Page 32 of Nanny and the Beast

When I returned from the war, I wasn’t the same person I was when I left. Even the thought of touching another person made me break out in hives.

But for some reason, I don’t mind touching this woman.

She kneels in front of the kids.

“Rosalie, can I talk to your brother for a second?” she asks.

My niece isn’t happy about it, but she steps aside. I catch her widening her eyes at James for a brief second.

“Hi, James, do you remember me?” Emma asks.

His chin starts quivering. He nods and throws his small arms around her, burying his face against her neck. His breath comes in short gasps.

“It’s okay,” she says, rubbing circles on his back. “You’re okay now.”

He whimpers.

She pulls him away and wipes the tears from his cheeks.

“If you saw something that scared you, it’s okay to talk about it, James,” Emma says. “You don’t have to keep it a secret.”

He glances up at the house. I follow his gaze to one of the windows.

My heart skips a beat.

He saw something he shouldn’t have.

“Can we have breakfast now? I’m hungry,” Rosalie protests.

“One second, darling,” Emma says. “James, if you want to talk about it?—”

“Kids, go have breakfast,” I order.

James looks up at me. He’s trembling from head to toe. The sight of him like this tugs at my heartstrings. I want to comfort him in some way, but I don’t know how.

Rosalie holds her brother’s hand and takes him back inside the mansion.

The nanny stands and turns to face me.

“You didn’t let him talk,” she says.

“Excuse me?”

“James was about to say something when you interrupted him,” she says. “He should be given the space to express his feelings.”

“With all due respect, Miss Turner,” I bite out, “if I wanted your advice, I would have asked for it.”

The softness in her eyes fades, turning into annoyance.

“This isn’t about you or me,” she says. “It’s about the kids.”

“You’ve known them for all of five minutes. Are you assuming that you know them better than I do?” I say.

“I’m just trying to help.”

“Don’t,” I reply.

She takes a step toward me.

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