The Prodigal Heiress Read online

  Lexi awoke as the car pulled to a stop in a circular drive in front of a beautiful, old, Victorian mansion. She was thrilled by the awesomeness of it. The chauffer hopped out and headed around to her door. She waited to move until he had opened her door and offered his hand to help her out. As she stepped out of the limousine, Lexi noticed the drive was made of huge stones that were relatively flat. How marvelous! She had only seen things like this in movies. She had never realized that her aunt’s estate was this grand. Having been only three when she had visited, she did not truly remember any of it. No wonder the few times Aunt Cami had visited she stayed at a hotel. Her parents’ house was a hovel compared to this grand mansion.

  The massive front doors opened, and a petite blonde in a maid’s uniform came out to greet her.

  “I’m sorry, Miss. Tabitha’s my name. The staff’s off today. I stayed behind ta tend ta ya. I can give ya the grand tour or you can look around at yer leisure. Miss Camilla left specific instructions for me, but I will do it yer way since you are now the lady of the house,” Tabitha said with a pleasant accent.

  Lexi immediately liked her.

  “Why, thank you for your thoughtfulness, Tabitha. I think we’ll get along well.”

  “Yes, Miss. I can take ya to the master suite and you can start from there if ya’d like.”

  “That sounds fine.”

  Tabitha grabbed a suitcase and told Reeves to bring up the rest.

  Lexi followed Tabitha into the foyer, which was bigger than her parents’ entire house. To think she had always thought her parents had done okay for themselves.

  There was black and white marbled, square flooring. The walls were made of dark green marble and dark cherry wood. A beautiful cherry wood staircase, a grand staircase indeed, sat in the middle of the foyer. It was at least twenty feet wide at the very bottom, narrowing to perhaps fifteen feet wide as it went up to an open hall on both sides. The halls led to the east and the west wings of the house. Lexi could have stood there all day and stared at its magnificence, but she did not want Tabitha to think she was out of her element. She wanted her servants to know that she was in a position of authority right from the start. She quickly followed Tabitha with her head held high.

  Tabitha headed down the west wing. The halls were as wide as the living room in her apartment. There were tables and chairs made of antique cherry wood going down both sides of the hall under antique paintings of presumably ancient relatives. This place was too awesome to even register in her mind.

  There were many doors, all huge and made of brilliantly shined, dark wood. There seemed to be a preference of dark cherry wood in the mansion. It was breathtaking.

  Tabitha stopped at the only set of double doors on the west wing. She opened both doors into the huge master suite. Lexi knew the minute she stepped in that the suite had not been used in many years.

  “Wasn’t this my aunt’s suite?”

  “Oh yes, a number of years ago; Miss Camilla got too weak ta ascend the stair case about five years ago. So she had a room made up for herself down by our quarters. That way we could get ta her right away if need be. She had a stroke, don’t ya know, and never regained her strength.”

  “I had no idea. I wonder why she didn’t let anyone know.”

  “No. Not Miss Camilla. She never wanted help from anyone. She was a strong woman inside, even if her body didn’t agree.”

  “But five years of not being able to see everything in her own home?”

  “Yes, it did pain her, but she made sure that every inch of the house was properly cared for, including the attic. Not one cobweb up there, Miss.” Tabitha smiled proudly.

  “Wonderful,” Lexi said with a bit less enthusiasm. She felt oddly saddened thinking of her aunt had been unable to roam freely around this wonderful estate. “Can I see her room?” Lexi asked.

  “Why sure. It’s yer home, Miss. Everything’s open to ya.”

  Lexi followed the maid to the first floor and then down a much less luxurious hallway that held the kitchen and all the servants’ quarters. At the end of the long hall was a simple, oak door.

