Chapter 214

Agnes

Three days after the interviews, I found myself arranging fresh flowers in the guest bedroom that would soon belong to the new nanny.

The room wasn’t massive, but it was comfortable—a queen-sized bed, a small writing desk by the window, and an en-suite bathroom that I’d made sure was stocked with toiletries. The walls were painted a soft sage green that I’d chosen during the rebuild, hoping it would feel calming to whoever eventually occupied this space.

I stepped back, surveying my work. The room looked welcoming but not overly personal, making it a blank canvas for Lena to make her own. And most importantly, it was directly across from Thea’s bedroom and just down the hall from our master suite, close enough that she could hear if Thea needed anything in the night.

The doorbell rang, and I heard Thea pounding down the stairs before I could even leave the room.

“She’s here!” Thea called up to me.

By the time I made it downstairs, Elijah had already opened the door and was helping Lena with her luggage.

“Agnes.” Lena smiled when she saw me. “Thank you again for this opportunity.”

“We’re happy to have you,” I replied with a smile of my own. Something about her presence was oddly calming, and I had a feeling we would all get along.

“Can I show her around? Please?” Thea asked.

I laughed. “Let’s show her to her room first, and then you can give her the grand tour.”

We made our way upstairs, with Thea chattering the entire time about all the important things Lena needed to know—which floorboards creaked, which windows had the best views, and most importantly, where the secret passage to her playroom was located.

“And this,” I said, pushing open the door to the guest room, “is your room.”

Lena stepped inside, her eyes widening slightly as she took it in. “It’s beautiful,” she said softly. “Really, it’s more than I expected. My last place wasn’t nearly this big.”

“I hope it’s comfortable,” Elijah said, joining me at my side. “If you need anything else, just let the staff know.”

With that, we left Lena to get settled. I headed back to my study to finish up some work before dinner. The fall collection would be coming up soon, and I’d woken up with some ideas that I wanted to get down before I forgot.

I’d been working at my sewing machine for about an hour, pinning pieces of a new dress design together, when I sensed someone in the doorway. Looking up, I saw Lena standing there, watching me.

“I hope I’m not interrupting,” she said, stepping back slightly. “Thea just went to practice her violin, and I was exploring on my own.”

“Not at all,” I replied, gesturing for her to come inside. “Come in.”

Lena approached, glancing around at the room. It had only been a few weeks since we’d moved in, and already my office was organized chaos. Fabric was strewn across my workbench, the desk was piled with papers, and a stained coffee mug was sitting precariously close to my sewing machine.

“I knew you were a designer, of course,” Lena said, looking at the machine, “but I didn’t realize you did the actual sewing as well.”

I nodded. “I like to be as hands-on as possible. Once a collection is complete and ready for sale, we send the designs to a manufacturer. But all of the prototypes are done by hand.”

Lena turned then, and her eyes widened as she saw my mother’s gown in the case by the window. “Wow,” she breathed. “The stitching on this gown is exquisite. I’ve never seen such fine work.”

Her words warmed me, and I joined her, taking in the beautiful dress. It quite literally sparkled in the light of the setting sun streaming through the large window. “That’s not my work, actually. It was my mother’s. She was a designer, too.”

She glanced at me. “Your mother… Is she still around?”

My chest tightened. I didn’t like to think about my mother’s death, especially not now that I knew she’d felt so compelled to keep secrets about her true nature. The thought of her feeling so fearful made my heart ache. “She passed many years ago.” I cleared my throat. “Do you sew?” I asked, wanting to change the subject.

Lena looked at me for a moment, blinking as if dazed by my sudden diversion, but shook her head. I showed her around my workstation, pointing out different fabric types and explaining my design process.

“I’d be happy to make you something sometime,” I said. “As a welcome gift.”

Lena’s eyes widened. “Oh, I couldn’t possibly accept—”

“Please,” I insisted. “It would be my pleasure. Maybe a robe or a throw blanket for your room?”

A smile spread across her face. “That’s incredibly generous. Thank you.”

Just then, Thea burst into the room, announcing that she was starving and dinner should start immediately.

Dinner was more relaxed than I expected, even with a new person in the mix. We ate roast chicken with vegetables, and Thea dominated the conversation, asking Lena about everything from her favorite color to whether she believed in ghosts.

Elijah watched the exchange with amusement, occasionally catching my eye across the table. I could tell he was pleased with how easily Lena fit into our family dynamic.

After dinner, Thea reluctantly went upstairs for her bath, leaving Elijah, Lena, and me in the living room with glasses of wine.

“I should check on some emails,” Elijah said after a few minutes of small talk. “But I’ll leave you two to get better acquainted.”

Once he was gone, Lena and I fell into an easy conversation. She asked thoughtful questions about Thea’s routine, her likes and dislikes, and any special needs she might have—all the practical things a good nanny would need to know.

Then, somewhat unexpectedly, she asked, “If you don’t mind me asking, is it true that your wolf is emerging soon? I’ve heard rumors that you were under some kind of curse.”

My fingers tightened around my wine glass. I wasn’t expecting such a direct question, especially not so soon. But there was no judgment in her expression, only curiosity and something that looked like concern.

“It’s... complicated,” I said carefully, not wanting to divulge too much. “But yes, my wolf was suppressed by a curse. She’s slowly returning though, bit by bit.”

Lena nodded thoughtfully. “My mother was a nurse,” she explained. “She occasionally worked with wolfless patients—those who’d suffered trauma or medical conditions that suppressed their wolves. There are methods that might help ease the transition, you know.”

Curious, I tilted my head. “What kind of methods?”

“Various therapies—herbal remedies, meditation techniques, even certain exercises that can strengthen the connection.” She smiled softly. “I’d be happy to share what I know, if you’re interested.”

The offer was tempting. After seven years without my wolf, even the faintest hints of her return were both thrilling and terrifying. Any guidance would be welcome.

“I might take you up on that,” I said, not committing fully but leaving the door open. “Thank you for offering.”

“Anytime,” Lena replied. She offered me a thin smile as she took a sip of wine.

Later that night, as Elijah and I prepared for bed, he told me that our first trip would be coming up in a couple of weeks. We’d have to travel up north for three days, and Thea would be mostly alone with Lena.

Even though I liked the new nanny, the thought of leaving Thea still made me anxious. However, Elijah seemed to sense my tension before I even said anything and took my hand.

“Let’s go on a family day tomorrow,” he said. “You, me, Thea, and Lena. It’ll be a good chance to get to know her better, and it’ll ease your worries.”

I nodded. “That’s a good idea.”

In fact, the idea of a family day brought a smile to my face as I drifted off to sleep.