The housekeeper hurried in. "I'm so sorry, ma'am. The little miss woke up and started fussing. I've tried everything."
Hildegarde clawed at her tangled hair like a woman possessed. Gone was any trace of the poised, commanding CEO. Her voice came out in a near-shout: "Make her stop!"
"She's just a child! You can't even manage that? What exactly am I paying you for?"
Marjorie felt wronged. The two girls had always been Wilfred's responsibility. Since coming to this household, she'd never once been asked to handle childcare.
Of course she didn't know how.
But seeing her employer on the verge of losing it, Marjorie swallowed her words. She scooped up Hilary and hurried downstairs.
Hildegarde had mild insomnia. Once woken, she couldn't fall back asleep.
She gave up and went downstairs.
"Marjorie, make me breakfast. I want an egg and ham sandwich. The ham has to be imported from New Zealand, and the egg fried medium."
"Me too, me too! I want a bacon cheese egg burger!" Hilary chimed in with her own order.
Marjorie froze.
Cold sweat beaded on her forehead.
All of Hildegarde and the girls' meals had always been Wilfred's domain. Marjorie had never so much as touched the kitchen.