  Tabitha took out a huge ring of keys identical to the one Mr. Sutton had given Lexi and unlocked the door. She then opened the door and stood aside for Lexi to enter. It was a single room about the size of Lexi’s bedroom in her old apartment. There was a small TV atop an unfinished pine dresser that had 3 drawers. Across the room from the dresser was a twin size hospital bed with a simple white coverlet with metal railings on both sides, and a small table next to the bed made of unfinished pine. There was a plain, gold-colored lamp with a white shade and a large-print Bible lying next to it on the table. The floor had green-and-white tiles like the floor in her grade school had been. The walls were pale beige. There was a single window with pale green curtains. It looked like an old time hospital room. There was nothing fancy or luxurious about this room. It was a travesty that her aunt had spent the last five years of her life living like this in a mansion so full of beauty.

  “Why was my aunt made to endure this cave of a room?” Lexi asked with unbridled anger.

  “Now, Miss, don’t be upset. ’Tis as the Mistress wanted. She said she had lived a life others only dream of, and she wanted to know how the other half lived. She became quite earthy after the stroke. Think she might have wanted to prepare to meet her maker, I’d say.”

  “That’s an awful thing to say. Being wealthy is not a sin,” Lexi faced Tabitha with clenched fists.

  “Dinn’a say it twas. I’m sorry, Miss. I’m only tellin’ ya how it twas. The Mistress wanted things this way. The Mistress always got what she wanted. Always…” Tabitha said softly, visibly shaken at Lexi’s hostility.

  “Well, I wouldn’t have put up with it if I had been here. She owned all of this and should have enjoyed it ’till the very end,” Lexi let go of her anger slowly with a long sigh.

  “Yes, Miss.” Tabitha avoided Lexi’s eyes, keeping hers glued to her shoes.

  Lexi began to feel guilty for dampening the girl’s bright personality. She decided she had made her point.

  “I want this room redone as soon as possible. Make it into a lounge for the staff. Anything you want in here is fine, just no smoking in the house. I can’t breathe smoke,” she said waiting for Tabitha to look her in the eye.

  “Why, yes. I will tend to it tomorrow.” Tabitha said as she looked up and met Lexi’s eyes. She smiled at Lexi and nodded.

  “Make sure you get my approval on all purchases. I do want to be kept informed about my home.”

  “Yes, Miss,” Tabitha said and smiled again which made Lexi felt better about the situation.

  “Where are my aunt’s personal belongings,” Lexi asked as she again surveyed the bare room.

  “She donated them all to charity, Miss. It was a final request,” Tabitha said softly once again. Lexi know she was afraid of making her angry again. Then she realized what Tabitha had said.

  It was odd. Lexi really wondered about that. Charities were all scams. She was sure of it. The people working for them took all the good stuff, she was sure. Her aunt must have known this, also. She was a shrewd woman.

  Lexi picked up the Bible, knowing she might not find any other personal items of her great aunt’s.

  Lexi was getting tired of the girl. She must have been a few years older than Lexi, but she seemed younger, far younger. She seemed to have such a positive attitude all the time. How could anyone have that?

  But then again, why was she in such a dour mood? She had every reason in the world to be happy, and she was feeling angry and a little depressed. It was strange. It must be that she cared a lot more for her aunt than she had realized. After all, she was a very caring and thoughtful person. Yes, it must be the thought of pour Aunt Camilla stuck in that tiny hole for five years. That was it.

  Once Lexi was back up in her suite, she found that her bags had been emptied and put into a small closet by the door. Someone had unpacked for her. She could get very used to t
his.

  There was a massive clock hanging on the wall that looked almost like a grandfather clock but not as deep that said it was 5:30 p.m. She wondered when dinnertime was. There was a small box on the wall she thought might be an intercom. Lexi pressed the button.

  “Yes, Miss?”

  “I was wondering about dinner.”

  “Oh, yes. I’m preparing it now. I’ll get yer preferences at your convenience. Mistress Camilla preferred dinner at seven sharp.”

  “That will be fine. I’m going to take a bath.”

  “Yes, Miss. Fresh towels are in the bath.”

