Bab 16: Warning of Wary
Eve held mixed emotions in her mind. On one hand, she was finally happy to get the governess job that she had been looking forward to since she had finished her schooling. But on the other side, her chest was filled with anxiety at the thought that she had finally found the man who had killed her mother in front of her very own eyes.
"Now if you could walk back to the piano room with the same vigour as when you stepped out of the room. We don't like people uselessly dilly dally here," stated Mr. Moriarty, reminding her that her job was in motion now. "Move your…" his eyes moved to look at her bottom, and Eve gritted her teeth. "Legs." Saying the words, his eyes fell on her worn-out shoes.
"Mr. Moriarty," Eve got him to shift his eyes back to look at her. "I think it would be better if we speak about some things before I start working here."
"Master Vincent Moriarty. That is how everyone addresses me here," the silver-haired man let her know. "Go on, try it. I am sure you will like it."
This arrogant man,… thought Eve. Considering how big and lavish the mansion was, it was granted that one would behave the way he did.
"Master Vincent," Eve addressed him gingerly, and the look in man's hazel eyes appeared amused. She continued, "I believe my job here is only being governess to Miss Allie and nothing more or less?"
"Unless you are planning to take more than one person under your wing, I guess?" Came Vincent's nonchalant words.
This man needed to learn more discipline than his sister, thought Eve. But if she were to be vocal about it, it would not just be rude. She was worried, as who knew if the man would turn up in front of her for discipline?
In a normal circumstance, her calling a wealthy man rude to his face and then storming out of the room would have left her with no second chance of having a job. For a good moment, she was worried that she had lost the opportunity.
"The job description is as mentioned in the letter, and your this monthly wage," Eve nodded at Vincent's words, where he slipped his hand into his trouser pocket and took out a gold coin and two silver coins. He dropped them in her hand. "One more thing, Miss Barlow."
"Yes?" Asked Eve, feeling the coldness of the coins dropped in her hand.
"As I am the one who hired you today, you will only be answering me. I believe you will keep it in mind?" there was a subtle hint of warning in his words, which didn't go unnoticed by Eve.
"Yes, Mr. Moriarty," Eve responded, and she saw Vincent's eyes narrow at her. "Master Vincent."
"I knew you weren't as slow as you look. Off you go now," he waved his hand in a 'shoo' motion as if he was done with talking to her.
As if he didn't want to waste another second on her, Vincent walked away from there. Walking in the direction of where earlier Eve had seen the other two men disappear in the corridor. She went back to the piano room. Opening the door, she saw the butler offering a cup of tea to the little girl.
On seeing Eve coming back to the room, the little girl's eyes brightened, but the expression on her face didn't change much.
"It is good to see you again, Miss Barlow," Alfie bowed his head, and Eve returned it with a slight bow.
Eve's gaze turned back to look at the girl, and she said, "It seems like from now we will be spending a lot of time together. I hope I can help you as much as I can in learning things and I will do my best, Miss Allie."
Allie's excitement was concentrated on the ceramic teacup that she held.
"Miss Allie is very happy to have you here," the butler spoke on behalf of the little girl.
Eve smiled, "Me too. I will take one sugar cube in my tea," she informed the butler to the question that he had asked a while ago. No matter what reason had changed her mind, this was her first job, and she was excited to have it.
"Of course, milady!" Replied the butler, preparing a cup of tea for the newly assigned governess of the Moriarty family.
By the time Eve left the Moriarty family, it was past four o'clock. She reached the outskirts of the wealthy town by foot. Waiting for the local carriage to hop on so that she could get back to her home.
With her right hand, Eve played with the umbrella's handle while she walked toward her home. Softly humming under her breath, her mood was elated. She fished in her dress pocket with her other hand, pulling out the three coins that shone under the sunlight. Her first earning, she thought in her mind, and a smile pulled itself on her lips.
When she caught sight of Aunt Aubrey and Eugene in the garden of their house, the pace of her feet quickened to meet them.
"You are back, Eve," said Lady Aubrey. "That's good."
"Thank the heavens!" Eugene let out a sigh of relief, and Eve noticed her aunt shake her head.
