Page 6 of Nanny and the Beast

Like her uncle, I recognize a pain in her eyes that’s manifesting in ugly ways.

I take a deep breath.

This family is not my problem. I’m not going to stay in a place where I’m not welcome. I need the money, but I value my self-respect more.

My heart is heavy as I walk away from the kids.

Away from their arrogant guardian.

Away from the haunted house.

2

KLAUS

That face.

She has the kind of beauty that artists spend hundreds of hours trying to immortalize.

When I first saw her, I felt my heart beating in my chest for what felt like the very first time.

Something about her called to me.

And I found that absolutely terrifying.

It didn’t take much effort to make her hate me. All I had to do was be my charming self.

And now, I’m alone in my office again.

Everything feels changed somehow, like life itself has lost its shine. It all seems jaded and dull—my emotions, my surroundings.

There’s a knock on the door.

Helena, my head housekeeper, lets herself inside.

“What was that?” she asks.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“You never do,” she says. “But the kids need someone to look after them. If it wasn’t for my arthritis, you know I’d do it myself. But I can’t run after them like I used to when you and Miss Seraphina were children.”

The mention of my sister is like a dagger to the heart.

“I’ll call the agency,” I say. “I’ll find someone more suitable.”

“You keep finding something wrong with every candidate.” She rests her hands on her hips.

Helena is the only person who speaks to me this way. She’s been in my life since the day I was born, and she raised me more than my actual mother. Usually, I listen to her counsel, but this is not one of those times.

“I said that I’ll speak to the agency,” I say. “End of discussion.”

“You’re impossible, you know that? The kids need a mother figure, Klaus.”

“Their mother isgone,” I say.

Losing Sera shattered all of us. To this day, I don’t understand why Sera entrusted me to take care of the kids. I don’t know the first thing about raising children.

“You know what I mean,” Helena says. “But I’m concerned about the kids. Especially the girl.”

---