The Gold Medallion

By Eliza Clark

Rebecca Kashion is a young woman who has broken up with her fiancé of three years. She has moved back home to live withe her mother. She decided to look for a job to get out of her doldrums. She applied for a nanny, for a young family with four children. They will supply her clothing, room and board. The home she thinks is from the early 1900's but there are some modern conveniences. Becca, as her family calls her, finds herself in a situation now finding she is quite attracted to the head of the household, Mr. Abbott. She has stumbled upon a different lifestyle, one that she has never seen before. She has to decide will she stay here or run a way for ever? Only the medallion would allow her to leave and come back to this three-story mansion but she does not have access to that medallion only Mr. Abbott does.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Eliza Clark
• Release date: Jul 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781535526241

Eliza Clark

Eliza Clark is the author of Boy Parts and Penance. Boy Parts was Blackwell's 2020 Fiction Book of the Year and was later adapted for the stage. In 2022, Eliza was chosen as a finalist for the Women’s Prize Futures Award for writers under thirty-five and in 2023, was named one of Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists. She also writes for film and television. She lives in London.

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The Gold Medallion

BY

Eliza J Clark

Text copyright © 2016 Eliza J Clark

All rights reserved

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you, for downloading this eBook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer. Thank you for your support.

To my friends that go places with me when I go back home...

Julie and Sammi.

Table of Contents

Preface

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 260

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Preface

Rebecca Kashion is trying to find purpose in her life. She has just broken up with her fiancé and moved back with her mother. She has decided to interview for a nanny for a local family. She hopes that she can put the past behind her and begin to live again. The touch of her new employer sparked a deep emotion inside of her. Now she has to decide whether to act upon that or enjoy him from afar.

Chapter 1

Becca, Jennifer called out. Time to get up and let’s get some things accomplished today.

Becca responded, I am up, mom. I will be out in a minute. Becca thought she truly did want to do something more than sitting around the house moping. Breaking up with your fiancé is not the end of the world.

I brought in the newspaper this morning, Jennifer said. Maybe there will be something in there that would work for you.

Thanks, Becca said.

Jennifer smiled. They almost looked like sisters. Both were green-eyed, 5 ft. 5 in, slender build and strawberry blond hair color. The only thing that separated them was the age difference; Jennifer was 43 years old and Becca 25 years old.

There is an omelet on the stove, Jennifer said. I will be home later tonight. I have the book club meeting after work.

That sounds fun, Becca said. I might go in town to catch a movie or play some pool.

That sounds like fun, Jennifer said. Sorry, I have to run I have an early meeting this morning.

Love ya, Becca said.

Becca dished up her omelet while heating up her water for her tea. She sat in the breakfast nook enjoying the view. There was a pond where she had spent many a summer with her brothers and friends playing. She realized she was mindlessly swishing the tea bag in her cup. She loved this home. It wasn’t much to the outside eye, but it was home. It was a ranch style home with partial wood and brick siding. Her dad had added a master bedroom when Becca was younger. But it still had the three other bedrooms so each of the children had their own room. Becca wondered if her mother would ever move. It was a big house for one person. She paused for a moment watching the birds fly over the pond.

She began sipping on her tea while reading the wants ads. She was surprised seeing the ad for a nanny in the newspaper. She read ‘We are looking for a young lady, preferably between the ages of twenty-two and twenty-six. She would be helping us care for our four darling children. There will be some tutoring involved. We would also like for her to join us on the vacations. We would like for the young lady to stay in the home she will have one day off per week. The earnings will be compensatory if she decides to live with us. Interviews will be conducted between 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, September 4th.’ Becca leaned back in the chair, closing her eyes just thinking how this might be the answer to her problems. She loved being back home but the heartache of the sudden breakup of her three-year relationship had shaken her. She thought if she kept staying inside she might become a recluse.

She looked at her phone hoping there would be a text. She knew better than to expect one from him. He was very adamant about how he felt about her now. So she noticed the date was Sept 4th. The interview was tonight. She needed to get her resume ready and find something to wear. What do you wear to a nanny interview she thought? First, she needed to do some laundry or it wouldn't matter without any underwear on.

Becca dressed in her Sunday best, a navy skirt with a blue and white striped blouse. The skirt was an obvious choice but she found that shoes were becoming a harder decision. Does she wear the high-heeled navy shoes or the more practical navy flats? After an hour she decided on the flats. She left a note for her mom that she had gone on the interview.

