CHAPTER 539: SURE, LET’S JUST GET MARRIED (4)

Fanny parked her car and stepped out swiftly, handing her keys to the personal valet of the estate. She nodded politely to the man and then set off inside the estate. She no longer needed to be shown the way, as she was familiar with it, but despite that, the strict service delivery of the estate demanded that any visitor be accompanied by someone at all times.

This was the place that had felt like home to her for the past couple of months. Fanny didn’t want to admit it, but she loved the place, its ambience, and the kids, too!

She hadn’t seen much of the estate as she was still under strict instructions to only go from her room in the south-east wing to the children’s room and common area in the East Wings. Fanny was unsure why, but she was not one to question her employers.

There was a direct short corridor linking those two, making her movement easier. Apart from this corridor, Fanny had never seen much of the rest of the estate, and she was not too curious about it. She loved the children and was diligent in her work as well.

"So, I’ll give you two months... to bring home the man you do want to marry."

Her father’s words from before rang in her mind as she followed a maid absentmindedly. This was unusual as Fanny was usually calm and attentive, but the maid still said nothing and led on.

"Where am I going to get a man to fulfil this? Dad is giving me a headache this time..." Fanny muttered to herself, stopping temporarily in the middle of the hallway as the maid went further ahead. It took a while before she saw that Fanny was not following her.

"Hey, Fanny!"

That snapped Fanny out of her daydream and her dilemma. She was very cordial with most of the workers and was also already on first-name basis with them.

"Oh, sorry!" She whispered, hurrying forward as she heard Madam Geneva’s voice,

"Well, are you going to come in or are you going to keep us waiting?"

’What did I do?!’

Of all the people in the estate, Fanny was most wary of Geneva and the thought that she might have kept the old woman waiting or interrupted something important made her dread.

Fanny arrived at the doorway, just on time to be ushered in by the maid, but when she stepped in, she couldn’t help feeling that the atmosphere was weird. This made her even more nervous, so much so that her thoughts of marriage temporarily disappeared.

"Ian said anyone," she heard Madam Geneva say, and Fanny got even more confused. "And there she is!"

Gabriel was the one who spoke up first, "Miss Fanny is going to be-!" Samantha quickly shot a severe glare at Gabriel that stopped him mid-sentence, making him hang his head.

Fanny looked around and then walked up and bowed to the older couple first,

"Good morning, Mr and Mrs Thornston."

Shelby took all these in, noting how the children had perked up at her arrival, though they tried not to show it. Shelby had already been briefed on this persona, and she recognized Fanny, the governess from the picture in her file. The one who had taken care of the children in her absence. She nodded at her, but Fanny didn’t know that this nod carried a different meaning.

"Fanny, make yourself at home and sit down."

Geneva said, pointing to the empty seat beside Brad, with a sly smile.

Alex shook his head, but upon closer look, one could see him also nodding at Fanny.

Fanny paused, unsure of this. She had been in the house for months, but she had never sat with the whole family for a meal. She always thought of herself as one of the workers and not fit to mingle with the masters of the house. Most importantly, she had always thought Geneva to be strict and was surprised by her overly cheerful manner, though she would soon understand the reason.

Fanny didn’t notice the hostile gazes from a handful of the maids at the back. Everyone had dreams of climbing the social ladder, but not everyone was given the opportunity in that way.

"Well, what are you doing?" Geneva asked when Fanny was still frozen in place, but she did not wait; instead, she turned to Suzie, who was already on it. A maid had already started setting another plate in the designated seat.

Fanny had no choice but to take it, and she sent a polite nod to Brad before taking it.

"Good morning, little ones," she said with a warm smile, her voice serene as ever. Fanny made eye contact with each kid, showing that she cared, which Shelby appreciated. "I brought you all a little something."

"Really! Yay!"

Gabriel shouted, his mood, which was doused by Samantha, already up again from this statement.

"Glad to have you back, Chairman Ian and Mistress Shelby. I have heard much about you and I am glad to meet you today."

Fanny said to them as soon as she made herself comfortable. Tea was poured for her, and starter fruits were placed before her. She was a bit surprised because these were not random. It was as if the person who had served her knew her preferences down to the T.

"Thank you," she whispered to the maid.

"Mmmm.... Thank you, too, for taking care of the three while we were indisposed."

"No, no, no," Fanny waved her hands in front of her,

"It’s my job, and I loved every bit of it!"

