Taking The Little Ones Away Is For The Best Chapter 56

George the first footman came to Mr. Stuart with his findings on the state of Mzia's household finances, and the verdict... was bad.

Apparantly they had been spending five times the amount they should of been on just daily nesccities which lead Mr.Stuart and George to believe that Anetta was embezzling alot of the households funds on things for herself.

Mr. Stuart wanted to leave right away, in the next two hours but he then received this troubling report.

Stephen then made his way to Mzia's bedroom from where he saw Adalaide and Francine exit from just as he was about to enter.

Stepping to the side, Mr. Stuart let the two teen girls exit their mother's bedroom and walk abit down the hall before he entered into his lover's bedroom himself.

Mzia was quietly talking to her son Nathanial when Stephen entered the room.

Itmedaitely Nathanial got up from his mothers bedside and asked his father, "Hello father, would you like me to exit the room so you two can talk in private?"

"No, you may stay. I want ypu to hear what I have to say as well." Replied Mr. Stuart in a somewhat gruff manner.

Abit perplexed by his father's tone of voice, Nathanial once again knelt at his mother's bedside.

"Mzia.... I am taking Evergreen and Ophelia with me." Mr. Stuart said to Mzia and Nathanial.

Mzia flinched and widened her eyes, before quivering a bit and saying..., "Are you... really going to be like this? Stephen..."

Small tears were starting to form in the womans eyes.

Nathanial looks at his father in shock, and asks, "Are you...taking them with you...today?"

"Yes, I find your youngest son's behavior just too dangerous for other young children in the house. He seems dangerous so I must make sure those who can not defend themselves are removed from this home. They will be provided with a proper education and and a safe haven. Also.... I belive your maid Anetta has been embezzling funds that I've allocated to you for this household. Take note, that I still send you a good sum of money every few months. Normally this sum would be enough to employ four servants for this household. Yet it would seem that you only have two...."

Leaning over the bed, while gazing sadly into her eyes, before breaking eye contact and swiveling his head to look at his son.

"Nathanial, I hope you can step up around the household, and punish those who wish to take advantage of you, your mother, and your siblings."

Stephens cold ice blue eyes borred into Nathanials half grown body as he kneeled by his mothers bedside.

Mzia gasped and let out a series of painful sounding coughs. Her face still looking swallow and skin that lacked the luster of healthiness.

"Is this really true? Anetta has been with this family for over nine years, too think...that she would do this to us.... Ah why has God punished me so..." Mzia lamented how her life had turned out after that one choice she made all those years ago.

"Our eldest daughter together, Adalaide, is getting older as well, and we need to start thinking of where she is to in life. I shall arrange for Anettas departure from this household and aquire additional servants to come and help teach Adalaide some more useful things, and help around the house. The absence of a proper governess teaching the children during my stay here, has been duly noted. Is my assumption that they were let go correct?" Stephen said as he walked closer to the two people he was addressing.

Mzia was still teary but tried to stiffle her sniffles of sadness and woe, to give an answer to her man.

"Yes... Anetta said they were acting suspicious and let go of them and took the 'acting' role over as them about a year ago. Perhaps that is why Jeremy is so ill-mannered, now that I think upon the matter further. What do you have planned for our daughter Adalaide, Stephen?"

Mzia is clearly feeling down at the moment, making her look even more dull. If Miriam were to see her at this moment, she would itmedaitely think 'sad zombie' within her head.

Darting his eyes to look elsewhere, they landed on the one solitary small window that was set slightly ajar and open.

"I wanted her to perhaps marry a aqquantince's bastard nephew. He just started his studies to become a lawyer and all is looking well for the lad. I wish for Adalaide to improve her math and etiquette skills, dancing and learn latin until your passing. For when that unfortunate thing comes to pass, I shall send her to a proper school for a few years. Before hopefully introducing her to the lad."

Saying all this, Mr. Stuarts eyes eventually drifted away from the lonesome looking window to then land on his son, Nathanial.

"I also hear you still want to become a doctor still, currently this father of yours is racking his brains in thinking of which school to try and get you into at the moment, fear not my son..." Mr Stuart says and takes a step or two in Nathanials direction.

Uncertainty appears on Mzia's pallid face, but she quickly shakes her head abit to replace it with a servile-like smile.

Her murkey looking blue green eyes close for a momentary time of rest that lasts a full minute and then open up, back again to the never slowing pace of the real world.

"That sounds very lovely dear, but might I ask what happens to this house when I pass away?" She carefully inquires the ownership of her current abode with Stephen, who has now come to be on the same side of the bed as her eldest son Nathanial.

"The deed to the house shall be handed over to Nathanial when he turns 18." Mr. Stuart says while feeling rather proud of himself.

"Okay...when will the tutors arrive for Adalaide?" Mzia asks Stephen with a tired sounding voice.

"Probably within two months. I still need some time to select the proper people and send them over. Also, Anetta will be kicked out of the house today, so Nathanial you need to step up and make sure everything runs around here smoothly. This is also a excellent test for Francine to make sure she can manage her future husbands household properly..." Mr. Stuart answered to Mzia and also tried to make it seem like a great opportunity was upon them.

Well, he had to make some silver lining. Hope was after all the greatest motivation.

Tch!

"Dont worry father, I will make sure the household is in order before leaving for my studies." Looking his father in his icy blue eyes, Nathanial said, determined to make his father proud of him.

"Very well, I feel at ease with you here to take care of your mother and the household... Anyway, I need to go inform the twins of their new arrangements and make sure George kicks that embezzler out. Have a wonderful day, I will come see you all once more when I am ready to depart later to say my goodbyes."

Having said what he wanted to, Mr. Stuart turned on his heel and made his way out of the bedroom.