Chapter 287 Miss Bailey's Day
I'd been here once before. Once I entered the Landon family's house, Mao Mao immediately went to play with Sophie.
Xia Xiaoxiang and Miss Bailey were left looking at each other in bewilderment.
Today, Mr. Langdon locked himself in his study again. Although their father wasn't there, Sophie was still very happy. The two little girls' joyful laughter echoed throughout the villa, near and far, from one end to the other.
Xia Xiaoxiang held her teacup and silently drank her tea. She noticed that Miss Bailey, who was sitting opposite her, had a stern face. Especially when the child's innocent yet penetrating laughter rang out loudly, her eyebrows shot up.
This reminded Xia Xiaoxiang of when Old Madam Lou first arrived in Haicheng. Back then, she didn't even dare to speak loudly. In terms of respect for rules, this Miss Bei... Beili was no less strict than Old Madam Lou back then.
However, Miss Bailey's eyelids twitched incessantly, but she did not utter a single word of reproach.
Yesterday, after Mr. Langdon returned home, he had a conversation with her.
Tell her not to be so strict with Sophie anymore, allow her to be friends with the neighbor's children, and give her some leeway to let her nature run free.
Miss Bailey was not Sophie's mother, but merely a housekeeper, and could only accept Mr. Langdon's opinions.
But this does not mean that she agrees with Mr. Langdon's opinion.
Sophie is the Langdon family's daughter, and if Mr. Langdon doesn't remarry, she will be the sole heir. The Langdon family is not a humble household; their surname was once aristocratic. As the heir to the Langdon family, her behavior, manners, knowledge, and even her interpersonal skills should all be befit her status.
But Mr. Langdon said this: "There are no nobles anymore. Bailey, the Bourbon dynasty is history. Now even a coachman claims to be a descendant of nobility. Compared to all that, do you want Sophie to be a child without a smile?"
So Miss Bailey chose to compromise.
Now, she heard loud laughter she had never heard before, each sound stimulating her eardrums and stirring her nerves.
Miss Bailey thought bitterly: Given more time, Mr. Langdon and Sophie will eventually find out that one should choose friends carefully!
Xia Xiaoxiang drank half a cup of tea, but couldn't stand the silence any longer, so she spoke up: "Miss Bailey, I heard that you are Sophie's butler?"
Miss Bailey nodded demurely.
What do housekeepers do?
“I assist my master and take care of everything in this household.” Miss Bailey raised her chin and said proudly, “I am not only the Langdon family’s butler, but also Miss Sophie’s governess.”
"What do private tutors teach?"
"Etiquette, art, literature, everything that needs to be learned." Miss Bailey: "Miss Sophie will also go to school to acquire knowledge, and I will be responsible for assisting her studies."
Xia Xiaoxiang suddenly realized: "Oh, I know, our Mao Mao is also taking classes at home. Now she can not only recognize some words, but she can also count to fifty!"
Xia Xiaoxiang spoke with a proud expression.
Miss Bailey: "..."
50?
Is that a lot?
Miss Bailey thought resentfully: Sophie is such a diligent and studious child. She not only knows how to read and count, but she has been speaking two languages since she could speak!
As soon as I started talking, two little girls ran over hand in hand.
“Miss Bailey!” Sophie said, her cheeks flushed. “Mao Mao said she wants to hear me play the piano.”
Miss Bailey rose gracefully: "Please come with me."
Sophie has a beautiful black piano, and under Miss Bailey's tutelage, she has been able to play simple tunes.
She played for her friends, giving it her best, and even Miss Bailey nodded in approval.
Mao Mao clapped her little hands vigorously, her palms turning bright red.
Sophie sat on the piano bench and moved to the side: "Mao Mao, you also have music lessons, you come."
Mao Mao didn't stand on ceremony with her and boldly climbed onto the piano bench, placing her little hands on the black and white keys.
Xia Xiaoxiang: "..."
Miss Bailey raised her eyebrows in slight surprise.
Surprisingly, Sophie's new friend had also been exposed to music from a young age. It seems that although she's just a lover's child, her family hasn't neglected her upbringing...
"Bang bang bang!"
A burst of music, as if the earth were collapsing and mountains were crumbling, rang out.
"Bang bang bang!"
"Knock knock knock!"
Mr. Langdon, in his study, flung open the door in a panic: "What happened?! An earthquake?!"
Miss Bailey: "..."
Xia Xiaoxiang: "..."
Sophie stared blankly at him: "..."
The blonde girl hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "Mao Mao, let's go play frisbee with Luna."
"Hurrah."
