Governess

In Astra's opinion, the funishings of this dark room were nicer and more tasteful than that of the Staircase Room. The one odd detail was the carving of the legs of the divan and end tables. Apparently clawed feet were popular here. And she did note a beautiful tiger-fur rug on the mahogany floor.

She snapped her head as a set of two swinging doors clattered. A large, deeply tanned man in a neat white uniform came through them, but he was neither threatened by Astra nor did he threaten her. It seemed that she was expected. He confirmed that by saying, "Hello, Miss. May I have your card?"

Astra was about to tell him that she was sorry, but that she did not know what he meant. At this time, however, she nervously placed her hand in the pocket of her dress and found a little calling card. She took it out, and in precisely engraved Copperplate script, was:

Astra Regina diAqualaria
Nurse and Governess
Camara a Scala 72007

Stunned, she handed the card to the man, who calmly took it from her, and went through the swinging doors. Then he came back and said, "Astra, Colonel and Mrs. West desire the favour of seeing you in the parlour."

Astra was completely disoriented. She noticed some odd brass fixtures jutting from the walls. She had no way of knowing that these were gas lights. The man in white ushered into the room. There was a shorter and paler man whose face was red with a slight sunburn. He had busy red eyebrows and pale blue eyes, and was quite thin, but muscular. He was well past the first flush of youth, but by no means an old man. He wore a sort of uniform as well, but this one was khaki, with red tabs on his shoulders providing a hint of colour. He was clean-shaven and short haired, except for a comical thick moustache that extended to his cheeks. The colonel's wife was shorter, and stockier, and about Astra's age. She wore a pearl necklace and a gold ring with three diamonds in it. This couple looked prosperous.

The large man in white gently nudged the back of one of Astra's knees, and she performed a passable curtsy. The man bowed back, and said, "Miss Astra, you come well-recommended. I typically give any of my servents a ninety day probation, so that if you cannot adopt to the special conditions here, then either of us is free to give notice without prejudice. There will be two children, at the present time, under your care. Walter is nine, and Violet is six. Walter will be away with me much of the time, and you will not have much work to do with him. We need you to spend most of your time with Violet."

Astra was completely disoriented. What in the heck was a governess? The job appeared to have something to do with children.

The colonel continued, "Now I cannot stress the importance of this too much. The emphasis on Violet's education must be

1. to make her a docile and agreeable young lady. She will not go far socially if she remains willful."
2. to make sure that she can think on her feet and take charge. There are hundreds of things that can kill her within ten miles of here. This land is beautiful and rich, but it is some of the harshest in the world."

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