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<p> Grace sighed as she looked out the window of the carriage. The weather had won itself admiration; it was sunny, yet not overly warm, and a breeze breathed throughout the atmosphere without becoming a nuisance. </p>

<p>Grace, currently a bit pessimistic, desperately tried to become her peppiest. It was the day of her interview, after all. One always had to put their best foot forward, especially if it depended upon someone's living.</p>

<p>On any other day Grace would have apparated, but "Interview Days" were special. Usually, because of over-excitement, Grace's nerves would often be 'on edge' (as was the case at the moment), and therefore she would be far to distracted to apparate safely.

<p> The residence she was currently making her way to was the property of one Mr. Daniel Riley. Through Grace's investigations she discovered he was a well-off gentlemen who had inherited a substantial sum after his graduation and had added to his wealth through his own career as Head of International Magical Cooperation. Through the advertisement he posted, she was informed that her charges would be his two daughters of five and nine who had lost their mother (the poor dears!). This situation was much attractive to Grace as she has had prior experience with girls of similar a age and background. And also because she was running out of money.</p>

<p>The rolling scenery out the window came to a halt as the carriage began to slow in front of an (expected) impressive exterior. She closed her eyes in a small prayer, mentally preparing herself for what was to come from the other side of the lavishly ornate door.</p>

<p>She paid the driver and asked him to wish her luck, to which he laughed, bid her request, tipped his hat in a final salute, and sped off.</p>

<p>Grace anxiously attempted to crease out nonexistent imperfections in her dress, which was a modest yet relatively fashionable choice for a meeting of that nature. Her hair was in an updo crowned by a simple and small headpiece, and an equally humble parasol was clutched by her dainty hand. It was extremely rude (and hopeless) to want to outshine a master's extravagance. She hoped her favorite color would also provide her some comfort .</p>

<p>With her customary cheery smile, she pounded the door with the heavy knocker and waited for an invitation to enter.</p>

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<p>Daniel had risen quite late that morning, a bit unusual for him, but since he didn't have to work that day and nothing else on his plate that day really had time constraints, there was no reason to wake early. A few party invitations, which he replied to at his leisure; some yes, some no, depending on who was likely to be at the party and whether their acquaintance would be useful in the long run or not. Always a pragmatist. </p>

<p>The girls breakfasted with him, then went off with their current nurse, whom Daniel had no particular complaint against except that she was from the service, which generally meant that she was incapable of getting reliable work on her own. Most of the time this was due to lack of experience and not any defect, necessarily, but Daniel wouldn't ever consider hiring one of the service girls, as some did, on priciple. With any luck, they'd be able to dismiss the girl from the service later this week. The applicant coming seemed to be a perfect candidate, much better than the other hopefuls he'd gotten, and if the interview went even passably well, he was prepared to hire her for work starting tomorrow. He'd instructed the head maid to be ready to free a bedroom immediately should he give the word, and the staff was atwitter with the news of a possible new, more permanent arrival to the staff.</p>

<p>"Miss Fairfax has arrived to see you, sir," announced the butler, and Daniel waved his approval, at which point the butler disappeared to fetch the girl from the front door, or the hall, where ever he had left her. Daniel was in his library, where he generally spent his days off, seated at his desk with an atlas and a few letters from dignitaries set out on his desk, and he continued to work as he waited for the familiar sound of the door opening. </p>

<p>"Miss Fairfax, I presume?" he asked as soon as she entered. She looked well-put together, modest but fashionable. A good sign. Gesturing to the opposite side of his desk, he said with a small smile, "Thank you for coming. You may sit, if you like. I am quite eager to get the interview under way."