The two little girls held hands again, their joyful laughter echoing into the garden.
Xia Xiaoxiang glanced guiltily at Miss Bailey, noticing her dazed expression, and took the initiative to fill her teacup: "Have some tea, have some tea."
Miss Bailey took a sip of tea: "How long has she been studying music?"
Xia Xiaoxiang counted: "It's been more than half a year."
Miss Bailey: "..."
What a difficult student to teach.
She soon discovered that this was not the only difficulty.
We played with the dog all morning, and we were all starving.
Miss Bailey and her servants prepared a sumptuous lunch to entertain the guests.
There are also etiquette rules at the Langdon family's dining table. She gracefully picked up the knife and fork and, as usual, demonstrated for Sophie that it was time to eat. After that, Mao Mao immediately picked up the spoon, opened her mouth wide, and took a big gulp, her cheeks puffing out.
Miss Bailey: "..."
She gave Mao Mao a disapproving look.
Table manners are extremely important, not only to reflect one's own refinement, but also to show politeness to those at the table... wait, why is she eating so deliciously?
Miss Bailey couldn't help but glance at Mao Mao several more times.
I noticed that she not only ate heartily, but also had a big appetite. Her plate was filled with the same amount of food as Sophie's, and she quickly finished it all. She even licked her lips with lingering satisfaction, looking over with bright, sparkling eyes.
It's not appropriate to ask for more rice at someone else's house.
But Mao Mao's big eyes were full of longing.
Miss Bailey: "..."
Miss Bailey gave the maid a look, signaling her to bring up another half portion of food, while scrutinizing the guests' dining etiquette with her eyes...etc., apart from enjoying the food exceptionally well, they seemed to be impeccable.
Mao Mao eats very well. She doesn't need to be fed, isn't picky about food, and doesn't make any impolite noises. After finishing her meal, she will politely praise, "Sophie, your food is so delicious."
Sophie whispered, "Mao Mao, can I give you the carrot?"
"No problem!"
The two children secretly traded radishes, and the evidence was hidden in Mao Mao's stomach.
Where's the broccoli?
"Can."
"Where's the fish?"
Miss Bailey coughed: "Sophie."
Sophie quickly put away her spoon and continued her battle with the food she didn't like, feeling frustrated.
No matter how strict the requirements are, they cannot change Sophie's picky eating habits. Sophie is a particularly picky little girl. Because of this, Miss Bailey has put some thought into her diet and tried to cook the ingredients she doesn't like into delicious food.
In this respect, Mao Mao doesn't have this problem.
Because she's not a picky eater at all!
Mao Mao ate with exceptional relish, even enjoying carrots and broccoli, which are generally disliked by children. Sophie watched her, hesitated for a moment, and then, without needing any persuasion, obediently ate the foods she disliked.
After finishing one and a half servings of children's lunch, for dessert, Mao Mao and Sophie ate a whole caramel apple tart.
Miss Bailey glanced at her round little belly several times, and told the maid to prepare digestive and stomachache medicine. Fortunately, it was never needed.
Afternoon is usually nap time.
But today, as soon as Miss Bailey closes her eyes, her cheerful, baby voice fills her ears.
Before I could even fall asleep, the two of us and the dog came running in.
Miss Bailey!
"Aunt Bailey!"
"Woof!"
Miss Bailey: "..."
The two little bundles of milk had bright, sparkling eyes.
"Miss Bailey, please tell us a story."
Mao Mao would also place an order: "Mao Mao wants to hear Mao Mao's story!"
Miss Bailey: "...Who is Maomao?"
Mao Mao: "It's a story written by my brother, Aunt Bailey. Haven't you heard it before?"
Miss Bailey: "..."
Maomao's story was serialized in the newspapers of Haicheng. There were no newspapers from Haicheng here, so Miss Bailey brought out a fairy tale book and read it to the two of them.
As a housekeeper, she has many responsibilities.
After she finished reading a fairy tale, she went to supervise the work of the other servants when a maid rushed in, flustered: "Bailey, Miss Sophie and her friends have picked all the flowers in the garden!"
Miss Bailey: "Did you pick the flowers?"
When she went outside, she saw two little ones walking in carrying a bouquet of flowers.
Sophie came straight to her: "Miss Bailey!"
She held up the wreath in her hand: "Here you go."
Miss Bailey pursed her lips: "...For me?"
“It was Mao Mao who taught me.” Sophie smiled broadly. “She taught me how to make flower wreaths for you. Thank you for taking care of me all this time.”
Xia Xiaoxiang also received a flower wreath from Mao Mao.