She couldn’t believe the house when she finally arrived at 152133 AS Cherry Blossom Dr. The map on her phone showed an empty lot. But here was the house. The gate automatically opened when she arrived. The driveway was circular lined with cherry trees. The lawn was well maintained. The house was three stories with a porch surrounding it. She parked and notice a house next to the stables. This place was huge. Becca was wondering why she hadn’t noticed this house before. As she walked to the door she thought this night might be the new start she was hoping for.

Chapter 2

She looked for a doorbell but couldn’t find one and then realized she was staring into the face of intricate lion head design door knocker. It made a louder sound than she thought it would. She took a step back on the porch.

The door opened and a stately man answered. He towered over her. She thought he was six feet tall. He was dressed in a black suit with a white shirt and black tie. He had dark hair with a little white at the temple. He had a stern looking face but for some softness around the blue eyes. May I help you, ma’am? he asked sternly.

I am here for the interview, Becca said with a quiver in her voice. She followed him in the house.

Sit here, he said, pointing at the bench next to the fireplace just inside the entry way.

The foyer was lined with wood paneling. The detailing of the area around the stairway Becca had never seen before. The long hallway was lined with the same detail. There was another bench on the side of the stairway. She noticed a door next to the bench. It was then she noticed another bench on the other side of the fireplace. She was looking at the fireplace mantel and the details of the designs in the mantel when a man entered the room. She turned to see a very handsome man standing in front of her. He stood about 6 ft 2 in with dark hair and blue-gray eyes.

He stretched out his hand, Hello, my name is Mr. Abbott.

My name is Becca Kashion, she said, shaking his hand.

Is that short for Rebecca? he asked.

Yes, it is, she said.

If you work for us the children would call you Miss Rebecca, he said, matter-of-factly. Please follow me into my study and we will start the interview."

Becca followed him. She didn’t know if she would fit into this lifestyle. It was very old fashioned. The study was lined with wood bookshelves, surrounding the fireplace. The wallpaper was a gray leaf of some kind with a wooden shelf around two walls separating the striped wallpaper from the leaf design. It also provided a place for his pictures, awards, and diplomas he wished to display. The desk was in front of two windows giving him the natural light to work in. He motioned her to sit down in the straight back chair with Queen Anne mahogany feet. The material was a burgundy with a gray swirl. The flooring was wood also with intricate designs that separated one room from another.

Now, Miss Rebecca, can you tell me about your family, he asked.

Well, my parents are Frank and Jennifer Kashion, she said. I do have an older brother by the name of Jeffrey and a younger one by the name of Saul. I have lived in Champagne all my life.

Have you ever taken care of children before, he asked.

Yes, my brother and cousins I babysat during the summers, she answered.

Did you enjoy that, he asked.

Yes, very much, she said.

My wife and I will be here most of the time but there will be times that we will leave you in charge of them for weeks on end. Would that be acceptable to you? he asked.

Yes, as long as I know what the rules are. I would treat them as my own, she said.

We would want you to live here for the first month at least. You would get extra pay for that, he said.

Would I have any time to myself to go into town, she asked.

Yes, each weekend you would get at least one day, he said. There would be one rule you must obey while in town, though.

What would that be, she asked.

Well, it is twofold, he said. You could not talk about our family, that is the first and most important thing, secondly you would also wear this medallion under your shirt to be able to unlock the gate to get back in.

I think I could do that, she said. He had a roughness about him but she could see a kindness in his eyes that attracted her. She had never seen that color of blue eyes before.

He stood up and said, Good now let’s meet the children to see if this would work. He left the room and went to the stairs. Greta? Jordan? Hannah? Joseph?

Yes, father, came their reply.

Each child stood in front of her. They were waiting for her to say something. But he spoke first.

Children, this is Miss Rebecca, will you say your names and ages, please, he said.

I am Greta, she said. She had brown hair, tied up in bows with braids on each side. I am 10 years old. She stepped back in line.

I am Jordan, he said. He looked like his dad, dark brown hair, with blue/gray eyes. I am 8 years old. Then he stepped back in line.

I am Hannah, she said. She had strawberry blond hair and green eyes. I am 6 years old. Then she stepped back in line.

I am Joseph, he said. He had an impish smile, dark brown hair, and hazel eyes. I am 4 years old. He hugged Miss Rebecca then stepped back in line.

