Chapter Text
Circa Late 1890s
I'd accepted the post of live-in tutor/companion to Oliver Queen's six-year-old daughter Mei Lyn, and was travelling North to take up my new position.
I was sad to leave my home State behind. It's semi-arid grasslands and sandy alkali deserts gave way to a lusher terrain. My new environment was refreshingly greener with more lakes and rivers, dense evergreen and redwood forests. I expected my position to offer little opportunity to explore my new surroundings though.
The Territory of Starling was the last stop on the route. I was the only passenger left on the stagecoach as it trundled northwards, reminding me of the remoteness of my new home. It would have been much quicker and exciting to travel via the newest mode of transportation - the railroad - but the cost was beyond my reach.
My final destination, Wild Thorn Glenn - I wondered about the origins of the name - was an old established estate belonging to the wealthy Queen family. The opulent Victorian house would be my home for the foreseeable future.
A tutor/companion was not the kind of post I expected to take up. Teaching older children was more suited to my abilities and qualifications. It would also keep me closer to home, but my mother's state of health dictated otherwise.
Donna had been unwell recently. She worked much too hard and long hours waitressing at the Silver Dollar saloon. A bout of influenza left her with a persistent cough. She was lethargic most of the time and it became more and more difficult for her to work.
She was much thinner now, not the slim and shapely Donna Smoak of earlier years. She ate much too little. I insisted she cut down on her hours, no more working until late at night. But it meant a cut in our already meagre income. I resented my father for deserting us and consigning Donna to this life.
We didn't have much by way of luxuries, but we got by and were happy. Now Donna was sick it was my place to take care of her. I hated leaving her behind, but I had no choice. I had to find well-paid employment. I needed this position to care for my mama and meet her medical expenses.
It was a blessing that she was surrounded by close friends. Aunt Cora, Donna's best friend lived only two doors away. I'd referred to Cora as aunt for as long as I can remember. She looked after the younger me whenever Donna worked late, and I could rely on her to keep a close eye on mama in my absence.
My mother's single aim in life was to make sure I had an education well beyond that expected for a young woman of my social status. Although I hoped to fall in love and marry one day, I suspected my mother didn't want me to be financially dependent on a man. She'd put so much effort into setting me on an independent path, often leaving herself without. I knew her actions were a direct consequence of being left to raise a child on her own.
I was fortunate to secure employment with the Queens. They were offering a small fortune, compared to the meagre sum I'd earn as a newly qualified teacher, and a woman at that. Taking the position at Wild Thorn Glenn meant I could well afford to take care of my mother, but I hated being so far away from home.
Donna encouraged me to take the position. She wanted me to have the opportunities she never had. I also think she didn't want her health to tie me to her and stop me from living my own life.
It's a month since my interview with Moira Queen. I'd been very nervous. I wondered why she was interviewing me and not Mei Lyn's parents. She made it clear her son expected his daughter to be educated to a standard befitting a young lady of her status in society. I hoped I'd meet Mei Lyn's parents to get a sense of what they expected of me.
The terms offered were very generous. Board and lodge, two weeks vacation, a day and an afternoon off per week, plus a long weekend every four months. It gave me a day to travel either side of the almost two full days I'd spend with Donna. I'd negotiated an increase up from two weekends off per year to three.
I'd held my breath after making the request, and felt the full force of Moira Queen's interrogative gaze. Silence filled the elegant parlor. I tried to hold her stare but my gaze faltered, and I stared nervously at the gold and pale green patterned Aubusson rug instead. I hoped she couldn't hear the thunderous beat of my heart.
The silent interrogation was finally voiced.
"And may I ask why, Miss Smoak?"
I put the tone in her voice down to disapproval. I feared I'd crossed a line and jeopardized my chances of employment. I gulped. "Um, it's just that my mother is unwell and I...I need...I mean I'd like to be able to see her as often as I can. The journey is...well Wild Thorn Glenn is so far away from my home."
"I see. Well can you not keep in touch through Mr Alexander Graham Bell's wonderful contraption the telephone?"
Moira Queen was clearly so deeply immersed in her rich world, she had no idea of how ninety-nine per cent of the population lived. A telephone would be considered a luxury in the Smoak household, far beyond our reach.
"I...we...well it's just my mother and I. As a family we don't have...a telephone would be way beyond our means. Although if I'm fortunate enough to get this position, and saved hard enough, which I plan to do, I'm sure I'll eventually be able to install a telephone. We'd be in constant touch whilst I'm away. It would probably take me years to save enough but I'm..."