She touched the wreath on her head, glanced at Miss Bailey's face, poured herself a cup of tea, and gulped it down.
Miss Bailey's lips twitched down, seemingly displeased with such unruly behavior, but she remained silent for a long time without uttering a word of rebuttal.
"Thank you." She took the wreath and bent down to kiss Sophie's cheek. "I'm honored."
A little while later.
Miss Bailey was checking the accounts and managing household expenses when the maid rushed in, flustered: "Bailey, Miss Sophie and her friends are playing with flour in the kitchen!"
Miss Bailey: "!"
She suddenly stood up and walked quickly outside.
But as she reached the door, she suddenly remembered something and asked, "Why are they playing with flour?"
"Miss Sophie said she wanted to make a cake for Mr. Langdon."
"...For Mr. Langdon?"
"Yes."
Miss Bailey sat back down.
"Have the kitchen staff help her, and be careful not to let them touch the fire."
"OK."
“…Never mind.” Miss Bailey stood up again. “I’ll go help them.”
Upon entering the kitchen, I indeed saw two little girls covered in flour.
Miss Bailey put on an apron, pulled the people out of the flour pile, listened to their sneezing, and methodically cleaned up the disaster scene.
Then she was surrounded by two little babies, their tiny voices chattering in her ears. She calmly instructed them, starting with kneading the dough and finally putting it in the oven.
The cake was finally completed by dusk and served to Mr. Langdon.
Mr. Langdon was so moved that he almost shed tears.
After playing all day, Mao Mao held her mother's hand and went home, waving her little hand at Sophie: "Sophie, bye-bye."
"Mao Mao, bye-bye."
Miss Bailey breathed a sigh of relief as she watched her guest's figure disappear from the red brick villa.
Today felt more tiring than any other day.
Therefore, after finishing her workday, she poured herself a glass of red wine to enjoy the quiet evening after the hustle and bustle.
Before I could relax for long, the doorbell rang again.
Miss Bailey opened the door, and standing outside was a familiar short girl with round cheeks.
After taking a nice bath at home, Mao Mao, still in her pajamas and hugging her pillow, stood outside the door, tilting her cute little face up and greeting them enthusiastically: "Auntie Bailey, I've come to sleep with Sophie, we made a promise!"
Xia Xiaoxiang chuckled behind her.
Miss Bailey: "..."
No, the work isn't over yet.
Miss Bailey invited the guest in, wiped her little feet clean from the road, and then put her on Sophie's bed.
Two soft, cuddly little girls leaned against each other, heads touching, listening to her tell a bedtime story.
After a bedtime story was finished, their eyelids started to droop.
Miss Bailey tucked Sophie in, stroked her soft hair, and left a goodnight kiss on her cheek.
Goodnight, baby.
Sophie: "Goodnight, Miss Bailey."
Miss Bailey straightened up and was about to turn and walk out when she suddenly met a pair of big, dark, sparkling eyes.
Mao Mao, clutching her blanket, lay down next to Sophie, looking at her expectantly with her chubby little face ready.
Miss Bailey: "..."
Maomao: "..."
Miss Bailey: "..."
After waiting for a long time without getting a kiss, Mao Mao blinked and asked in confusion, "Auntie Bailey, aren't you going to kiss Mao Mao?"
Miss Bailey: "..."
Miss Bailey watched her in silence.
But the little girl didn't seem to realize she'd been rejected at all. She kept her eyes wide open and waited expectantly, as if she wouldn't go to sleep until she was kissed.
Miss Bailey stood there for a moment, but having no other choice, bent down and left a goodnight kiss on her cheek.
Mao Mao nestled comfortably into the soft bed: "Goodnight, Aunt Bailey."
Miss Bailey: "..."
Mao Mao still stared at her with her big, bright eyes.
Miss Bailey could only say, "Goodnight, baby."
Mao Mao was completely satisfied.
Just before closing the door, Miss Bailey looked into the house.
Both little girls had their eyes wide open, showing no sign of going to sleep.
A baby's chattering voice came from inside the house.
"Sophie, do you still want to sleep in the cave?"
I want to go!
“Then we won’t bring Dad. I’ll bring the cat, you bring the dog, and my brother will take us. My brother can also tell us stories about Maomao.”
"OK!"
"Mao Mao's story was written by my fourth brother. My brother is amazing; he came in first place!"
"Wow……"
Miss Bailey gently closed the door, shutting out the noise.
The story of Mao Mao?
She doesn't know if it's been published yet; she'll have to go to the bookstore to look for it another day.
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