  Lexi walked over to another set of double doors and found the bedroom. A massive canopy bed with a deep purple velvet comforter beckoned. She might have succumbed if it was not for the appeal of a bath. She was sure it would be the grandest bathroom she had ever seen. There were two sets of double doors leading from the bedroom. The first she tried were to a huge, walk-in closet that was bigger than her aunt’s room downstairs. Her white robe was the only thing hung up in this closet. If her entire wardrobe was in this closet, it would look like leftovers after someone had moved out. She definitely needed to go shopping.

  Lexi undressed and put her clothes into a large, wicker hamper and then pulled her fluffy robe from the hanger and tied it around herself. She then walked to the other set of massive doors opposite the closet doors. Beyond the doors was a world beyond her comprehension. There were many plants within the room. Some even had flowers in bloom. The two outside walls were made entirely of glass so she could see the ocean on one side and the mountains on another. It was amazing. It looked more like an area where you would have a gathering or special social event, not a bathroom. The tub was the size of a small adult swimming pool. There was an area to lay on that was padded inside the pool. This was a paradise.

  Lexi turned on the water, which poured quickly from a waterfall across one entire end. She made sure the temperature was just right and then looked around the room a little more while the pool filled. She couldn’t think of it as a tub. It just was not one.

  Going over to the sink, she saw that it was free-standing since the wall was made of glass. There was more than ample room to see out, so she was sure the glass was the kind that could not be seen through from the outside. Not that it mattered a great deal with the ocean on one side and mountains on the other. She could see for many miles out over the ocean. It was fairly calm today, and the sun shone on the water as it was heading down for the evening.

  She walked over to the other wall and saw the majesty of the mountains. A feeling of being a tiny speck came to her as she gazed at the beauty in front of her. The mountains had a rainbow of purple, orange, black, and silver from the late afternoon sun. It was so beautiful.

  Turning back to the pool, she saw that it was almost filled. She took off her robe and draped it over a chair against the wall. She then walked down the little staircase that made entering the pool safe. The water felt very good. The water was very soft, not the hard water of her apartment. It felt heavenly.

  The heat started to relax muscles she had not realized were tense. She did a short swim to get to the padding and noticed the shampoo, conditioner, and little rose soaps that were on the marble ledge. They were all very expensive, and the smell from the rose soaps was like sitting next to a bouquet of roses. She smiled at the luxury of it all. She shampooed her hair and put the conditioner in it and then used the rose soap to wash. She sat on the padding so she could lift her legs and feet out of the water to wash them. Then she dove under the water to rinse off.

  Getting back up on the padding, she knew she would easily fall asleep. It was perfect, just like everything else in this house. She leaned back and took a deep breath. The water covered the padding and Lexi, except for her head, where the padding had a soft, pillow-like feel. The water totally relaxed her.

  Sometime later, she was awakened by a humming noise. She looked at the wall clock to see that it was 6:45 p.m. The water was exactly the same temperature as when she had first gotten in. She then realized the humming was coming from a water heater of some sort.

  Lexi pushed the drain button and climbed out of the pool. She dried off and wrapped her robe around herself. She walked out into her bedroom, then to the sitting room and her small closet to decide what to wear for dinner. She chose a light brown, expensive-looking dress to dine in. She would be the only one at dinner, but it would be served to her.

  Once she was dressed, she descended the staircase like a queen, feeling every bit royal as one. At the bottom of the staircase, she realized she was not sure where the dining room was. She knew it must be on the east wing, near the kitchen. She started in the direction and was met by Tabitha.

  “Glory! I was just about to come fer ya.”

  Lexi followed her to another massive room that held a huge, mahogany table with matching chairs, buffet, and sideboard. A huge fireplace sat at the head end of the table, and a small blaze was glowing cheerily.

  “The Mistress always loved a fire to dine by. I thought ya may like it after yer bath.”

  “How lovely, Tabitha. Thank you.”

  The maid beamed. She left and came back with a tray of very delicious-looking food. Lexi ate with a ravenousness she did not feel until the first morsel hit her tongue. She would have to make sure the cook knew about carbohydrates and how she wanted the food prepared from now on. She did not want to gain a lot of weight. But for tonight, this was just what she needed.

