Page 116 of Regency Whispers: Scandalous Matches

He looked at her in surprise. ‘I have?’

‘Yes, in the young footman, Frank Smith.’

‘He is a lad from an orphanage?’

‘Yes. I had a long discussion with Miss Stick about whether she would be supportive of the idea of bringing him in to train up.’

‘She was happy to do it?’

‘Very happy. Miss Stick has a hard demeanour but a very good soul,’ Alice said affectionately. ‘We visited the orphanage together to talk to Frank and to check he would be a good fit, then he joined the household five months ago.’

‘Five months ago he was an orphanage boy?’

‘He was.’

Simon let out a low whistle. ‘I would not have guessed.’

‘Three times a week he spends an hour with either myself or Miss Stick to develop his reading and writing and arithmetic skills, and once he is secure in basic knowledge, we will discuss what he wishes to do with his life and hopefully be able to guide him in that direction.’

‘That is an ambitious plan, Alice,’ Simon said, looking at her in wonder. ‘You think this will work?’

She shrugged. ‘I think with Frank it will. He is a determined young man who has seen the worst of life at a very young age, and he is motivated not to end the same way his own parents did, in poverty, unable to support their family. I am not saying it is the answer for everyone, but perhaps it is enough to help a few.’

‘Once Frank has gained the skills he needs to get a job elsewhere, you will repeat the process I assume?’

‘That is the plan, whilst gently advocating for others to do the same.’

‘What if it goes wrong?’

She put her hands a little behind her bottom and leaned back, tilting her face up to the sun underneath the rim of her bonnet. Her skin would burn if she stayed this way for too long, but a couple of minutes would not matter, and it felt so glorious to have the warmth of the sun on her face.

‘You mean what if one of the children from the orphanage steals all the silver or brings the household into disrepute?’ She shrugged again. ‘It is the risk you take when you hire any servant. References can be forged, recommendations coerced. At least this way you know the person’s background, and you can learn what they have been through.’

For a minute Simon remained silent, and then he nodded thoughtfully. ‘I think the scheme has merit. It will be interesting to see what comes of it.’ It was the first time he had spoken of being interested in something shared in the future, and Alice wondered if he would really stick around to see the results of her plans or if in a few months he would disappear again, his only correspondence a short note telling her he was gone.

‘I am visiting St Benedict’s Orphanage this afternoon. I will keep you updated on my progress.’

Simon frowned. ‘I hope you do not plan to go alone. It is not in a salubrious part of the city.’

‘I am meeting the matron of the orphanage. I hardly think my life will be in danger.’

‘You should take someone with you.’

‘Are you volunteering?’ It was said in jest, but she saw Simon tilt his head to one side as he considered.

‘I am. I have no plans this afternoon. I would be happy to accompany you.’

For a moment she didn’t know what to say. Part of her felt unsettled: it was strange enough having her husband back in her life, sharing her home, but she had not expected him to have any involvement with the charity work she did too.

‘Thank you,’ she said eventually.

‘As pleasant as this has been, we should head back home soon,’ Simon said, rising to his feet and holding out a hand to help her up. She stood, her body bumping lightly against his, and for a moment she felt as though time stood still. The sensible part of her mind screamed for her to step away, to put some distance between them, but her body just would not obey. She wished she didn’t feel this attraction towards her husband. He had made it perfectly clear there would be no intimacy between them, yet she yearned for him to kiss her, to trail his fingers over her skin and make her feel truly alive.

With great effort she stepped away, turning her back for a moment to compose herself. By the time she turned back, Simon had moved and was busying himself with the horses, seemingly unperturbed by their moment of closeness.

Chapter Fourteen

St Benedict’s Orphanage was based in a run-down building that had been built on the very edge of the slums of St Giles. It was tucked between two equally rickety buildings, one of which leaned forward over the street as if threatening to collapse any moment. When they had stepped out of the carriage, Simon had looked up and down the street dubiously, wondering how likely it was that the whole row would collapse and crush everyone inside. Such tragedies were not unheard of in these areas where the buildings were poorly constructed in the first place and decades of hard use had chipped away at any structural integrity that might have once been present.