NANNY AND THE PROFESSOR (MY version!)

Author: Susan

The Professor had just relaxed on the couch after waving Nanny and the children off on their picnic when a tap came at the French doors. He groaned and dragged himself off the couch and went to the door. The man standing there with a broad grin handed Hal a card with his name on it.

"Cholmondeley Featherstonehaugh" Hal read aloud, saying it phonetically, in an inquiring air.

The man laughed merrily. "No, Chumley Fenshaw. I've come to ask for the honour of your Nanny's hand in marriage."

For a moment the Professor was paralyzed, then he found his voice.

"You have come to ask for WHAT?"

"For the hand of your Nanny, darling Phoebe."

The Professor was astounded. "Uhh, is she expecting you?" He winced inside. What a stupid question. If she HAD been, surely HE would have been told...wouldn't he?

"Well, let me put it this way, she's expecting me some year!" Chumley struck a dramatic pose. "We were foreordained...pre-destined...written in the stars. I was a child, she was a child...in a kingdom by the sea! A contract of marriage between us was drawn up by our parents on the day

Phoebe was born. A holiday was declared so that the whole village could celebrate. ...Ah, you're overwhelmed. I depart! I'll be at the King's Arms. Tell my beloved that her adoring Chumley impatiently awaits her

summons!" and with a flourish, he departed.

Hal stood standing by the door, the card in his hand, completely flabbergasted by everything. Then a wry grin crossed his face...it was NOT that unusual a feeling since Nanny had come into their lives! Somehow she had turned things upside down ... but RIGHT ... for all of them!

When Nanny arrived home with the children from their picnic, the Professor called her into his office. After he explained about his visitor, he looked at her quizzically. "Is he telling the truth?"

"Yes, yes, it's quite true, Professor!" she smiled at him. "Chumley and I have been engaged for so long, it's something I take for granted. That's why I never mentioned it. I never even thought of it!"

The Professor was REALLY seeing her for the first time. "So you WERE expecting him?"

"Well, not THIS, year, but then, Chumley's always been impetuous!" her lips curved in a tender smile, and something twisted in Hal's stomach. "But ... Nanny ... a...a MARRIAGE contract! Isn't that a little archaic?"

"Not where I come from, Professor."

"Well, what if the young lady doesn't LOVE the young man!"

"Oh, ANY woman would be PROUD to marry Chumley Fenshaw!" she assured him, not really answering his question. Again a habit of hers, he thought almost grimly.

"Oh." Hal was momentarily stumped. He couldn't exactly say WHY, but he was not crazy about this "Chumley", especially if he was planning to take Nanny away! Then he had what he thought was a brilliant inspiration.

"Uh, why don't you invite him to supper?" At least that way he could see for himself how they related -- and the two wouldn't be alone! Who could be, in a house with three children?

"That's very gracious of you, Professor. Thank you." Nanny smiled, and again he was struck by her beauty. She got up to go, and he jumped up quickly.

"Nanny..." She turned to him, and he continued doggedly, "I realize that this is the personal side of your life, but..." he leaned a bit closer, fixing his eyes on hers. "Do you LOVE him?"

"Oh, I'm absolutely devoted to him!" she said airily, then added quickly, "Does steak and kidney pie sound acceptable for dinner?"

"Nanny!" he caught her arm. "How can you talk like that! Be serious! DO you love him?"

Her gaze faltered before his, and for the first time a faint blush rose in her cheeks. "I...yes..." then she turned and fled to her room. DID she love Chumley? Of course! But was she IN love with him?

Later, after a rather uncomfortable supper with Chumley, the professor told Nanny HE would put the children to bed that night.

Upstairs, the children were giving him a rather hard time about why he didn't like "Mr. Feathers" as they called him.

"I'm only concerned about Nanny's happiness!" he insisted, trying to convince himself as much as the children. "I just want to be sure he's the right man, that's all."

"Nanny thinks he is...isn't that what's most important?" Young Hal spoke quite astutely.

"Of course it is!"

"Nanny must feel just AWFUL about how you feel!" Butch observed.

"Nanny doesn't know HOW I feel! I'm not even sure I do myself! Goodnight!" He kissed the children and they went to bed. He went down the stairs and into the kitchen. As he walked in, Chumley and Nanny were folding the tablecloth together, standing facing each other and smiling into each other's eyes. The Professor stopped abruptly, feeling like an intruder on their privacy.

But Nanny welcomed him with a wide smile, and a cheery, "Everything under control upstairs, Professor?"

"Yes. The children and I were just having a little talk."