"Is everything alright?" Questioned Eve as she closed the little gate.
"Eugene was worried that you lost your way back home," Lady Aubrey turned to Eugene and said, "I told you Eve is a grown up and she will be just fine."
Eve laughed as she walked to where they stood, her eyes falling on Eugene, whose eyebrows were still knitted together.
"Silly Eugene. Why would I lose my way?" Eve laughed before saying, "I am late because I got the job."
She saw Aunt Aubrey's eyebrows raise in surprise while Eugene blinked. Aunt Aubrey asked, "Is it really true?" A smile spread on the older woman's lips and Eve nodded. "I am so happy for you, Eve. Come here," she opened her arms.
Eve hugged Aunt Aubrey, who had taught her everything she knew.
"Congratulations, Miss Eve. I knew you would get the job of governess and you didn't let us down. You have worked hard," Eugene was more excited than the two women.
"This calls for celebration, Eugene!" Lady Aubrey announced, and Eugene agreed to it. She pulled back from Eve and asked, "I didn't know you had sent another job application. Bless the family for giving you the job. You must have not broken anything or slapped anyone, did you?"
Eve shook her head, a soft laugh escaping from her lips, "I was very careful. I started today, which is why I was late. And I don't have to work on Sundays. I was given an advance payment." She took hold of Aunt Aubrey's hand before placing the gold coin in the woman's palm. "I want you to keep this. I always wanted my first coin to be yours."
The woman had done so much for her, protected and cared for, and educated her. She would forever be in debt, a debt she would never be able to repay.
"Oh, you child," Aunt Aubrey murmured under her breath, staring at the metal. But she didn't take it. Instead, she placed the coin back in Eve's hand.
"Aunt Aubrey—"
"You do not owe me anything, Eve. Not a single shilling," stated Aunt Aubrey, looking into the young woman's eyes. "The circumstances and reason in which I took you in might have been different. But I am glad that I did. You are no less than a daughter to me," she placed her calloused hand on Eve's cheek.
But Eve placed the coin back in the older woman's hand and said, "Then you keep it as your daughter's gift to you. If my mother was alive, I would have given it to her."
Eve didn't have much recollection of what her mother did for a living, and over the years, she had come to believe that her mother worked as a maid. And even though most of the memories in her mind had faded, she remembered her beautiful mother who had always been kind. If her mother was alive, she would have been happy that she had finally found a job, wouldn't she?
Lady Aubrey noticed the sadness in Eve's eyes, and she squeezed the young lady's hand in hers. She said, "Now, I will take it back from you. And I will keep it safe with me. Your mother would be very proud of you."
"Thank you, Aunt Aubrey," Eve's voice had comparatively softened with the thoughts about her mother on her mind.
When they stepped inside the house, Eugene asked, "Which family hired you?"
"It is the Moriarty's," replied Eve, and on her words, a thoughtful look appeared on Lady Aubrey's face. "Have you heard of the family?"
"I have not only heard, but also seen them. It was a few years ago, after I quit being a governess. I was invited and was present in the same soiree as the Moriarty family. They are a well established and powerful family," Lady Aubrey recollected from her memory. She sat down in one of the wooden chairs present in the living room, and Eve joined her, sitting in the chair. The woman then said, "If I am not wrong, back then Senior Mr. Moriarty was a Viscount, a well-known name who kept business only with the fellow wealthy circles."
"The mansion did look like a castle," Eve agreed to the older woman's words.
"Did you apply to work in the family?" Questioned Lady Aubrey, and Eve shook her head.
"I happened to receive the letter of invitation yesterday."
Lady Aubrey had crossed paths with the wealthy families before, and she found it odd that a family like the Moriarty had hired Eve, who had no prior experience as a governess.
"Eugene," Lady Aubrey turned to look at the man, who understood what the lady wanted him to do. "The Moriarty family might be well respected, but let us not take a chance."
It was often the cleanest cloth that had to be looked at closely, because it would have been washed too many times to remove the stains.
"Actually, I found out something today," started Eve, and the other two people in the room turned their attention to her. "I think I found the person who killed my mother."
