Nanny Interview Number One

JP with Jaxx and Cindy

May 12, 1889
9:15 AM
Liz's House

The Eldren had been in a quandary over what to wear as part of the backup team, she obviously couldn’t wear what she usually did, which would stand out way too much. Invisibility had a limited time to it after all. Then she recalled a few trucks in the attic full of old clothing, not too worn out but just enough. She had wondered why her father had insisted that those trunks weren’t given to charity now Elizabeth was almost sure she knew.

So, Elizabeth tasks her personal servant Zora and Clement with finding her something that would work and, while it didn’t need to be spotless, actually the opposite was probably good in this case, a little airing out probably would help.

That led Elizabeth to the next task, “Harold, will you please fetch Miss Lavigne.”

Harold responded with an “Of course, Lady Elizabeth.” And headed out to get the younger woman.

Lily was organizing the mail room when Harold came to fetch her for Lady Elizabeth. Lily greeted Harold properly, collected her list of questions on a clipboard and brought a kit to write with before she followed him to where Lady Elizabeth was.

Harold took Lily to Elizabeth’s office. Harold announced Lily, he then left, after Elizabeth thanked them.

"Miss Lavigne, please have a seat." The Orc sized chair had been moved to one side and there were two regular sized chairs in front of Elizabeth’s desk. "There were a few things I wanted to go over with you prior to the interviews starting."

Lily gave a bow and gave a proper greeting to lady Elizabeth before taking her seat as instructed. She was holding her clipboard and writing supplies on her lap as she listened carefully to Lady Elizabeth. Though it would be more relaxing to let their guard down like Mr. Cronk, she and Lady Elizabeth were not in the position to do so. Proper etiquette was as normal as breathing to the upper class. So this meant Lily and Lady Elizabeth had maintain their status on a regular basis. Lily was not sure who Lady Elizabeth would relax around but she found it easier to drop her guard a bit around the good doctor. Now that she was ready she simply replied, "Of course Lady Elizabeth."

"First, I think we will conduct the interviews in one of the sitting rooms, it will be easier then in here." Not that it likely mattered to Lilly, just letting her know. "Second, I will also be hiring a tutor, once the nanny is situated. Probably next week. So, while the nanny should have some idea about education, it will not be their primary focus."

Elizabeth thought for a moment, "I also have something else to ask you, not in relation to the nanny interviews. Do you, by any chance, have any pictures of your former butler? Forgive me but his name has escaped me. It would help for tonight."

Lily nodded as she took her quill and ink out to write on a blank paper the details for Lady Elizabeth. She wrote, "My butler was Neville Baddington, an English butler from London. He served my father, Wayne Lavigne, for over thirty years." Lily then gave the paper to Lady Elizabeth as she replied, "As luck would have it, I found Nigel's old passport in my bags. He gave it to me long ago so I could remember what he looked like when he was going to pick me up during the summer time while at boarding school. I can get it anytime you need it Lady Elizabeth." Lily gave a small smile as she felt useful in this situation and glad she was a bit sentimental.

"That would be perfect, after the interviews would be fine. Thank you." Elizabeth explained. "One more thing all the candidates have been vetted through the Order, most have worked for families in the Order before - so they will likely be highly qualified but, I do not want anyone overly strict, more on the caring side. These children are and have already been through a lot, it would be good if the nanny understands that." Elizabeth then added. "Did you have any questions before we get started?"

Lily shook her slightly head no as she replied, "No ma'am. I took the liberty of making a list of questions that can be considered for the interviews if you wish. I will document their responses in case you need to make a decision later on. I have considered it will either be an easy decision or one that involves a lot of thought. By recording their responses you can then compare them at your leisure. When I met my future nanny I saw many of them during the interview from a hidden spot so this allowed me to get a better perspective on this topic."

"I was a baby when mine was hired so, needless to say, I wasn't part of the process. That idea sounds perfect to me." Elizabeth stood up, "Follow me then. "

Elizabeth led Lily to one of the smaller sitting rooms. There was a small desk which she motioned for Lily to sit behind. It would be easier for Lily to take notes from behind there. As for Elizabeth she sat in a chair in front of a table.

A servant named Jordan, a young woman maybe in her early twenties with blonde hair, who had on a maid's uniform, but had various duties throughout the day. Came into the room and curtseyed to Elizabeth. "Lady Elizabeth, the first candidates have arrived."

