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“Henry,” said Hadley, softly.

He looked her in the eye, picked his plate up, and turned it over so that peas and carrots spilled across the table. And Florence snapped.

“Henry McLeod-Allan, march straight upstairs to your room this moment.” Her voice was clear and rang out across the table and Henry stood up immediately. Emily began to cry. Florence put a hand on her shoulder. “No tears at the table, please.”

Henry strode out of the room and she could hear him stamping up the stairs, but Emily continued crying as she slid out of her chair and then cuddled into Hadley's lap. Her sobs slowed and then subsided and Florence arched an eyebrow at Hadley.

“You go on up to Henry,” Hadley said, giving in. “I'll stay here and finish dinner with the twins.”

Florence nodded and left the dining room.

Hadley might look happy, the kids might adore her, but sometimes some discipline and authority was necessary. Sometimes Florence was just what the children needed, and Henry's behavior was a timely reminder that being friends with her charges wasn't necessarily the best way to do her job.

She could hear Hadley laughing with the twins in the dining room.

On the other hand, sometimes the kids needed a little affection, a little lightness and happiness.

Florence gritted her teeth and continued on up to Henry's room. For once she wished that she could be the fun one. Just for one evening.

Chapter Eighteen

Hadley lay back on her chair, staring up at the stars and thanking all the gods tonight that Florence was here.

She really thought that she'd made a difference with Henry, that she'd created a bond. But when the chips were down, he'd just gone right back to his old self and it had taken Florence's firm hand to deal with him.

“He's sleeping,” Florence said, coming out onto the deck.

Hadley grunted. “Want wine?” she asked, knowing full well that Florence always said no. Still, she might as well be polite. She was grateful for Florence tonight.

As well as horrifically confused about Florence, of course, because that confusion was always there and seemed to be getting worse as time wore on. Florence was attractive and she was attracted, but Florence was... off limits for some reason that Hadley couldn't quite define.

“Yes, please.”

The words were so unexpected that it took Hadley a moment to take them in. Then she stumbled to her feet and went inside, getting another wine glass and coming back out to pour before Florence could change her mind.

“Here.”

“Thank you,” Florence said, taking the glass and sitting down.

The breeze blew, the lake shushed in the background, and the stars twinkled down and Florence sighed so loud that Hadley could almost feel it.

“What?”

“What, what?” Florence asked.

“What are you sighing about?” asked Hadley.

Florence sighed again, drank a mouthful of wine, then shook her head. “Nothing. It's foolish.”

“No, come on, tell me.” Hadley drank some of her own wine.

“It's foolish,” Florence said again. There was a moment of silence, then she went on. “I just... sometimes I wish I was more like you.”

It was so surprising that Hadley snorted a laugh.

“What's so funny?” Florence asked.

“I was just sitting here thinking much the same thing about you,” Hadley admitted. She lay back in her chair again, stretching her legs out. “I mean, I do wish sometimes that I had your authority, for sure. I'm not sure what I'd have done with Henry if you hadn't been here tonight.”