Free Promise to Obey by Stella Whitelaw

thought Beauty and the Beast would be appropriate.’ He paused. ‘Since I am so handsome and you are quite beastly at times.’
    Jessica began laughing quietly and that broke the spell. They brushed against each other as they went out of the room. There was no madness in the moment, only a brief recognition of the contact, then moving apart.
    ‘Goodnight, Willdo,’ said Lucas, pausing again in the hallway, on his way to the stables. ‘Do I get a goodnight kiss?’
    ‘Sorry,’ said Jessica. ‘That’s something Willdo, won’t do.’

FIVE
    Jessica drove down to Worthing sea front with Daniel and Lily strapped into the back seat. She prayed that she would not get lost or lose the children. It was a straightforward drive, nothing complicated, lots of visible signposts. She immediately found somewhere to park along the front and put money into the meter.
    The size and expanse of the sea front was like tearing apart sky curtains and seeing a vast blue seascape moving in every direction. There were four miles of promenade to walk on (or cycle if you weren’t caught), acres of sand and shingle when the tide was far out, the pier to perambulate on if it was high tide and the waves were lashing the high shoreline. The smell of ozone was a reminder of seaside holidays. The screeching seagulls set up a raucous welcome
    ‘It’s the sea. I love it, I love it,’ said Lily, jumping up and down with excitement, her hair bobbing about. ‘I want to paddle. Willdo, can we paddle?’
    ‘Of course,’ said Jessica. ‘Let me lock up the car, get our towels and the backpack, and we’ll be away down the beach. We’ll find somewhere out of the wind. Would you like that, Daniel, to go on the beach?’
    ‘Go on the beach,’ he said solemnly.
    They wore canvas trainers going down the slippery slope of the shingle but once free of the pebbles, they shed their shoes and ran over the wet sand, splashing through puddles, fordingrivulets, skirting rocks, making for the tiny waves that lapped in the far distance. Jessica had a job keeping up with the children.
    Daniel ran ahead, sensing freedom, sensing the elements that demanded nothing of him. Water made him free from a world he did not understand. No one wanted to talk to him. The lapping of the wavelets was a gentle sound. He had an unusual burst of energy, legs awkward, arms waving erratically.
    They were all wearing shorts and vest tops, even Jessica. Her shorts were cut off jeans with a frayed edge. Lady Grace had been outraged.
    ‘My grandchildren don’t wear such skimpy clothes. I demand that you put them into something decent. Hasn’t Lily got a frock?’
    ‘They are going on the beach and they are going to get wet. I’m taking along dry clothes and fleeces in case it gets chilly. Would you like to come with us? It’s not far in the car.’
    ‘Good heavens, no. I don’t want to walk along the front with Fred. Most improper. I might meet someone I know.’
    Jessica and Mrs Harris had come to a new and amicable arrangement. Mrs Harris was to have every other afternoon and evening off. In return she would look after Lady Grace on the afternoons when Jessica wanted to take the children out. It was more time off than Mrs Harris had ever had before. Anyone could see she was pleased the way she fussed round the kitchen, cleaning surfaces that were already clean and sparkling. It was like an unexpected lifeline.
    ‘It’ll make a real difference,’ she said warmly. ‘Having a bit of regular time off to myself. It’s always been difficult to get away and those other nannies were useless to leave in charge. No good at all, drinking and smoking. I’d like to go to the village hall afternoon Bingo. I might win a fortune one day.’
    Jessica had made real progress with Lady Grace but it had not been easy. The first time she had made it down the stairs and into the sitting room, Jessica called for celebration drinks and Lucas had opened a bottle of champagne. Lady Grace had been