"I've just been telling Phoebe how lucky she is to be with a family who genuinely has her well-being at heart." Chumley put his arm around Phoebe's shoulders and she smiled up at him as he hugged her gently. "Nanny and I would be very pleased if you'd do us the honour of giving her away."

The Professor felt as if he had been kicked. He looked at Phoebe and her glance slid away from his, again a slight betraying flush rising in her cheeks. Then her brown eyes returned to his, a hint of ... pleading? ... in them. "No...no, it is I who would be honoured. And...may I wish you all the happiness your heart can hold..." Both remained still, eyes locked.

Chumley tightened his arm on Phoebe's shoulders, cleared his throat and said, "Thank you -- with all my heart."

With a start, the Professor realized he couldn't keep looking at Nanny as he was doing, so he muttered, "No problem." and quickly got away.

The next morning, as he was shaving, the children crowded into his bathroom, Prudence demanding, "Daddy, you CAN'T give Nanny away!"

"Well, that's just ... a manner of speaking, darling." He winced as he cut himself.

Then Nanny walked in. "Fresh towels, Prof..." her voice trailed off as they all turned to stare at her.

"Nanny," Prudence looked at her seriously. "You won't let Daddy give you away, will you?"

"Well, it's customary, you know, for someone to give the bride to the groom."

"Then will you be Nanny or Mrs. Feathers?"

"I'll be ... Mrs. Chumley Fenshaw ..." Phoebe said. Then she felt her senses swirling and she abruptly handed the towels to Hal and disappeared to her room. WHY was she acting like this? She had known all her life she was to marry Chumley. It had never bothered her before. But seeing the children's accusing stares ... and the Professor's shock and faint disapproval and disgruntlement ... she didn't know her own mind anymore!

That afternoon, as Phoebe was out feeding the animals in the back yard, Prudence came running out. "Nanny, Nanny, come quick! Mr. Feathers is here with your great-great-grandmother's wedding dress!"

Chumley appeared behind the child. "Yes, I thought the children may enjoy seeing you in it. I have to go uptown... I'll be back later, all right?"

Chumley smiled and departed.

Nanny took the dress up to her room and the Professor and the children waited eagerly at the bottom of the stairs for her.

"I bet she looks pretty." Butch said, kicking the bottom step.

Young Hal heard a faint noise and looked up.

"She looks gorgeous!" he blurted out, in an awed voice.

They all looked up as Nanny descended slowly, smiling faintly, her lips trembling a bit, a faint flush on her cheeks. The Professor was stunned by her beauty, and by the feeling of fury that rushed over him that it was not for HIM.

When Nanny got near the bottom of the steps, she hesitated, and looked at the three wide-eyed children. Then she lifted her eyes to the Professor.

He cleared his throat and said huskily, "Your great-great-grandmother's dress looks absolutely beautiful, Miss Figalilly."

She smiled. "Thank you, Professor." she spoke softly. Again their eyes locked. Then the dog lifted his head and howled, and Prudence burst into tears and ran.

"We'll get her, Dad!" Young Hal and Butch ran after their sister.

Nanny came down the last few steps. "Oh dear, maybe I shouldn't have tried on the dress, Professor." She looked worriedly after the children.

"Of course you should have! Prudence has to learn to accept reality."

They looked at each other again. "Everyone has to lead her own life."

"That's an ideal that isn't always easily achieved, Professor." Nanny murmured, trying to smile although her eyes, too, were swimming.

His fingers were on her chin. "Tears?" he asked softly. Then he bent closer. Phoebe felt mesmerized by his regard as he lowered his mouth to hers. She drew in a sharp breath, but it was his breath she drew in.

His lips moved softly across hers. Her eyes closed instinctively, and it occurred to her that she SHOULD resist. But she couldn't deny that his light touch set her aflame. What magic did he possess, that he could cause such weakness in her? He pulled her closer, kissing her slowly, thoroughly, intimately, then drew back slightly.

Phoebe felt as if she had been drugged. Her lashes swept up as she opened her eyes, and he was staring into them. Eyes that revealed her confusion.

Never before had she felt such conflicting emotions! She couldn't move ... not even when he slowly lowered his head again. Her eyes closed as his lips touched hers again. Waves of feeling washed over her, threatening to swamp her, leaving her flushed and breathless. As he lingered over her lips, she couldn't stop her hands from sliding upwards until they were entwined around his neck. His hand moved from her slim waist up to the curve of her breast.

With a choked cry, Phoebe tore herself out of his arms, caught up her dress and ran up the stairs without looking back.

The boys burst out of the kitchen into the entry. "We've settled Prudence down -- a piece of cake!" Butch laughed. The Professor pulled himself back to reality with great effort and followed his children to the kitchen.

