And If You Wrong Us

Part 2: Reputation

Mr. Raven's face twisted with a sad smile. What I must have looked like then, excited for my new life, new home, new opportunities. And now look at me. Ten years later and the spark is gone.

He shoved his hands into his coat pockets and looked up at the white sky. The flakes dusted his face and melted away.

Look at what I've become...

Back at home, the children were waiting near the door. As soon as he opened it, they flew at him. He stumbled backwards in surprise.

"What are you doing up at this hour?" he exclaimed, squatting so he could properly hug them.

"Mother said it was alright!" Charles said, bouncing up and down.

"Only after I convinced her," Angelique said proudly. "I'm much too grown up to go to bed at seven."

"Me too!" Charles squeaked.

Angelique shook her head at her brother. "You're just a baby, Charles. I only argued on your behalf so you could greet Father once he got home. Now that he's home, it's time for you to go to bed."

"Aw..." Charles crossed his arms and drooped his face in a pout. "Angie..."

"Don't call me Angie," she hissed under her breath. She shooed him up the stairs.

Mr. Raven chuckled at his daughter. "My, how mature you are, Angelique."

She turned back to him and smiled. "Mother says I will be a governess someday."

"Really?" Mr. Raven glanced around. "Where is your mother?"

"She was tired; she went to bed early."

"And left you two alone?" Mr. Raven raised his brow.

Angelique nodded. "Mother knows I am responsible enough to care for Charles. She won't leave me in charge of the house, though..."

"Well, thank goodness for that!" Mr. Raven pulled off his coat and hat and hung them on the coat tree. He removed his boots and placed them beside the door. "Don't you think you should go to bed too?"

"But you only just got here!" she whined, temporarily abandoning her adult demeanor. "We never get to talk."

"That is true. What do you want to talk about?"

"Anything, everything!" She took his hand and dragged him into the parlor. They sat on the sofa together. "How was your day? What did you do at work?"

"Well, today was...interesting."

"Why?"

Mr. Raven hesitated. "We had a new arrival."

"A new orphan? Who is it?"

"No one you know, my dear."

"I don't know that many people, Father, but I know names!"

"Well, I suppose you must have heard about the incident with the Mayor..."

"Oh yes, everyone is talking about it." She nodded knowingly. "So, was it the Mayor's daughter, Sarah Pemberly?"

Mr. Raven grew solemn. "You do know names. Yes, it was."

"Was she quite sad?"