Chapter 7

Sophie and his brother walked into the staff quarters. I guess they were looking for Mrs Dorathy. Hand in hand they walked into her room. I took this opportunity to see my kids and hear their voices more closely.

“Mrs Dorathy!” Sophie screamed as she ran Into the open arms of Mrs Dorathy. “You aren't getting younger but you still look young.” Sophie teased her as she planted a soft kiss on her cheek.

“I can't believe you are here again for the short holiday, '' Mrs Dorathy responded as she observed both kids. James was totally off from whatsoever they were doing. 

“Hey James. How’re you doing?” Mrs Dorathy asked but my daughter immediately responded. “That's how he behaves, he has never changed. He is still a mummy's boy and there's no mummy. I've told him to be a daddy's boy but…”

Mrs Dorathy immediately cut in. “That's enough, James didn't say anything and it's not right if you respond on his behalf.” 

“But I still miss my mummy,” James said but not in a sad mood.

“Ugh… Mummy would definitely come around someday. She has some work to do, and it's taking her a long time. Well, that's by the side. “How's your aunty?” She asked to distract them from talking about me. I wouldn't blame her because from the sound of their voices, I guess they were at the verge of getting emotional.

In the late afternoon, as the children rested in their rooms, I found myself standing outside their door. I could hear their voices, it was soft and full of affection.

"I can't believe how much everything has changed," Sophie said slowly. "Do you think we'll ever see Mommy again?"

James was silent for a moment before responding. "I thought we'd see her when we returned, Sophie. Daddy said so the last time we came But, she isn't here yet. Well, I think she's watching over us somehow."

“I hope so too. I'm just hoping that we don't get tired of expecting her return.” Sophie said.

The tears I had been holding back finally spilled over. I pressed my hand to my mouth to hide my shameful and sorrowful tears. It was unbearable to hear them talk about me, to know they still missed me, wondered about me and hoped not to forget about me soon. But revealing myself now would only bring more danger and confusion. What would they say if I should burst in and tell them that I'm the mummy they're looking for? It will look so weird.

They're my kids, and I'm not a bad mother. I wiped my tears and knocked on the door. I wanted to talk to them right now, I wanted to see their faces clearly and hold them to my chest. As I placed my hand on the doorknob, I saw Lily. “Do you need anything?” She asked politely. Damn it! I muttered to myself.

“No, I thought I heard a sound from the room.” I responded in my confused state.

“I guess, it's the kids, they were playing before I left. Anyways, thank you.”Lily said as she shut the door in my face.

“How dare Lily! If only she knew who I was” I was so determined to see my kids, I thought of several ways to go see them, so I entered the kitchen and started preparing snacks for the children. It was a small gesture of something I could do to feel connected to them. As I arranged the treats, Henry entered the kitchen.

"Nina," he said softly, "What are you doing?"

I quickly wiped away my tears and forced a smile. "Just preparing some snacks for the children, Mr. Windsor."

He observed me for a moment, "That’s so thoughtful of you. But you Know you don't have to call me Mr. Windsor. Call me Henry."

I nodded, “Fine.”

"You've been a great help since you arrived," he continued, his voice gentle. "I don't know what I would have done without you."

How many times was he going to say this? "Thank you," I managed to say but my voice was barely above a whisper. "I'm just doing what I'm being paid for."

Henry's expression softened, and for a moment, I thought he might say something more. But he simply nodded and left the kitchen, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

When I was done, I carried the tray of snacks to meet them but Lily was so protective not to allow me to hand the tray to them by myself. As the children enjoyed the snacks, I stood outside their rooms once more to eavesdrop on them. After about an hour, Lily put them to bed and was softly singing a lullaby.

As I turned to leave, I heard Sophie call out softly. "Goodnight, Mommy, wherever you are. I hope you're safe."

“Goodnight my darling, I hope you have a sweet dream because mummy is right here.”

I pressed my hand to my mouth and hurried away, unable to bear the pain any longer. I found my place in the quietness of the kitchen, where I could cry freely without fear of being seen.

"Nina?" Henry's voice startled me once more. He stood at the entrance, "Are you alright?"

I quickly wiped away my tears and nodded. "I'm fine, Henry. I'm just a bit emotional. Seeing children again... Has brought up a lot of old memories. The last time I saw beautiful kids like them was about four years ago."

He approached me, with a suspicious look "You care about them a great deal, don't you?"

I nodded, unable to speak.

Henry reached out and gently touched my shoulder. "Nina, if there's something you're not telling me, I want you to know that you can trust me. I want to help you, whatever it is. You've not been emotionally stable for some time now and I can tell. For the fact that you're a maid here doesn't mean you can't open up to me. I care about my servants and I'm willing to give you special care if you'd allow me."

The tears flowed freely now, and I couldn't hold back any longer. Me, a servant? "Henry, there's so much I want to tell you. But I can't. Not yet."

He nodded with understanding. "When you're ready, I'll be here.” He said and walked away.

Maria approached me with a thoughtful expression. "Nina, this tears of yours is getting too much. You'll soon find yourself in a situation where you won't be able to escape.”

I couldn't look at her to say a word, I only nodded as she continued talking.

“I've been thinking. There's a way you could spend more time with the children without raising any form of suspicion."

I looked at her with curiosity. "What do you mean by that?"

She smiled. "You could offer to tutor them in the evenings like you used to. They might appreciate the extra help, and it would give you more opportunities to bond with them."

The idea filled me with a sense of hope. "That's a wonderful idea, Maria. I'll speak to Henry about it tonight."

That evening, I found Henry in his office. I knocked softly on the door, and he looked up with a smile spreading across his face. "Nina

, come in. Are you ready to talk to me now?"

I took a deep breath, gathering my courage. “No, I just wanted to talk to you about the children. I was thinking that they might benefit from some extra tutoring in the evenings. I could help them with their studies, if you think that's a good idea."

Henry's eyes brighten up with appreciation. "That's a wonderful idea, Nina. I think they would really appreciate that. Thank you for suggesting it."

I smiled, "I'm happy to help, Henry. They mean a lot to me."