Page 59 of The Good Fortune of Miss Robbins

“How old are you?”

“Nine years.”

“Would you and Joshua like to come and stay with me? I have an extra room with a comfortable bed. You can stay until your brother’s arm heals, at least.”

“And then will you send us to the poorhouse? We was there and we ran away. We don’t aim to go back.”

“I promise I won’t send you to the poorhouse, nor anywhere else you don’t want to go.”

The girl said nothing. I couldn’t bear to think of her and her little brother sleeping on the floor of that broken and rundown building. I could surely convince her to come and stay with me. I had so much room, and she and her brother were so young and vulnerable.

What was Lord Brookhaven thinking? Did he disapprove of my taking these orphaned children to live with me? If he did, he made no mention of it. But Mrs. Drake would disapprove, I could well imagine, and so would Millicent. Or perhaps I was wrong and their compassion and better natures would win out.

Lord Brookhaven’s face was serious, but there was a gentleness too. My mind went to what he’d said to me at the ball, and I realized I’d reacted badly. He’d only been trying to be helpful, saying what any friend would have said who was trying to look out for me.

I was distracted from planning what I would say to him by the sight of his bare neck.

I’d seen many servants working in the fields or in gardens and stables with part of their chests bare, their shirts open at the neck and chest hair peeking out, but it had never seemed anything but ordinary, and I’d never felt drawn to stare at them. Lord Brookhaven, however...

I forced myself to think instead about how kind Lord Brookhaven had been, how gently he had treated the little injured boy. Would any of the other gentlemen I’d met so far, danced and flirted with in London, have been so kind? No, they’d probably have reacted similarly to Mrs. Drake, whose behavior—flinching away and yelling at them—reflected most people’s feelings toward orphans and those who begged on the street. Where was their Christian charity? At best, it was overwhelmed by their fear. At worst, they felt none.

While we waited for the physician to finish, a servant brought tea and cakes. And with a little encouragement, Sarah began to eat.

“Can I save some for my brother?” she whispered to me. Her eyes were wide, and a few crumbs sprayed from the corners of her mouth.

“Of course, when the surgeon is finished with him.”

While she was distracted by the food, I turned to Lord Brookhaven.“Thank you so much for helping me. I wouldn’t have known where to take him, and you appeared just when we needed you.”

Just whenIneeded him. I felt the tears crowd my eyes.

“I am glad that I came upon you when I did and was able to help.”

“You must think me foolish.” I said the words very quietly, hoping Sarah wouldn’t hear.

“Not at all. I think you showed a compassion and courage that is very admirable.”

“And you will help me bring them to my home?” I steeled myself for what he might say.

“Of course. You may rely upon me.”

My heart swelled and the tears threatened to fall. I blinked desperately to hold them back.

“After all,” he said with a tiny smile, “I’ve been carrying children around for seven years now. I am up to the task.”

I could have asked him more directly if he disapproved of me bringing the children to my home, but I was certain I had my answer.

Nineteen

“Miss Robbins, you cannot expect me to say nothing about your bringing two strange children of no account and no family into your own home. They are filthy, they’ve been living on the streets, and they will steal from you and take advantage of you. I would not be surprised if they attack you in your bed while you sleep.”

“Mrs. Drake, I will ask you to at least lower your voice if you must say such unkind things.”

“Unkind things?” Mrs. Drake had a look of exasperation on her face.

Millicent stood nearby, seeming almost frightened.

“Miss Robbins, I realize you are young and have not been very much in the world, and heaven knows how you got Lord Brookhaven to go along with you, but it is well-known that these little ... vermin run around thieving and accosting good people in the streets.”