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<p> Many a time had she been answered by a butler, but they seem all the same; stern, austere, and dutiful, which were good qualities in a gentlemen's house, however she had soon found out were quite the same when engaged in conversation.</p>

<p>She accepted and thanked him for his invitation to walk over the threshold. Once at the hall, he bid her stay to tell his master, which she did so obediently. During this time, Grace was left with her own thoughts and observations.</p>

<p>Looking around, she admired her surroundings, for they were just as polished and expensive-looking as she had imagined. (Working with various wealthy patrons made a bit of their taste rub off on the governess). Various servants and maids hustled and bustled in an organized chaos, some carrying trays or linens, while others ordered their peers to do or check on this or that.</p>

<p>When the butler returned with his reply, Grace almost felt a pang of dread. She sighed deeply before following the butler through a winding hallway, and after making various turns, they reached a closed door. Still his silent and serious self, the butler simply bowed curtly and left her there, just as she was. Not wanting to displease her possible-employer, Grace placed her delicate hand on the equally fragile-looking knob, and opened the door. She had passed the point of no return.</p>

<p>"Miss Fairfax, I presume?"</p> The room looked like some kind of study or library, and on the other side of a desk was the master of the house, Mr. Daniel Riley. She nodded demurely in response to his question. She accepted his invitation and took the seat across from his with the most charming smile she could muster; first impressions were everything.

<p>"...I am quite eager to get the interview under way."</p> She agreed. Grace preferred to get straight to the point with these fickle things. "Of course, Mr. Riley," She cleared her throat politely. "As was mentioned in my letter, I have had previous experience with the age groups described in your advertisement. I have tutored pupils as old as ten and as young as four of both genders, however especially with education for young ladies."

<p>Not wanting to ramble and overwhelm her interviewer, she quickly caught herself at the last sentence for a brief pause, allowing for any input or comment from Mr. Riley.</p>

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<p>She smiled as she sat. He liked that. Most people didn't smile in interviews; too serious and too focused on giving a good impression to actually give a good impression. There was a certain amount of confidence and grace required to smile in an interview, and she had it, which was a good first sign. </p>

<p>Daniel nodded as she described the pupils she had taught; he had known this much already from her letter. It was the primary reason he was interested in her, and why she was, at this point, his first choice candidate for the position--unless something unfavorable should come up in the interview, which was possible. </p>

<p>"And the subjects taught?" he inquired at her pause. "Ideally, I would like the girls tutored in at least in penmanship, reading, writing, and arithmetic. They enjoy being read to, both fiction and things such as geography and history and the like. They are both currently learning French, and the older has recently begun Latin--they have separate teachers for these, but if you are at all language-capable and could review their lessons that would be very helpful. Though not, by any means, required," he said, with a kind smile.</p>

<p>"And, of course, etiquette is an absolute must. Knitting, needlework, and that sort of thing would be appreciated, as well--I believe their last nurse had them embroidering pillows or some such," he said with a little smile, then grew a little more serious. "On the subject of etiquette, also, I should mention that, because of my position as a poltical figure, it is imperitive that everyone in my house--from my daughters to the staff--must be completely scandal-free. If there is anything in your past that could potentially arise again, I would strongly encourage you to remove yourself from consideration--as if anything comes up after you assume the position, should you assume the position, the consequences will be quite unpleasant." </p>

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<p>Her smile never wavered, thank Merlin, and the interview was on a positive path, she thought. Their dialogue was not forced or strained as he asked her the most basic of questions, and she quickly felt her nerves slowly melt into warm confidence. She felt perfectly at ease with speaking of her pupils and her previous work. She wanted to impress him without making it seem she was too eager. Though intimidated by her interviewer's power and position, Grace wasn't exactly scared of him. Perhaps it had to do with that kind smile? All of her previous employers had been quite stern and uptight- which was usually expected of men in such power, but that didn't mean she was quite comfortable with that common facade yet. </p>

<p>"Absolutely, I am perfectly capable of teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic in both levels needed for the pupils, as well as penmanship. I do speak fluent French if it would be required of them to practice and review their lessons, although I agree I find language lessons much less challenging when one has someone to practice with!" Grace had learned that the hard way. </p>