Elizabeth knew the candidates were in the sitting room that connected to this one. "Show them in, please."

Jordan went through a side door.

'Well, here we go,' thought Elizabeth.

Lily gave a small smile as she prepared to document the responses from the candidates. She also planned to record their physical responses such as hesitation, confusion, odd gestures, odd responses and her eye movements. These were things she observed in school and it made it easier for her to tell who was genuine and who was untrustworthy and lying.

Jordan came in with a woman who was dressed in dark clothing despite it being spring time. That actually wasn't all that odd, as people in mourning and some Spiritualist did that as reverence for the dead.

The woman looked around the room.

"Lady Elizabeth," Jordan's introduction began. "Nanny Lenore Rosen."

Jordan curtseyed and left the room. The nanny curtseyed .

"Please have a seat, Nanny Rosen." Elizabeth said.

"Thank you, Lady Elizabeth." Lenore stated in a thick British accent and sat down.

Elizabeth wasn't a mind reader but there was something off about the other woman. Well, maybe it was just that it was the Lady's first time doing this.

Nanny handed over a sheet of paper, "My references."

"Thank you," Elizabeth took a brief glance only but did recognize some names on it.

Nanny's were almost always humans, at least from what Elizabeth had encountered. It was a respected profession among the Eldren because any job which dealt with working with their precious only child was met with respect. The entire race depended on those rare children to be treated correctly. However, what parents thought that meant varied greatly.

This woman had a list that wasn't too long to be suspicious but had few Eldren on it. It was mostly upper class humans. Elizabeth didn’t know those people as well as she would the Eldren family on there.

"So, before we begin," Elizabeth motioned to Lily. "This is Miss Lavigne, my private secretary. She is welcome to ask questions as well."

"Understood," though Lenore didn't seem very happy about that.

Elizabeth didn’t know why but she jumped straight to this. "Are you aware of the special circumstances of this position?"

"I believe so, the children are of a lower class. They are here for security reasons. Their mother is very ill." Lenore responded with no real emotion.

Elizabeth knew some people just used the term lower class without meaning it in a derogatory term but it didn't sit well with her, still she went about the questioning.

"What qualifications do you have that will make you a good nanny to the children?"

"Lady Elizabeth," Lenore's voice became firm. "I am qualified because I am strict. Children like that need a strict upbringing or they will run amuck."

Elizabeth raised her brow, she took a glance at Lily and a breath. She contained her emotions quite well. "Miss Lavigne, did you have any questions for Nanny Rosen?" Though it might have been clear where this interview was headed.

Lily wrote down her notes as she heard Lady Elizabeth's question. After getting to a stopping point she looked up at Lenore and asked, "What disciplinary tactics do you use when a child is having a tantrum? And what are the major challenges of being a nanny and how do you overcome them?" Lily watched for Lenore's physical responses and her verbal ones as she continued to take her notes.

Lenore looked at Lily, "I do not permit tantrums. Children who have them will be sent to their rooms and made to stay there the rest of the day."

"Nanny Rosen, what do you consider a tantrum?" Elizabeth knew people tended to view this topic differently.

"Any emotional outburst. It is undignified and I will not have it." Lenore explained. She then proceeded to answer the second question. "The major challenge is keeping the children disciplined and well behaved."

Elizabeth spoke up again, "Play? How do you play with the children?"

"Play? I am sure those children would do better working than at play. But nothing messy, nothing outdoors, clean and quiet play." The nanny responded.

Elizabeth was growing to dislike this woman more with every passing response. She was certain this wasn't the correct person for the job. "Well, I believe that is all the questions I have." Elizabeth started to get up.

Lenore didn't wait, she thanked Elizabeth for her time and showed herself out.

Once Lenore was gone, Elizabeth pulled out a paper from the folder she had in front of her, got up and handed it to Lily. "I forgot to give this to you, it is a list of who we'll be interviewing today. Please find Nanny Rosen's name and cross it off. She is definitely off the list of possible candidates." She then handed Lily, the list of references from Lenore. "You are welcome to do what you like with her information."

Lily accepted the paper work from Lady Elizabeth as she replied, "Yes ma'am. I will put our interview information in a book for the future. If we have to do this again for any odd reason it will be faster to not interview the same people you had no interest in. For one of your status and schedule...... time is very valuable." Lily gave a small smile to Lady Elizabeth as she finished her notes and put an x by Lenore's name on the list so they could see the name spelled correctly.