Let's Not Air Our Laundry Streetside Chapter 19

Coming out of the shop together, Fiona spotted them from across the street.

She almost fainted from the sight. Why was her won carrying his little sister like she was a a severely wounded brother in arms?

Meanwhile she could clearly tell her son was either embarrassed or excited because his face had turned a cute beet red color.

Was Miriam strangling him? Fiona couldn't help but want to charge across the street to assess the situation.

However before she could muster the strength to strode over, that womanizer Stephen practically did an Olympic sprint towards his 'precious' daughter.

He looked at the sister brother creature that the two children had combimed into.

Raising a brow he looked at their families First Footman George Hafford.

Clearing his throat, George began to recount the ordeal they had just been through inside the shop.

Nodding his head in acknowledgement as he listened to the tale, he couldnt help but twitch his lip when he heard how much money his youngest daughter had just spent.

'Over 200? Sigh...' Stephen bemoaned inside himself.

Why did this daughter have a propensity to get injured or always put herself in a dangerous situation.

He really wondered wether or not this little girl was cursed with bad luck due to her natural or supernatural gifts.

Hopefully not so, so it wouldn't rub off on him.

Afterall, Stephen still planned to live a good life hopefully well into his 70s.

Seeing and hearing her Father, Miriam waited for the Footman George to finish his new version of the Canterbury Tales. Well, it wasn't, but he made the events prior sound as long as all the famous tales put together, hence Canterbury Tales.

When the tirade was done, Miriam whispered into Bannons ear.

"Im okay now, you can put me down my trusty steed. We shall conquer the America's soon."

Miram giggled to herself as she gracefully slid off her brothers back while doing so.

Looking to her father she said rather frankly, "Father I am quite tired now, I think us children and women folk should retire to the inn for the night and settle down. I need to clean my scrapes."

A yawn escaped her but she quickly covered it with her hand or atleast tried to do so.

"Alright, First Footman George see them to their rooms. I will be retiring for the night as well shortly."

The Inn they were staying in was called "The Flopping Fish".

It had a great big wooden sign shaped like a fish and painted with a blueish green color with black accenting the scales.

It was a two story brick and wooden building that looked like it had about 30 rooms give or take.

Miriam held Bannon's hand and followed behind the footman and Anya, and into the Inn.

Even when they were going to their rooms, Miriam refused to let go of her brothers hand.

"Isn't he in the same room as me?" Miriam asked as Fiona tried to placate the young girl.

When did the legitimate daugther become so attached to the illegitimate son?

Miriam had decided she liked this obedient brother of hers.

He shall be her right hand man in thd future! Thus she needed to get some alone time with him to indoctu- bond, with him.

He seemed rather dull so she needed go stuff some knowledge into him. It would be hard to get alone time together when they were older so she needed to get him some remedial courses ASAP.

Running into her room, Miriam shut the door on Fionas face.

Of course, the older, but seemed like little, brother was on her side of the door.

"Um mums still out there..." Bannon said as he looked at Miriam and rubbed the back of his head somewhat puzzled.

"Bannon, we need to have a sibling heart to heart. Your mum can come in, just wait a little bit. I got some stuff I wanna teach you and tell you about."

Bannon turned to look towards the door and loudly addressed the disgruntled mother on the other side.

"Mum I'm fine. I'll come into our room later. Miriam has some secrets she wants to tell me."

Ah!

Hardening her resolve Miriam yanked the boy and threw him onto the bed.

"Sit down sister has some things she wants to tell teach you."

Reaching into her dress she managed to produce a few pieces of paper, two quills, and a closed bottle of ink.

Where she was keeping these items is beyond Bannons imagination.

Walking to to bedside she produced a piece of paper with the multiplication tables on it and handed it over to Bannon.

"Already Bannon, time to memorize our multiplication table. You can't leave this room until you can remember the first half of this sheet."

"I can barely read though Miriam...." Stated Bannon to the piece of paper shoved into his face.

Frowning, Miriam took Bannon by the hand again and dragged him to the only table in the corner of the room and plopped him into the stiff looking wooden chair that accompanied the table.

Bannon bemoaned but complied.

Quite some time later...

Fiona finally couldnt wait any longer and burst into the room.

What were these two siblings up too?

Coming into the room hastily Fiona saw what looked like a tiny tutor reprimanded and guiding her son on his writing posture.

What was this? Isnt the older brother supposed to guide the younger sister in situations like these?

Fiona trounced to the tables side and peered over her sons shoulder.

What was this?! 'Multiplication Tables'?

Whats with all the numbers?

Fiona was surprised that Miriam was already so intelligent. If she was a son... Stephen wouldn't have to worry about not having a capable child.

The sound of the quill being dipped in the ink, and fluttering across the surface of the paper was a sound Fiona hadnt heard in a long time.

Wandering in her thoughts and memories of the past Fiona didnt notice Miriam and Bannon turn their heads in her direction as she barged into the room.

Miriam then nudged Bannon to pay attention to the paper that he was writing on, because currently he was making the ink smear all over part of the page due to his inattention at that moment.

Miriam eyed Bannon before coming inbetween mother and son.

"We are studying. Please don't disturb us. Bannon can sleep in the same room as me tonight.

Fiona blanched at the thought. Wasnt that abit improper?

Coming closer to Fiona Miriam got on her tip toes and leaned in real close to the lady, before whispering, "Don't you want your son to have a bright future? I am helping him. With my help now and in the future the others at the Stuart residence won't bully him anymore because of his fiery hair and cute freckles."

Fiona was beyond stunned by the things this little girl was saying. Was this a threat or a promise? Could her son really earn a proper place in the Stuart family with the help of a favored legitimate daughter?

"This is the only time we can talk to each other privately without pesky servants swarming us like flies to a corpse.

I will not let this chance slip through my hands. I don't plan on being a passive member in this family forever. I'm sure were well aware that my father has many children we probably both don't know of. More and more will come put of the woodwork as time goes on. I'm sure of that."

Still whispering, Miriam continued on after taking a few quick breaths in between.

"In the future, I will need a male chaperone that won't throw me to the wolves the first chance they get, one that I can actually trust. That's why I need your son. So don't worry. You just try and not anger my father."

"And don't make a mistake, I love my little brothers but they cant really be my chaperone."

Words that should not be coming out of a 4 year olds mouth kept spilling forth.

In the future, Fiona was sure of one thing. This little girl would be able to throw her weight around and give Stephen a run for his money.

Still bitter about being led by the nose by Stephen Stuart for over a year, she decided to keep mute on this point. Fiona concluded that this girl wasn't trying to harm her son and her so what was the harm?

Fiona had long tossed aside proprietary and certian morals of hers aside after she got pregnant out of wedlock. Her future was her son. One of the obstacles for her son was Stephen. If she could get help surviving and a chance at having a better life why wouldn't she take it?

Looking Miriam in the eyes, Fiona leaned down and whispered in response to the tiny tirade said earlier, "I understand. Tell Bannon I said goodnight."

Standing back up straight, after adjusting her skirts, she quietly made her way out of the room and closed the door gentley behind her.