<p>"Needlework I enjoy on my free-time in addition to lessons, so I will also be pleased in instruction regarding that subject. In addition to the subjects mentioned I also instruct the more gentler fine arts as fit for a lady, such as water-painting and the art of the fan." </p>

<p>"Etiquette, is, as you have stated, quite imperative in a respectable young lady's education, indeed, especially with the high position your family is regarded in. "</p>

<p>"As a response to your concern, I would like to assure you, sir, there is none an obstacle regarding my past that should impede your consideration of me or this interview." Which, of course, was true. Grace was a simple woman from humble beginnings. There really wasn't much trouble to get into in the country.</p>

<p>Grace would've also liked to mention her astute mastery in arithmancy and complicated runes, but she wasn't sure how this particular man would react to this, considering she was a woman, after all.</p>

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<p>Daniel nodded as she outlined her capabilities; he had suspected this to be the case, since the subjects outlined were fairly basic for young ladies of character. It would hardly be appropriate to try to bulster one's references by saying one had acted as a tutor and not having taught the full range of subjects, but some people, Daniel knew, were not above such mild dishonesty, so it was essential to ask during interviews. This way, at the very least, if she proved deficient in any of the outlined areas, it would be grounds for her removal.</p>

<p>Not that he anticipated that happening. From the beginning she had looked to be a woman of good character, and he believed her when she said she was proficient in all these things and more, and that she had nothing untowards in her past. And Daniel was a politician; he knew not to trust anyone without good reason, but he also knew how to spot real honesty (since politics, and especially his division, foreign policy, held so little of it). Miss Fairfax had it.</p>

<p>"Very good, very good," he said with a nod of approval. "We have a rather large estate and household here, perhaps larger than you're used to, but I don't imagine that will be bothersome. It would simply take getting adjusted to," he said, looking down at a piece of paper he'd fished out of his desk--the letter of inquiry she had originally sent him. </p>

<p>"Everything seems to be in good order, Miss Fairfax," he said rather cheerfully. "Would you like to meet the children? I am something of a soft-hearted father; I will absolutely respect their opinion on the matter. Oh, and do you have any particular questions about the position?"</p>

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<p>In addition to her sweet smile, a twinkle in her eye appeared as he approved of her person. This was an excellent sign. Her once perfectly poised hands now started to fidget slightly with excitement. The interview was fairing much easier than she had originally anticipated. She wondered briefly on how day to day living would be at the grandeous household. And if the master was as kind as he seemed, then his staff would prove to be more pleasant than she had experienced. Her thoughts conjured an image of the butler. Or maybe not...</p>

<p>Though quite the humble person, Grace allowed herself the pleasure of gloating for a second or two. She was quite proud of herself. But her self-admiring smile soon twisted to one of pleasant confusion. His daughters? The charges? She had never heard of a master remotely interested in his children's opinions, much less his daughters'. Grace was quite curious, and not at all disapproving. The notion was just foreign to her. But she truly did admire him for it. Grace was sure his daughters would be thankful for his care and interest in the future, as he would most likely also choose their spouses for an advantageous marriage; all for the daughter's well-being, of course. In reality, she never had the opportunity to meet her charges beforehand. She was always sort of thrown into the situation; her previous employers would simply hire her, send her to her newly prepared chamber, and Grace would only imagine what would happen the next day. In short, this meeting was a much welcome privilege.</p>

<p>"It would be an honor, sir," She stated humbly, bowing her head in a slight gesture of her gratitude. As he mentioned further questions, her mind rattled with concerns or previous thoughts she entertained about her duties. "One question does linger in my mind, sir," She began, checking her posture and mannerisms as his attention diverted to the concern at hand. "Along with instruction, I understand that attending to their physical needs is also a requirement, however, will there be a nursery maid to assist me in my nursing duties?" Her blue eyes were careful not to make exact eye contact; that would be far too bold of her.</p>



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