shoulder. She turned her head, jumped from her place beside the dollhouse, and rushed toward her friend. "Were you in trouble?" little Clara asked, wanting every detail of gossip.

  Little Eliza shook her head and sauntered further into the room to speak with the other littles. "My papa, he is to marry me next week."

  "Are you leaving Ashby?" Addie asked.

  "No," Eliza said, grinning as she felt quite pleased that her time was not quite up with her friends or the establishment. "Headmaster Philip wants to expand Ashby to bring in married women in need of discipline, where they can learn to be little once again. He wants me to be the first married little enrolled."

  She further explained how the wedding was to be next week, and
that her friends were all invited to be in attendance as young ladies. There was a flurry of chatter all at once; Jane, Addie, and Clara asking Eliza question after question.

  A soft knock rapped at the window. Eliza glanced behind her shoulder, her green eyes widening as she caught sight of her papa.

  Chapter XXII

  Charley hadn't been sure when he would have the opportunity to return to Ashby given the situation he had been dealing with all week. Philip Hartley had been kind enough to allow him inside the chateau.

  Watching his little one talking animatedly, he hated to interrupt but also thought it was time. He rapped his hand against the glass, causing everyone in the room to suddenly turn and look in his direction. Charley hadn't intended to draw everyone's attention, but he had done so. He gave a faint smile and watched as his little one's eyes widened. She rushed to the door, throwing it open before wrapping her arms instantly around him in a hug.

  "Papa, you came back."

  "Of course, my love. Did you get my letter?" He felt bad for not corresponding sooner with her, since he had been unable to come visit for several days. At least she didn't appear angry with him about their time spent apart. Charley placed a soft kiss on her cheek, untangling himself from her embrace but finding her hand, wanting to touch her and keep her close.

  "The headmaster gave it to me this afternoon," she said, showing him the folded letter she carried with her. "Is everything sorted out with the article?" It seemed the headmaster had forgiven him, which meant he must have done something big to fix the mess he had made.

  "Yes. I did a follow-up piece, and then spoke again with my boss. Ashby and Prescott, two highly established finishing schools, have been given advertisement space for the following week, in an effort to further ease our troubles."

  "Prescott?" Eliza asked. "What is that?"

  "Another finishing school, though I highly doubt there is a secret littles' institute. Remember I was telling you about my boss James, and his daughter attending a finishing school? He, too, found himself in a bit of heat when they thought the story was a slanderous piece about them."

  "I am quite glad you got it all worked out. I was not sure when I would see you again." She squeezed his hand. "Will you come and play with me in the playroom?"

  "How would you like to take a walk down in the gardens?" Charley asked. He had already run it by the headmaster.

  "Can I?" A smile graced her face and she squealed with excitement as she bounced on her feet. "I have not been outside since the day we met."

  "I know," Charley said. He escorted her to the door that led downstairs and through a hall before coming to the front entrance. Opening the heavy wooden door, he walked around the stone path with her to the gardens in full bloom. The air was warm, the sun had already peaked, well on its descent as the hour had grown later. Charley had left work early to pay his little Eliza a special visit.

  Eliza stared up at the pale blue sky, her hand dropping from his as she spun around playfully. "I have missed being outdoors. Do you think Headmaster Philip might allow the littles more time in the sun?"

  Charley knew she was not quite ready to join him back at home yet. "I will speak with him and see what can be done." He desired to see his little one happy and would do whatever it took to make that happen.

  "Thank you, Papa!" Her hands came around him again, embracing him in a hug.

  He did not care that they were outside. There were gates that surrounded Ashby. He held her against him, refusing to pull apart as he leaned in, brushing his lips over hers. Charley had wanted to kiss her for days, dreaming of her at night, hoping she would forgive him for the mess he had made.

  Relieved that she had seemed to put it all behind them, he did not dare ask whether she had read the article. It was best to move on, to dive in and allow each other to be happy. Eliza was truly happy. He could see it in her smile, in the carefree way she responded outdoors.

  Slowly he broke away from the kiss, his thumb stroking her jaw, desiring to touch her body. What he wanted would have to wait until they were wed. He shoved his hand into his pocket, feeling the engagement ring. His heart drummed in his chest, pounding as he led her to the bench where they had first met, and brought her to sit down.

  Eliza fluffed her dress before sitting, her green eyes sparkling under the sun. "Sit with me, Papa." She patted the empty seat on the bench beside her, making room for him.