  The next morning, late morning, Lexi woke up feeling as if she had never slept before in her life. The bed was so soft that she felt as if she were floating; and the room was very quiet, no cars honking or people yelling and making all kinds of noise. When the lights were turned off, you could not see your hand right in front of your face. It was divine. Even though it was a tiny bit scary, she knew she would get used to it.

  So began her first real day as mistress of the house. What should she do first? She supposed she would need to meet the staff and go from there. They should be back today. She dressed in a formal suit that showed her authority the best and put her hair into a tight bun. She wanted to look professional, in charge of the situation, and command their respect.

  As Lexi descended the staircase, a young boy ran through the foyer, dragging a kite behind him.

  Lexi became very angry. Where had a child come from? She did not want children in her home. They were messy and never listened to a word you said. They caused all kinds of problems. She descended a little faster until she was at the bottom. There was a buzzer on the wall that she assumed was a call button. She was right. Once she pressed it, a man she presumed to be the butler was at her side almost instantly.

  “Yes, Miss?”

  “I want to meet the staff.”

  “Very good, Miss.”

  The man left; and within minutes, all her staff was lined up, ready to greet their new mistress.

  Tabitha did the introductions.

  “This is Raymond, the butler,” she said about the tall, thin, gray-haired man with the deep voice who had gone to get everyone.

  “This is Chris. He’s the cook and the best one I have ever known,” she said of a young man with a red face and almost-white hair.

  “And this is Burdia. She oversees us and makes sure we’re doing our jobs,” she said of a tall, thin woman about her mother’s age. She had a stern-looking face, piercing gray eyes, a stark birdlike nose, and very thin lips. The woman had a look of curiosity on her face, but Lexi could tell the woman had a dislike for her that was not going to sit well. She would see about getting a new overseer or whatever she was.

  “Fine… Whose child was that I saw running across the foyer a moment ago?”

  “Sorry, Miss, twas my nephew… Mistress Camilla let me bring him with me when my sister has her doctor appointments.”

  “I’m not my aunt. I don’t like children, and I don’t want the boy here after today. He may remain for today.”

  The sparkle in Ta
bitha’s eyes dulled dramatically. “Yes, Miss.”

  Lexi immediately regretted her words. She should have talked to Tabitha alone, but she could not take it back now, not with the staff watching. They would think her a pushover and she had to let them know that she was now in charge. Well, no matter. She was sure Tabitha’s sister could find a sitter. Aunt Camilla had just been too generous in her old age. Lexi would need to remind all the staff that they were servants, not houseguests.

  It was strange, but for some reason, that rationale did not make Lexi feel much better. She would have a talk with Tabitha later when the others were not around. Then Tabitha could reassure her that she was in the right so she would not have to feel this way too long.

  Once the servants had departed to their tasks, Lexi summoned Raymond to have Reeves pull the car around. She was going to spend the first day as mistress of this house spending some of her money. After all, she needed to fill that closet upstairs.

  That evening, she came home exhausted. She had spent $20,000 on new clothes and really did not have that much, (nowhere near enough to fill the closet, but she was content. She bought a few other odds and ends and spent well over $5,000 for them), beautiful candles for her bath, a bottle of very expensive champagne and a set of twenty-four-karat-gold-rimmed wine glasses. She had also dined in a very posh restaurant, which alone had cost $250, but what was that to her millions? No need to worry about how much things cost anymore. She had an endless bank account.

  Lexi directed Raymond to bring her things up to her room and leave them. Once they were all there, she closed the door to her suite and took the candles into the bathroom and arranged them perfectly. She filled the pool and lit all the candles. She took one of the wine glasses and opened her champagne. Filling the glass, she then placed it by the padding in the pool and went to her closet to get her robe. She placed her clothes in the hamper and donned her fluffy robe. She walked back to the sitting room and grabbed the box of imported chocolates that she had bought at the same shop she had found the glasses and champagne at. Then she went back to the pool.