The Maid and the Little Master (2)
Robert's eyes were closed. I looked at his face with alarm. He looked like a dead man.
- What's wrong with him? The gentleman kept trying to leave, but I thought it might be dangerous, so I left him in the room. What happened? Is he unwell?..
- Robert fell asleep.
- What?
The nanny, who, unlike me, quickly calmed down, picked Robert up in her arms and patted him on the back. I heard even breathing as he leaned his cheek against her shoulder, and I felt relieved. He was lying in such an uncomfortable position that I thought something had happened to him.
Robert tossed and turned for a while, then his eyes half-opened. He tensed when he met my gaze, his violet eyes sparkling with tears.
- Mommy...
- Yes, sir. Don't worry, sleep well.
Nanny stroked Robert again. Little hands grabbed her dress. His eyes closed again, but his face was sad, as if he was having a nightmare. A drop of tears slipped through her closed eyelids and wet the nanny's shoulder.
Having calmed Robert and put him to bed, the nanny looked back at me and smiled sweetly. She must have read my mind. I looked at Robert with concern.
- I'm really sorry.
I acted smug, thinking he was a stubborn child. He is still small, and he probably knocked on the door and cried, and I pretended not to notice. I regretted my action; I shouldn’t have done that to Robert.
I leaned over and the nanny waved her hand in embarrassment.
- It's okay, he's just sleeping.
“Fortunately, nothing happened this time, but it’s my fault for leaving him alone.” I should have stayed close to him.
“Everything is fine, you only left for a minute to bring the master’s thing.”
Nanny smiled tenderly and looked at Robert again. There was love in the way she stroked his chubby cheeks and gently touched his forehead.
“It’s not easy to look after a master, is it?” – she asked.
- No.
- Be honest with me. He's so grouchy around Ann.
- … This is wrong.
I was late with my answer, and the nanny laughed briefly, as if she understood.
- He's just lonely.
I glanced at the back of his head in response to this unexpected comment, and she spoke again.
“His father died early in an accident, and his mother was so busy with family affairs that she did not have time for him. The gentleman could not meet her even once during the whole day. By the time he learned to walk, it became routine for him. I came to this mansion to ease his loneliness. He lacks attention.
This was the first time I had heard about this. He was so cheerful that I didn't notice any signs of it. Little did I know that behind that cheerful face there was a sad story.
“But even here I’m the only one who cares about him, so he’s still very lonely.” And I am sure that he is very happy that now he also has Anne.
“Does she mean that now he has someone to play with?”
“He now has another person who will be with him every day.”
-...
“No matter how he behaved, you were always on his side.” I think the young master was very happy about this.
She suddenly laughed. I rolled my eyes. Robert was very young, so I felt sorry for him and it was sad to listen to the nanny’s words. But my sadness quickly turned to anger when I remembered how this child treated me.
I was doubly lonely, and felt that I would soon explode from resentment.
- Understand that he is just a lonely child.
I nodded, unable to argue with the nanny, who smiled back at me. She also gave me advice: “Mr. is very stubborn, so you should give him everything he asks.” It wasn't the most helpful advice, but I nodded anyway.
“Does this mean that I should give in to his desire to climb onto the horse’s back?” As if reading this question on my face, the nanny immediately added.
“But don’t let him get on that horse.” It's dangerous.
- It's clear.
I nodded one last time and looked back at Robert. His face was calm and his breathing was even. He looked like a sweet angel from a fairy tale book.
- Ugly, m-mmmm.
My vague feelings quickly dissipated.
I think the nanny was wrong this time. I'm sure he doesn't like me.
* * *
- Hey! Where are you going? – Johnny shouted from afar.
He waved his hand and smiled. Why is he so happy to see me? I grimaced, but Johnny didn't seem to care about my reaction. I didn't want to talk to him. I tried to quickly leave, but he stood in my way.
“You look tired, you must have been very busy.”
- Yes, I’m busy. I'm very busy right now, so get out of my way.
I took a step to the right and Johnny followed me. I take another step, this time to the left, and he also steps to the left. Johnny smiles and waves his arms, my frown doesn't affect him at all.
– Listen to me for a second. I want to talk about Alicia!
Without my consent, Johnny begins to talk about his conversations with Alicia. I put my hand to my forehead and rolled my eyes.
Apparently my advice worked, because Johnny and Alicia's relationship improved dramatically. From then on, whenever Johnny saw me, he would tell me about his progress with Alicia. Alicia did this, Alicia did that. I didn't want to hear anything about it.