"Are you sure about it?" Questioned Lady Aubrey, while a frown appeared on her forehead.
Eve pursed her lips before speaking, "He had a scar on his face. Near the eye, so I am guessing he's the one. He is someone whom Senior Mr. Moriarty is associated with."
Lady Aubrey and Eugene weren't aware of the specific details, as the words had been incoherent from little Eve, who was a crying and sobbing mess when she had gained consciousness. But what they did know was that Eve had witnessed her mother being murdered.
"You have to be extremely careful, Eve. This world where we live, it doesn't allow any room for mistakes. If you want my advice, stay as far as you can from that person," Lady Aubrey warned Eve.
Bab 17: Friction in the hallway
The following day, Eve woke up early to be on time. After climbing the stairs, she noticed Eugene having dark circles around his eyes.
"Good morning, Aunt Aubrey and Eugene," Eve greeted them. Noticing the slight frown on the older woman's forehead, she turned to Eugene and asked, "Did you find something about the Moriarty's?"
Eugene nodded his head. Upon Lady Aubrey's word, he had tried to dig out for information about Eve's new employer. He said,
"It wasn't much, milady. As Lady Aubrey mentioned, it seems that the Moriarty's don't like to mingle with people who belong to the middle and lower-class families. Which was why it was hard to get more information. I couldn't find anything more than what is already known."
It being the first family which belonged to the highest of the high society, it was hard to extract without getting caught as the higher family didn't like people snooping around in their business.
"The only thing I could come up with is that they have had a series of governesses but none of them have stuck around. They were turned away within weeks as the governesses were never up to their satisfaction," said Eugene.
Lady Aubrey stated, "It doesn't matter if they are humans or not, just beware of the danger. Also try to avoid bringing too much attention to you."
Eve nodded with a solemn look on her face, "I will do my best."
"I have packed your lunch box, Lady Eve," Eugene brought a square-shaped box covered and tied in a cloth.
Eve took it from him, "Thank you, Eugene. I will be going now," she informed them, giving a kiss to her aunt, and she stepped out of the house, heading to her new job.
When Eve reached the Moriarty mansion, she wasn't greeted by the butler at the front of the door. She hung her umbrella on the stand and started to walk down the hallways.
She caught sight of a woman closely being followed by a maid on her way. The woman was of average height and slender in her figure. She appeared to be in her mid-thirties. Her maroon, silk made dress hugged her body. Pearls adorned her neck, and her brown hair was tied up, pinned to one side.
"What is taking her so long? Tell the seamstress that I need a similar one. The one she previously made was damaged," Eve heard the woman ordering her maid, who held her hands in front of her while keeping up with the woman's feet.
"Milady, I have already informed the seamstress, but she told me it took her a few months last time and she's occupied with other dresses. As you ordered for no similar dress to be made, there's no more material left," answered the maid.
"She made it before. She can do it again," the woman's voice held arrogance. "Unless she wishes for word to spread on how incompetent she has started to be."
As Eve and the woman crossed paths, Eve politely offered a slight bow to the woman. The woman halted her footsteps. The maid's body jerked as she tried to avoid crashing into the lady's back, which could result in her being kicked out of the mansion or worse.
"Where do you think you are going?" The woman demanded from Eve.
Eve was startled by the question, "I am the newly appointed governess, milady."
"To whom?" The woman's eyebrows knitted
"To Miss Allie," Eve's words were polite.
A chuckle escaped from the woman's lips, and she responded, "To Allie? How strange that I wasn't even aware that my daughter has been assigned to a governess."
Eve quickly bowed her head again and said, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Moriarty." The woman looked beautiful and fairly young to be a mother to a nine-year-old girl. But then, this was the case with every wealthy woman who didn't have to do household chores, as all they had to do was look pretty. "I was appointed yesterday by—"
"No," Mrs. Moriarty stopped her with a polite smile. "I never approved of such a thing. So you can leave. Now."
Eve frowned and said, "I have already been paid for this month's wage."
