Page 69 of The Billionaire’s Nanny

"Bettina's taking you this morning, and your reading folder's in your bag already."

"Okay. Are you picking me up?"

"No."

"Who is?"

"I don't know yet. Somebody will be there."

Grace worked the loose sock into a ball in her hand and let it come open again.

"Is it because of the lady with the bag?"

"No."

"She talked to me at school. She asked me who puts me to bed."

"I know she did." Lucy laid both palms on the covers, out where Grace could see them. "You didn't do anything. Not to her and not to anybody in this house."

"Then why are you going?"

"That part's between me and your aunt."

Grace turned her foot over and looked at the sole of her sock. "Did she make you?"

"That part's between me and your aunt," Lucy repeated.

"Okay. Does Aunt Carrington know you’re leaving?"

"Yes. She knows."

"Is she coming home to say goodbye?"

"She's at the office today." Lucy left her hands where they were. "That's why I’m telling you now instead of someone else telling you later."

Grace looked at the window for a while.

Lucy continued. "At three, someone else who works here will pick you up. If you don’t see someone familiar, I want you to go back inside and wait in the office with Ms. Ford. Don't wait on the sidewalk. Then you’ll have dinner, then somebody will read to you."

"Two pages?"

"Yes." Lucy sat back on her heels. "Turn around and let me do your hair."

Grace slid off the bed and sat down on the rug in front of her with her back turned. She pulled the sock on while she was down there and got it straight across the toe on the second try. Lucy took the comb out of her coat, started at the ends and worked up, holding the hair above the tangle so it wouldn't pull at the roots.

"Are you coming on the aquarium field trip in June?" Grace asked.

"No."

"Kayla's mom is coming."

"I remember."

"Is Aunt Carrington going to come?"

"You'd have to ask her," Lucy said. "She can move things around when she wants to."

"Okay."