- So...
- Move aside. I'm busy.
- I know. Just listen to the end and leave.
I was tired and exhausted. Besides, I didn't want to hear about other people's personal lives. I narrowed my eyes as if to say, “Get out of my way or I'll kill you,” and as if sensing my intentions, Johnny stopped his nonsense.
- Oh, good. Then let's talk about something else.
– What else?
- How are you? I heard that you are now serving the young master.
- Yeah...
I said and took a deep breath. Then she laughed sadly, like an old man who had already stayed too long in this world. Johnny narrowed his eyes.
- Don't you look too tired?
– I can’t deny it.
“What, this child is torturing you because you are just a servant?”
Yes and no. I've been tormented worse, so I could laugh about it. I could tolerate his behavior to some extent because he was a child and I felt a little sorry for him. Now I knew that he was lonely.
Of course, I felt sorry for him quite a bit.
Robert was tireless and continued to mock me. To put it mildly, he's just a hysterical asshole. The nanny is wrong, he doesn’t like me at all.
Я разочарованно покачала головой. He needed someone who wouldn't pander to his desires, and Robert didn't have that kind of person around. His nanny was too used to children's tantrums.
“You said you wouldn’t stay here for long, right?” Then just be patient a little.
- Yes, I understand.
***
I understand, but there are times when you just want to beat everyone up.
Like now, for example.
- I want to go out.
- You can't.
- I want to go out!
Robert stretched out on the floor, arms and legs outstretched. He kicked and kicked with all his might, aiming straight for my knees. As the pain intensified, my patience gradually turned to anger.
Robert spent most of his time in his room, playing with toys or spinning around the table. He went outside for walks when the nanny was with him, but when I was with him, he stayed in his room or wandered the corridors. She asked me not to leave the mansion when she was not there.
The nanny said: “He’s just a child, and besides... You understand, right?”, and I understood. I've only been here for a short time, I really shouldn't take the risk.
- I want to go out! I want to go out!
But today the baby complains too much.
“Later, when the nanny comes, we can go for a walk together.”
- I want it now!
- Nanny will be upset if we leave without her.
“We’ll go for a walk with her later!”
-...
Robert spoke too quickly and slurredly for his age, but at such moments he managed to speak clearly and clearly. This is where his stubbornness comes into play.
I silently watched as he rolled on the floor. I don't think I'll have to sweep the floor today. I couldn’t come to my senses because of his heart-rending screams.
He is as stubborn as my former master. I did everything I could to save his life, but I couldn’t do the same with this child, and it made me very angry.
- Come on, let's do something else.
- Anything else?
Robert's eyes widened and he stopped rolling. I nodded.
- Yes, whatever you want.
Robert thought for a moment and then chuckled.
But another occupation was unacceptable. Robert grabbed the iron leg of that big iron horse and looked at me impatiently.
-Do you want to climb up?
Robert nodded. Why does he always try to get there? I looked into his sparkling eyes in confusion. Even the nanny, who told me to do whatever he asked, said that riding this horse was unacceptable.
Robert frowned, as if sensing my doubts, and I hastened to pick him up before he burst into tears.
– You must be quiet.
- Yes!
Robert's face broke into a wide smile.
I didn't trust him, but I knew he would only be there for a minute. I raised it to saddle height. His little body sat in the saddle.
His eyes sparkled and he arched dangerously. I panicked and grabbed Robert's leg tightly.
- Sir, this is dangerous. Hold on to your horse.
- Yes, yes.
Although he answered like that, he continued to lean forward. He did not look down, his gaze was directed somewhere into the distance, and it was strange, so I followed his gaze. He was looking out the window.
There was nothing outside the window except the trees surrounding the mansion. Only a few inhabitants of the mansion passed by, but he could not take his eyes off. He arched his neck and tensed, as if trying to see something.
What could he be looking at like that?
But the sparkle in his eyes gradually faded, and his small face became more and more gloomy. This change puzzled me.
- Robert.
I shuddered when I suddenly heard someone else's voice. Joely stood nearby. She was alone.
Robert's sullen face worried her.
- Mom won't come. Come down.
Hearing Joely's words, Robert looked at me and fidgeted. I realized that he was trying to get off his horse. He used to ignore me, but now he suddenly became obedient. I reached out my arms and gently pulled him towards me. Robert buried his face in my chest.