  Charley smiled, pleased at her carefree, childlike attitude. Whether she knew the trouble he had caused or not, she acted as though nothing had changed. His worries flowed away, easing the tension from his shoulders and neck. He did have one nagging doubt, the ring weighing him down emotionally.

  He slowly bent down onto one knee, removing the ring from his pocket. "This past week without your presence has been agonizing. I realize we must continue your time here at Ashby until you graduate, but it would be an honor to have you as my wife. Eliza Stead, will you marry me?" He showed her the heirloom gem that had been passed down in his family, wanting his little Eliza to wear the ring.

  "Yes, of course!" she squealed, laughing as she threw her arms around him, crushing him against her. Her breath tickled his ear. "I hate to ruin the surprise, but Headmaster Philip and Nanny Agnes already informed me about the wedding."

  He hadn't asked Philip to keep it a secret and seeing as how he wasn't able to visit her for several days, Charley didn't feel an ounce of remorse at the discovery that his little Eliza had already known about the marriage. It shouldn't have been any great surprise anyway, considering they were already betrothed. Although he would have liked to see the surprise on her face, she had clearly been pleased.

  Her lips met his and Charley wrapped his arms around her neck, bringing her mouth in tighter and harder, not wanting to break apart. He had missed her tremendously.

  Eventually his grip eased and he showed her the ring again. "May I?" he asked, sliding the engagement band onto her ring finger.

  She nodded, a bright smile etched upon her face. "Can I ask you something, Papa?" Her eyes stared at the gem on her finger. "I will not be angry, but I do wish to know the truth."

  "I would never lie to you, Eliza." He sat down beside her on the bench. "Tell me what is troubling you, little one." He brought his hand to her back, his fingers caressing the soft cotton of her gown.

  "Headmaster Philip said that I would be the first to marry while at Ashby. Did he ask you to move up the wedding?"

  Charley could see that she might have been worried, given the recent trouble he'd caused, but that was nowhere near what had happened. "Not at all. It was my idea, so that we might be able to spend time together a little more freely." His desire for Eliza spread through every ounce of his existence, wanting her heart. "Headmaster Philip was not sure it would be a good idea, to have a little one married, which was when I gave him the idea of enrolling women who were married." Charley suspected there were many husbands who would enjoy sending their wives to Ashby for a short time while they learned to be little.

  Little Eliza let out a soft sigh.

  "Am I sensing you are relieved to hear this?" Charley asked.

  The young brunette nodded adamantly. "Yes, Papa. I was concerned that the headmaster might have pushed you into a wedding quicker, but I am pleased that it was your idea. I have been wanting you to take my purity, Papa, but I did not wish to sully my reputation."

  He pulled her into his lap, wrapping his arms around her waist. Charley did not wish to let go, cuddling her as she closed her eyes and rested her head against his shoulder. "You need not worry about that, little one." He kissed her cheek, her body relaxing in his embrace. He remained outside with her as the sun set across the horizon and slowly the sky began to sparkle with stars. Charley knew that if he took her back to her room, he would want to devour her in ways that were not honorable. All he needed to do was wait a few more nights. It was already Friday and Monday was only a few short days away, at which point they would wed.

  "I wish I co
uld be here with you all weekend," Charley whispered against her cheek, kissing her skin, keeping her warm as a chill filled the cool night air.

  "Why can't you, Papa?" Eliza asked, with the innocence of a child. Her voice was soft, full of wonder and curiosity.

  "If we are to wed, then you will need a dress, shoes, a veil," he said, checking each item off on his fingers. "I am sure that I am forgetting something for our wedding."

  Eliza laughed softly, her hand resting against his chest. Could she feel the steady beat of his heart? "You need clothes, too. I do not think it appropriate for you to wear your trousers."

  His work clothes were not unpleasant, but the hems had grown ragged. He had not had the time or desire to usually focus on his own well being, putting others first. "I suppose you are right." Charley leaned in, brushing his mouth against hers. Eliza's lips were soft and warm as his hands smoothed down to the small of her back.

  She moved her hips, shifting her weight against him. Had he stirred the desire within her as he had before?

  Charley pulled back, gasping for air, his heart racing as he leaned his forehead against hers. "Monday. We must wait until Monday." The words were meant more for himself than her. He may have wanted to take his little one, but he would wait until they were wed.

  "Little Eliza?" Nanny Agnes's voice carried with the wind.

  "We are in the garden!" Charley called back, loosening his grip around Eliza's waist. "It is likely your dinner time, then into bed." He had grown to know much about her routine, even when he hadn't been able to spend as much time as he liked with her.

  "Five more minutes," Eliza pleaded with him.