"I’m glad!"

Obviously, Ian did not even spare her much of a glance. He was busy, making sure that his wife was comfortable.

"So, how’s your family doing?" Geneva interrupted, though she knew every bit about the young woman already. It was their job to see every person who worked for them, especially anyone in contact with the kids.

But Fanny still couldn’t shake off that strange feeling that she was being scrutinized.

"They’re doing well, ma’am."

Fanny reached out her hand to wipe an invisible dirt off her face, because she thought there was something there. They were staring at her—all of them.

Brad especially looked like someone had just cracked his skull open and poured confusion directly in. He sat frozen, hands still clasped between his thighs. Fanny had met him once or twice when he had visited the kids under her tutelage. He had always come off as an imposing man, so she was surprised that he was like that.

’Is it because of his family? Is he intimidated by his brother?’

Ian smiled at that thought but did not give anything away. On the other hand, Geneva’s eyes twinkled with a sparkle that could ignite empires. She was delighted with the choice made. At this moment, everyone but Fanny knew that she was a marriage candidate.

"Oh, now that’s a good girl," she said in a low whisper to Alex. "Educated. Responsible. She looked after our grandchildren better than their uncle ever could raise a houseplant. I think it’s a suitable choice, don’t you think so?"

Alex nodded again, and Ian gave a short,

"Mmmm!"

"How long have you been here, Fanny?"

"About two months, Sir."

"Great! Great!"

Brad finally found his voice. "Wait—wait—what’s happening?! You guys are really serious? She’s the governess! I—I can’t – She is the governess!"

"We know that!"

Came the unanimous response, and Brad gaped.

Fanny was still stiff in her seat, but she couldn’t help but think that whatever this was, it was about her, so, mustering the courage, she asked,

"You can’t do what?"

"I can’t marry you!" Brad responded absentmindedly before noticing whom he had divulged the information to.

The governess, Fanny, blinked, just beginning to register what was happening. "Wait—what about marriage?"

"Ian and Mum, or let’s say fate picked you," Shelby said matter-of-factly, popping a grape into her mouth.

"But- I’m only the governess!" Fanny protested, now wide-eyed.

"Exactly!" Brad added,

Geneva clasped her hands. "And you delivered hope. A match made right under our noses! Look how perfectly in sync they are!"

Fanny turned to Brad, lips parting in stunned amusement. "So... am I to assume this is a family proposal of a sort? I mean, it’s the first I have heard of the whole family proposing on behalf of a groom." These were the only things she could say, as Fanny, who was usually witty, was also blanking out.

He choked. "No! I mean—wait! Not—not that you’re not lovely, but—this isn’t—this isn’t how things work!"

"It is how things work in this family, at this moment!" Alex said, raising his glass of wine in a toast. Alex was the last person that Brad had ever thought would chip in on this.

The entire breakfast table erupted into laughter. Even Fanny couldn’t help the stunned smile tugging at her lips.

In the background, the maid who had hoped to marry up stood fuming, her tray quivering in her grip as she hissed, "Seriously?! The governess? Are you kidding me?!"

One of the kitchen staff whispered behind her, "I told you to think of your dreams, do not shout them out. Silent wishes come true, not loud ones! You were too loud with your dreams."

Meanwhile, Brad, losing the fight with his family, leaned toward Fanny and muttered helplessly, "I swear, I didn’t plan any of this."

She shrugged gently, eyes glinting. "That’s okay. This is a side of your family that I never thought to see."

And for the first time in a while, he laughed—not in exasperation, but in pure delight. This was because, for some reason, Brad felt good.

"So, what is it going to be?"

Geneva asked as the whole family turned to Fanny. Fanny was at a loss for what to say, so Geneva elaborated.

"My stupid son is too slow in these, so we are propos-"

"MUM!"

"Shut that trap over there!"

Brad could only close his mouth helplessly, but looking at this Fanny person, he couldn’t help but smile at an inner thought that even made Ian raise an eyebrow.

"Such family ways should not be alien to you..."

Though Brad was puzzled as to why his mother had said this, he was not in the right frame of mind to deduce what that would mean until his mum said something that made him snap his head up in surprise.

"We’d like you to be our son’s wife," Geneva said straightforwardly. Though Fanny knew of the conversation topic, her heart still missed a beat.

"Will you marry our son, Alicia Fanny Carmichaels?"

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