After gaining her room, Phoebe leaned again the door for a moment, taking deep breaths and willing the new sensations to subside. What was she to do? She raised her hands, beginning to take the pins out of the headpiece, and noticed they were shaking. She walked slowly over to the mirror, and as she put the pins in the box, she suddenly caught sight of a note she hadn't seen before. Her name was on it, in her mother's handwriting. She opened it.

‘Dearest daughter, a wise parent can only hope to guide a beloved child.
When the time comes for you to wear this gown, Chomondeley understands the choice is yours, for you alone will know what is truly in your heart. Follow it with our love.'

Phoebe finished reading it over a second time, and a smile spread over her face. She loved Chumley, yes...but like a part of her past -- like a brother, a dear friend. He had never kissed her as the Professor had just done. He had never caused her heart to beat faster by just a look.

When Chumley came back from his business uptown, the Professor met him and said that Nanny was upstairs. "Would you like a drink while you wait for her?"

"And talk about me." Chumley added, smiling. He followed Hal into the kitchen.

"Well," said Hal, "since Nanny IS of concern to both of us, there WERE one or two questions I was wondering about. For instance..."

"How do I intend to support her?" Chumley interrupted.

"Well...yes."

"Oh, by doing a little of this and a little of that..."

"Yes, but what is...?"

"My line of work?" Chumley interceded smoothly. "Sir, it is not our custom to think of life as work ... or work as life."

"The point is...," said Hal, draining his glass.

"Will she have a home, security, something in the bank for a rainy day?"

Hal was rather disgruntled by all this second-guessing, especially when Chumley was right all the time. He hated to think he could be read like a book! "Right again."

"My heart will be her home, my undying devotion her security ... and I promise her a thousand umbrellas for a rainy day!" Chumley said theatrically.

"Oh." Hal couldn't think of anything else to say. He just knew he wanted it to be HIM saying that! He admitted to himself he had never REALLY paid a lot of attention to Phoebe as a person...more as Nanny ... at least, he hadn't consciously. But after kissing her, he realized she was entwined in his heart-strings, and he didn't want to see her go away. He couldn't imagine life without her!

Chumley interrupted his thoughts. "You have a family that delights the eye and the heart, Professor. It makes me want to LEAP into the future..."

"Yes...but does NANNY want to leap with YOU?" the Professor blurted out before he could stop himself.

"Not for one minute have I misinterpreted your concern," said Chumley, again making Hal feel as if his mind had been read. Chumley hesitated a moment, unusual for him, then said softly, "You are right, sir. Phoebe is not ready to be with me. She may never be. Give her my regards, I beg you..." and with a flourish, he departed.

Hal watched him go, open-mouthed, unable to stop the other man, even had he pulled himself together enough to think he might WANT to. For a long moment, he stood still, then he heaved a sigh of relief, mingled with a very small touch of sadness for Chumley, and, yes, admiration for the man's

acceptance of his failure. Going upstairs, he knocked on Phoebe's door.

"Come in, Professor." she said quietly, a slight smile on her face.

He opened the door, and saw her standing, still in her wedding finery, holding a letter in her hand. She turned to face him fully, a calm expression on her face.

"I....uh...I just thought you'd like to know that with the help of one of your famous prescriptions, chocolate cake and milk, Prudence is going to be just fine."

"I have a feeling that we're ALL going to be just fine." Phoebe smiled her warm smile at him. He was so very dear to her, and he had looked so lost when he thought she was going!

"I...I don't think I know exactly what that means?" he came into the room, a puzzled expression on his face.

"It means I'm going to STAY, Professor." she said. "It means my parents also knew that everyone has to live her own life. Chumley is a dear man, and I hate to hurt him. I don't deserve him, really ...and YOU made me see that it would hurt him terribly to marry him when I onlyLIKE, not LOVE him as he should be loved."

The Professor took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. "And here I was worried that I would hurt you when I told you that..."

"that Chumley just jilted me?" she finished. "Yes, Professor, it hurts me. For HIS sake. But for mine..." her voice trailed away.,

Hal stepped closer. "Yes?" he said.

She raised her chin. "For mine, I'm so very glad!"

"You really are beautiful in that dress." Hal reached out and moved his hand slowly down her cheek. "You're beautiful in ANY dress..." he added huskily.

She swallowed, and her lips parted. "Thank you." she whispered. "Phoebe...will you wear that dress...for me? For us?"

"I..."

"I love you." he said simply. His hands moved to her shoulders and he drew her closer. Their lips met; she responded fervently to his kiss.

"Yes," she said, when she could breathe again. "Oh, YES, Pro...HAL!"