I paused, suddenly aware I'd gotten lost in my own head. My cheeks flushed with an inner heat. Anxiety clutched at my chest. "I'm sorry, I tend to talk too much...I'm certain you have no interest in my um....yes, a telephone would be a good idea."
Mrs Queen raised a delicate eyebrow. Her grey-eyed stare had softened. "And what of your father?"
I looked down at the hands in my lap, willing them to not fidget. I didn't want to talk about my father, but I supposed my employer needed to know who I was. "He...he left us when I was little." I hoped my response was sufficient to halt this particular line of inquiry.
There were a few more beats of silence.
"My granddaughter's various needs are taken care of by Evelyn and Mrs White, the housekeeper. Your role as tutor/companion is a twenty-four-hour commitment. That's why your quarters are close to hers. I'll agree to your request Miss Smoak, but my son places the utmost priority on his daughter's welfare. If he disapproves of this arrangement because it has an adverse effect on Mei Lyn, then we shall have to reconsider."
"Yes of course, I understand," I murmured.
But I didn't understand. Why would my absence for such a short time have an adverse effect on Mei Lyn. What about her parents? I hoped I'd have an opportunity to meet them. If she were my child, I would not leave the choice of tutor/companion to my mother-in-law. And if Mei's father was so concerned about his daughter's welfare, why wasn't he here.
But I was more curious about Mei's mother. I knew she was Oriental. That must be her in the stunning portrait in the foyer. It immediately caught my eye the first time I stepped inside the grand house. Oliver Queen had married a foreign beauty. Intriguing. I tried to stop my imagination running wild and concentrate on the interview, to no avail.
I pictured the younger Mrs Queen confined to her bed. That was a good enough reason for her absence. Perhaps the climate affected her health. I imagined Mei being allowed to visit her ailing mother in the morning and before going to bed. But people of the Queens' social standing usually employed a nanny, not a tutor-companion.
"My son's wife died giving birth to their second child," Mrs Queen informed me, apparently intuiting my curiosity. "There were complications with the pregnancy, and my grandson was stillborn." There was another inflection in Moira Queen's voice that I couldn't place.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't know." Poor Mr Queen left a widower so young, and with a small daughter. My heart went out to two people I'd never met. "Will Mr Queen be joining us?"
"I'm afraid not. My son is out of the country at present. The family business takes him away a great deal of the time."
I reflected on that. So I won't have an opportunity to meet the Master of Wild Thorn Glenn. Surely he'd want to meet the person tutoring and guiding his child, prior to engaging someone.
With her mother dead and her father away a lot, Mei Lyn was basically an orphan. I already felt an affinity with her. I had a mother, but we both had absent fathers. I preferred not to dwell on my own permanently absent father.
"Now Miss Smoak, you are the third and final candidate and certainly the most qualified. I also have excellent references from your training institution. So, if you have no further questions, I am minded to offer you the position."
My heart leapt and raced at her words. I managed to stop myself from jumping out of my seat and throwing my arms around Mrs Queen's neck in my excitement. I had no doubt that the aloof corseted lady of the house would disapprove of such exuberance.
"Thank you Mrs Queen. Everything about the position has been explained very clearly. If offered the position, I'll do my absolute best to educate Mei Lyn according to Mr Queen's wishes."
"Good. That's excellent. I shall of course confirm the offer in writing, setting out the terms we agreed."
I felt the drilling from those clear, cool grey eyes waiting for some response, but the interview was incomplete for me. "Would it be possible to meet Mei Lyn?"
Moira Queen smiled. "Yes of course." She reached out and rang the small bell on the circular mahogany table beside her.
Within minutes the door opened. That was quick; did a servant hover outside doors?
I turned to see who had entered the room and did a double take. My eyes settled on the most striking-looking woman I'd ever seen. Of Chinese origin, her startling white hair was styled in a plait looped into a knot at the nape of her neck. She was slim-built and looked older than I but younger than Moira Queen. Her eyes caught my attention. They were guarded, shielding something beneath the surface.
"Ah, there you are Mrs White," Moira greeted the woman. "Would you ask Evelyn to make sure Mei Lyn is presentable and bring her downstairs to meet Miss Smoak."
"Yes Mrs Queen, but I can do that, it's no trouble."
Moira nodded. "As you wish." She turned her attention back to me in obvious dismissal of the woman.
Mrs White must be the housekeeper referred to earlier. How did she come to be in the Queen household? Did she accompany Mei's mother here? She didn't have a Chinese name. There seemed to be an undercurrent between the two women. It was obvious that Moira Queen didn't like her housekeeper. Hmm. There was a story here.