"Keep it as charity from us. Maybe you can buy a pair of decent shoes," Mrs. Moriarty's eyes fell on Eve's shoes, which were covered in dust and looked slightly worn out. "And who hired you?" The young woman might have a pretty face, but Mrs. Moriarty disapproved of this low-class woman being her daughter's governess.
"Your son. Mr. Vincent Moriarty," replied Eve.
The woman softly sighed before ordering, "There is no need for you to come here anymore. It would be well appreciated if you will see yourself out of this mansion."
But Eve was only hired yesterday, and she was desperate to work in this mansion. She tried to convince the woman, "If you have doubt on my skills as a governess, you can take a look—"
Mrs. Moriarty laughed, her laugh similar to the wind chimes, "For someone who is not able to follow a simple order, I don't think you are suitable as a governess. It looks like you have trouble following my words," she then ordered her maid, "Get Gorron. Tell him that we have an intruder in the mansion."
Eve's mouth fell open as she hadn't expected this turn of events. As this woman was the little girl's mother, arguing would be rude as she needed the job. But that didn't mean the woman could accuse her, and she would listen to it. She said,
"I would ask you to take back your words. If it weren't for the invitation letter that was sent to me, I wouldn't have even heard about this family."
"Well, that is obvious, isn't it? Considering your status is far beneath our feet, you would have never heard about us," Mrs. Moriarty ridiculed Eve, not liking the young woman's audacity who back answered her. The maid, who had been earlier standing next to the wealthy woman, had left her side to bring another servant to drag or push Eve out of the mansion.
"An early quarrel in the morning, just to soothe my eyes and ears. How delightful," Vincent Moriarty's remark came from the other end of the hallways.
Both the women turned to look at the silver-haired man as he walked to where they stood. His eyes lazily took in the two women standing in the middle of the hallway.
Mrs. Moriarty's eyes hardened, and she demanded from Vincent, "With whose permission did you think you could appoint a governess to Allie, who reeks of low-class?"
"Whose?" Vincent repeated the woman's word and then answered bluntly, "Mine, of course."
"You don't have the right when it comes to the decisions regarding Allie."
"That is where you are wrong, isn't it? Being Allie's big brother, it is my responsibility to see to it that she has someone guiding and helping her. Because someone else doesn't want to do it," Vincent offered a slight smile to the woman, and Eve could only sense the growing friction between the two family members.
"Are you trying to imply something, Vincent?" The woman's eyes flared, and she said, "No governess shall be entertained in here, not without my consent."
"I have already decided, and the matter isn't up for discussion," stated Vincent. He turned to look at Eve and ordered, "Miss Barlow, you are getting late for your job."
Eve was stuck between the glare that belonged to Mrs. Moriarty and then the cold yet annoyed stare of Vincent. God, where did she get stuck, she asked herself.
Seeing how she was already on the frying pan because of the two members of the Moriarty family, Eve quickly weighed which option was better for her. When Vincent's eyes narrowed further at her, Eve quickly left their side and headed towards the piano room.
Mrs. Moriarty glared at Eve's back before her eyes shifted to look at Vincent. In a low, threatening voice, she asked him, "How dare you to defy me? Don't think your father won't hear about it."
Vincent's lips curled, and he replied calmly, "Please do. It will save my breath on having to explain that Allie now has a governess."
"You think just because you are the eldest child of Moriarty, everything will always go according to your wish. But you should remember, Vincent, I am your mother," the woman reminded him.
"You don't have to remind me about that, mother. Unlike you, I don't have such a bad memory," Vincent responded. "Now, if we are done with the subject, I would like to be excused," he spoke in false politeness that only struck a nerve in the woman's head.
"Maybe it is a good idea to have a governess from a low-class family," Mrs. Moriarty finally agreed, adjusting the fur shawl that rested on her arm.
"Isn't that lovely that we see things eye to eye? Where would you find a family like ours?"
A small scoff escaped from the woman's lips. She said, "Indeed. Hiring a reputed governess would have only ended up with word spreading about what is wrong with Allie. It is better this way, before it brings in unnecessary shame to the family," saying this, she walked away from the hallway.
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