Mrs. Brittany wore an elegant beaded long evening dress with a diamond bracelet on her right wrist. All I could think was that she must have had a hairstylist on board whatever plane she had taken back from Boston. Not a strand was out of place.
“Sheena knows my rules about fraternizing with my girls in training,” she began, giving Sheena a chastising glance. Sheena looked down but held her soft smile. “Normally, I remember to mention that to my trainees, but I forgot to do so with you. I didn’t anticipate that you would have time to wander about the estate.”
“I didn’t wander about, Mrs. Brittany. I just stepped out for some air, and besides, I don’t have infectious diseases,” I said.
“Don’t be insolent,” she said sternly. Sheena glanced at me, and in that glance, she clearly told me to be still, too.
Mrs. Brittany’s face changed to a much calmer expression. She glanced at Sheena and then back at me. “Some of this, perhaps all of it, can be attributed to your young age. Most of the girls who come here are older than you and have had more substantial experiences. In fact, you’re the youngest girl I’ve agreed to take on. Technically, I could be accused of kidnapping, I suppose.”
I wanted to agree. At times today, I had felt that way, but I didn’t want to even imply it. “That’s ridicu—” I bit down on my lower lip and stopped talking instantly.
She nodded. “Accordingly, I’m going to make an exception in this case, mainly because Sheena has requested it,” she said. “Adamantly. Apparently, she sees qualities in you that I have yet to uncover.”
I looked quickly at Sheena, who kept her gaze on the floor, her soft smile frozen.
“Frankly, I don’t see where you would have any time to fraternize, anyway, but in the event that you do have some time, you have my permission to spend it with Sheena. While you still remain here,” she added sternly. “Sheena understands that your time here could be cut short dramatically at any time.”
Sheena looked up quickly, a bit frightened. I saw that it softened the expression on Mrs. Brittany’s face quickly.
“However,” Mrs. Brittany continued, “I have taken another thing into consideration. From the reports I’m getting, you have made a good first impression on everyone with whom you have been in contact, including Professor Marx, who I know can be quite difficult.”
I pressed my lips together to keep myself from laughing. Difficult? His mother surely had second thoughts the day he was born. He had said something nice about me? It must have been through clenched teeth with fingers crossed behind his back.
“In that regard, Sheena might be of some assistance to you.”
“Oh?”
“She happens to be an excellent student and might help you with your work with Professor Marx.”
“I would welcome that,” I said. “I would welcome any help with Professor Marx.”
Sheena brought her hand to her mouth to smother a giggle. She looked more like a younger teenage girl, even a girl in grade school, and I recalled what Randy had said about her social skills and experiences.
“In short,” Mrs. Brittany continued, “you have my permission to go to the east wing of the mansion, which is normally off-limits to everyone but the maids and Randy.” She shot up from her seat. “For now, Sheena will return to her suite.”
“She’s not coming to dinner with us?” I asked.
Mrs. Brittany’s eyes widened. “Of course not. Your dinner is part of your training. This isn’t some party.”
I nodded and turned to Sheena. “Well, maybe we can see each other tomorrow. I have all of my homework in my suite,” I added, and swung my eyes to communicate how much there was.
“I hope so,” she said. “Good night, Grandmother, and thank you.”
“I’ll be up much later tonight, S
heena. I have some important things to address after dinner, so don’t wait up for me,” Mrs. Brittany told her.
Sheena looked at me, a little embarrassed by the way Mrs. Brittany spoke to her. I thought that despite what Randy had told me about her social skills, she didn’t like being treated like a child. I immediately sympathized with her and winked. She smiled again and started out.
When she had left, Mrs. Brittany came around her desk and leaned against it.
“All right. There are things you have to know now. My granddaughter is a cancer survivor,” she began. There would never be any equivocating when she spoke, I thought. The woman told everything like it was. This was what Mr. Bob meant when he said she suffered no fools.
I thought it was probably a good idea to play dumb and not reveal how much Randy already had told me, so I acted a little surprised.
“She developed a form of bone cancer. Initial surgery, chemo, and radiation did not stop it, and finally, the decision to amputate had to be made. We keep her carefully screened, of course, and until now, she’s done fine. She is examined at least twice a year by the best doctors. She’s adjusted to her . . . problem as well as anyone can expect a young, beautiful girl to adjust to such a thing.”
“She is very beautiful.”