Moira made small talk whilst we waited for Mei Lyn to appear. It didn't take very long. The child must have already been 'presentable' and nearby, just waiting for the call to come on stage. One thing was clear, the entire household operated like clockwork. So it should, Wild Thorn Glenn had enough servants.
There was a light knock and the door opened at Moira Queen's "come in."
Once again I turned towards the door. Standing in the doorway holding Mrs White's hand was the most beautiful child, her shoulder-length auburn hair framing her angelic little face.
"There you are Mei Lyn. Thank you Mrs White, that'll be all. Come child, come and meet Miss Smoak."
Mei Lyn walked towards her grandmother. "Is she my new nanny nǎi nai?"
"Her name is Miss Smoak Mei Lyn. She is your new tutor. Say hello and mind your manners."
Mei Lyn smiled at me then curtsied. "I'm pleased to meet you Miss Smoak. My name is Mei Lyn but only nǎi nai and Chien Na Wei say my whole name. Papa too sometimes, if he is cross with me. You can call me Mei."
I guessed that nǎi nai was grandmother, but who was Chien Na Wei. I smiled at the little enchantress because that's what she was. "I'm pleased to meet you too Mei. You can call me Felicity."
I caught the almost imperceptible intake of breath from Moira Queen. Disapproval? Was I being too familiar? The child looked at her grandmother. "May I nǎi nai? Is it okay"
Moira Queen gave me a questioning look then smiled at her granddaughter. "If that is what Miss Smoak wishes to be called, then it's okay." Her tone said quite clearly she didn't approve.
Mei Lyn beamed at me. "Will you play dolls with me Felicity? I have lots of dolls. Papa brings me a new one every time he goes away."
"Yes I will Mei, if you work hard at your lessons."
"Oh yes I will Felicity. Papa said I must work hard at my lessons."
"It's time for us to let Miss Smoak be on her way Mei Lyn."
"No nǎi nai. I want her to come play with my dolls and the dollhouse." Mei Lyn's eyes beseeched her grandmother. "Only Auntie Thea plays with me. Evelyn always has chores to do," the little girl complained.
There was an Auntie Thea? Someone else I'd not met.
"Not today dear. We must let Miss Smoak go home. She has a distance to travel. We don't want her to miss her stagecoach do we?"
"Oh, okay." Mei Lyn pouted. "Will you be back soon Felicity?"
I glanced at Moira Queen. She'd practically said I had the position, but it would be presumptuous of me to say when I'd be back.
"By the time your Papa returns, Miss Smoak will be here too," Moira Queen responded on my behalf.
Mei Lyn's eyes lit up. She looked at me. "You promise Felicity? You will be here when Papa comes home?"
"Yes Mei." There was nothing else I could say. Mrs Queen obviously knew more than I did.
"Say goodbye to Miss Smoak Mei Lyn." Moira Queen rang her little bell again. Within minutes a young servant girl entered the room. "There you are Evelyn, please take Mei Lyn back to her quarters."
The six-year-old had quarters? Mei Lyn turned to me and curtsied again. "Bye Felicity, see you soon."
"Goodbye Mei, it was very nice to meet you."
When she got to the door where Evelyn was waiting, Mei Lyn turned and waved. I felt a pang in my heart at the realization that Oliver Queen's daughter was a lonely little girl.
I left Wild Thorn Glenn with so many questions and a sense of mystery around Oliver Queen. My curiosity was well and truly peaked.
Now I was headed back to Starling. What awaited me? A sense of adventure and a tinge of anxiety vied for my attention.
I chased down the source of my anxiety. It had to do with Oliver Queen. Suppose he didn't think I was good enough to teach his daughter. Suppose he didn't like me. I brushed aside that fear as the signage indicated we'd entered the Territory of Starling.
I breathed a sigh of relief when the stagecoach finally pulled up at the depot in the bustling frontier town. Painted mostly in grey, white and brown, the odd awning gave a splash of cheery colour. I was grateful when the coachman appeared beside the carriage door, opened it and offered me his hand to step down. My limbs were stiff from a fairly uncomfortable journey on mostly bumpy, uneven dirt roads. The overnight stay in a saloon with its lumpy bed didn't help.
I immediately spotted the plush gleaming maroon and black automobile that met me at this same spot a month ago when I arrived for the interview. The vehicle was distinctive, the only one of its kind in the vicinity, probably in the entire Territory of Starling. And sure enough Roy Harper was already striding towards the carriage.