Chapter 7

Getting the Job

Lou looked up at a beautiful large house. It was set back from the main road a ways. It looked just like what Lou imagined a southern plantation home would look like. It was a large white structure with a large green lawn in front with lots of trees. "Wow, Kid," Lou thought, "If you never get your memory back this wouldn’t be such a bad place to live."

Lou and the doctor walked up to the front door, which was automatically swung open by the maid. "Good afternoon doctor."

"Good afternoon Missy," the doctor said nodding. "Is Mrs. Beckworth home. I’ve brought the nurse I told her about."

"Yes sir," the maid said, "Please have a seat in the parlor and I’ll go get the missus."

The doctor led Lou to the parlor. It was a large room beautifully decorated in heavy drapes and large heavy chairs. Lou would have loved to pull the drapes opened and let the sun in. She had a feeling that those drapes were never allowed opened.

Lou said nervously on the edge of a large chair while the doctor lounged comfortable in a chair nearby. "Don’t be nervous," he said, "I’m sure everything will be just fine."

"Andrew," the older woman said sweeping into the room.

The doctor stood up and took her hand. Lou was amazed at this woman who was keeping Kid from her. She was quit tall with silver hair piled up on her head like a crown. She was elegantly dressed in a heavy dark blue dress. But what amazed Lou the most was the way she moved. She didn’t really walk but more like glided across the room. The doctor had told Lou that she was almost 70 but Lou would never have guessed.

"Charlotte," The doctor said kissing her hand, "How is James doing?"

"Better I think. He’s getting antsy to get out of bed. I’ve been telling him all about Angelica, but he doesn’t seem to remember her either. Oh Andrew why doesn’t he remember." The older woman cried.

"He will my dear," the doctor said patting her hand, "Look I’ve brought the nurse I told you about and I’m sure with her help James will be able to get out of bed and come down stairs soon."

Mrs. Beckworth gave Lou a hard look. "I don’t think she will be able to help very much. She’s awful small isn’t she? You don’t look like you would be able to handle very much weight" She said look from the doctor to Lou again.

"I’m much stronger than I look mam," Lou said pulling herself up to her full height.

Mrs. Beckworth looked skeptical then turned to the doctor. "Charlotte, may I introduce Miss. Louise McCloud." The doctor said.

"Mam," Lou said curtsying to Mrs. Beckworth

"Well if this is the best you could do Andrew I guess she will have to do." Mrs. Beckworth said turned to look at Lou again. "You will have the room next to my sons. There is a small sitting room in between that you may use. You can leave the doors open between the rooms and hear him if he needs anything."

"Thank you mam," Lou said curtsying again.

"Well what do you say we take your things upstairs to your room and then go meet your patient," The doctor said leaving the room.

Lou had no other option but to follow him. The house was huge with a grand staircase coming into the front hall. At the top the doctor stopped, "Mrs. Beckworths suites are down that way," He said pointing to the left, "and James has rooms this way." He finished going up a few more steps to the right and heading down the dark hall.

Lou couldn’t help but notice the beautiful surroundings. The staircase she decided must have been made from Mahogany. It was so shinny she could almost see herself in it. The dark hallway they were walking down was also paneled in the same wood. This was defiantly a mans domain she thought. The windows were all covered in heavy dark maroon drapes making the hallway appear very dark.

The doctor suddenly stopped outside of one of the doors. "I believe this will be your room." He told Lou, "Am I correct Charlotte?" He asked looking at Mrs. Beckworth who was standing behind Lou.

"Yes, Andrew," She said in her superior voice. She wanted to make sure Lou understood that she was the owner of this house and Lou was and unwelcome guest in her home.

The doctor opened the door and ushered Lou into the room. "Will this be alright?" he asked Lou.

Lou had never seen a more lovely room in her life. It was a large room all decorated in varying shades of blue. It had a large bed and dresser made of a dark wood Lou didn’t recognize. "Oh, it’s very lovely," She gasped.

"I had it decorated for my soon to be daughter-in-law, but seeing that she is away getting ready for her wedding I’m sure she would understand you using the room." Mrs. Beckworth said.

"Well I’ll let you get settled a bit and go check on James," the doctor said opening another door on his right. "In here is the sitting room Ms. McCloud and through the other door is James room. Just come over there when you are ready."

"Yes doctor." Was all Lou could manage to say

Lou hadn’t realized that Mrs. Beckworth didn’t follow the doctor out of the room until she spoke. "There are just a couple of things I want to get straight right now," she told Lou in her most commanding voice. "You are here because Dr. Adams feels it is necessary. You are a servant in this house and therefore you will be treated as such. You will eat in the kitchen with the maids, there will be no outside visitors and you will be leaving as soon as my son is healed."

"Yes mam," Lou said

"And there will be not hanky panky with my son. Do I make myself clear? Don’t be thinking that you will make him fall in love with you. He is engaged to be married and I will not have him fooling around with a servant. Do you understand me?" Mrs. Beckworth said between clenched teeth.

"Yes mam." Lou said almost choking. "I know my place and I’m only here to do a job."

"Good, well now that that is all cleared up would you like to meet James?"

"Yes mam."