Thank you, children, he said. Now go back up to your rooms. Greta, would you please tell your mother she is needed?

Yes, father, she replied.

Sarah Abbott walked down the stairs. She was very elegant. She had a slender frame, brown shoulder length hair, and green eyes. Her dress was floor length, ecru lace with three-quarter length sleeves. She came down the steps with a grace that Rebecca envied.

Sarah, this is Miss Rebecca, he said.

How do you do, she said, extending her hand.

Rebecca curtsied when shaking her hand. The pleasure is all mine, she said. She was a little embarrassed with what she said but Mr. Abbott looked pleased. She felt something inside, a warm pleasurable feeling. She wanted to work here.

Miss Rebecca, he said, would you like to work here?

Yes, she said.

Are there many things you would need to get from your home, he asked. We will provide your dress and toiletries.

There are a few things I would like to bring if you don’t mind, she said.

No, not at all, he said. We would like you back tonight if you can by 7:00 p.m.?

Yes, she said. I can get my stuff and let my mother know I am taking a new job so she won’t worry.

Yes, he said, that would be fine. Just don’t tell her too much or about the children specifically. Now let me put this medallion on you and don’t let anyone see it.

He moved behind her reached around to put the medallion between her breasts. She automatically took a deep breath. They seemed to enlarge as his hand brushed the sides as he placed it there. He moved his fingers up her chest to the neck to clasp the medallion. He then reached down her blouse again making sure the medallion laid flat against her skin underneath her breast.

She could hardly breathe. She knew she shouldn’t but she did have a little crush on him. But he was married with four lovely children. She would just have to admire him from a distance. He was stirring up feelings in her and wished he would keep touching her. She left to get her things but she was rushing around her room to get them because she didn’t want anything to stop her from getting back to the house. She left a note for her mother: I have a new job with the Abbott’s I will be living there for a while. I may come home now and again but my duties are to take care of the children. Love, Becca.

Becca returned to the house when she knocked, this time, the butler said, The help comes in the back. Mr. Abbott said you can come in this way this time. I will need your keys to put your car in the garage. My name is James.

Thank you, James, Becca said.

Mr. Abbott came out of the study door. That was a quick trip, he said, Did you get everything you needed?

Yes, I did, she said. "I did not

need much since you will be providing my clothes and things. I just wanted a few things to remind me of my home."

He told her to follow him, which she did. The room was on the second floor the first door on the right as you came up the stairs. It was a nice room with pink wallpaper and a fireplace. He opened the door of the closet and told her to try on the clothing. If it doesn’t fit get with Mrs. Galbraith the seamstress to get them tailored, he said.

She put out her picture of her family.

He picked it up and looked at it. Is this your mother, he asked.

Yes, she said.

You look a lot like her, he said. Then he put it back on the desk. When you are comfortable please come down for dinner with the family, hopefully, one of the dresses will fit for tonight. If you don’t mind, I need to remove the medallion for now.

No, not at all, you can take it off, she said.

He tried to undo the necklace and have it pull up but it was caught on her bra. He reached down and lightly fondled her breasts as he unhooked the necklace from her bra. She struggled to keep her control with his warm breath going down her neck. She thought he must know she wanted him to keep touching. She felt bad that she enjoyed his touch. She closed her eyes and he was gone. She went to the closet and began looking for a dress that she could wear for dinner tonight. The dresses were plain but pretty. All of them were floor length. She picked out two for tonight to try on but she remembered he said all of her clothing so she checked the drawers for undergarments. The were several full-length slips and some things that reminded her of her bra. She thought tonight I will wear mine until I can figure these things out.

When she arrived downstairs for dinner she had a nod of approval from Mr. Abbott but Mrs. Abbott was looking dismayed.

Miss Rebecca, she said, I will come to your room before breakfast in the morning to show you how to dress. It can be complicated in some ways for a woman and the undergarments.

Thank-you, she said. I would appreciate that. I must admit that I did resort to my undergarments tonight.

Mr. Abbott said grace over the food then they began to eat. The children talked about what they learned today and what they were planning for tomorrow. Mrs. Abbott told them how they were going away for the weekend and that Miss Rebecca would be there for them.

Becca about choked on her food. What did she get herself into? They continued to talk. After dinner, they sat in the drawing room while Mr. Abbott read a story to them. She didn’t have to get the children ready for bed, Mrs. Abbott and her maid took care of that.