“No, you are not,” Damien replied, seizing her with a gaze that warned her to watch herself before turning his attention to Jasper. “Is there a bakery nearby?”
“Aye, there is,” Jasper said with a nod. “But they only donate once a month, and their last drop-off was only two days ago.”
Caroline waited, breath held, as she anticipated Damien’s reaction. That was twice now that Jasper had failed to address Damien with proper etiquette. She expected Damien to snap atthe disrespect.
“We are not going to ask them for a donation,” Damien replied instead, reaching into his pocket and pulling out his billfold. “We are going to buy them out of their morning supply.”
Jasper’s mouth dropped open as Damien pulled out a wad of bills and offered them to him. When he did not take them, Damien grabbed his wrist and placed the money in his open hand.
“Do not waste any time. Bakers rise early. They no doubt already sold some of their supply, and we cannot let them sell any more,” Damien commanded.
Jasper’s pale blue eyes shifted up to Damien’s face, still in apparent shock.
“Who... who are you, sir?” he asked.
“I am the Duke of Ravenshaw. Miss Mason’s betrothed. And as of this moment, the new owner of this establishment,” Damien answered.
Despite the grave tone in his deep voice, Caroline and Miss Willa gaped in shock. Jasper, too, seemed to experience a moment of awe. Then he slid out of his chair, bowed toward Damien, and whispered a promise to be back straightaway with the bakery’s inventory.
When he was gone again, Damien turned not to Caroline, but Miss Willa.
“How much?” he asked.
Caroline looked quickly at Miss Willa’s face, and in doing so, snapped the other woman out of her shock.
“You... Your Grace, you cannot just walk in and purchase this place!” Miss Willa expressed. “This institution relies on charity; no one owns it. It is supported by donations!”
“Give me any price, and it will be paid,” Damien said, his tone far too casual for what was happening. “It is obvious these donations do not cover nearly enough. Under my ownership, I can see to its needs straightaway. I will pay for repairs. Purchase more food for the children. Clothes, too. Toys. Security as well, since it is so obviously needed. Whatever is necessary, just make an itemized list, and I shall provide it. Now, please, madam. Name the price. As Miss Mason said earlier, she does have to get to the shop in less than two hours, and I must go with her.”
Speechless, Caroline looked to Miss Willa, awaiting her reaction. After a moment of shock, the woman scrambled out of her chair and sank to her knees before Damien.
“Oh, thank you, Your Grace!” she sobbed, pressing her hands together tightly as if in prayer. “May the Lord bless you! You have no idea how long we have prayed for such kindness!”
Fromhim,no less,Caroline quietly mused, her eyes shifting from Miss Willa to Damien. It was yet another act of charity she had not suspected him capable of.Maybe I have been wrong about him?
“Oh, no, this is not a kindness,” Damien replied, a look of disgust forming on his face as he took in the poor state of the kitchens. “In fact, I am thoroughly repulsed by this establishment. How the Crown or anyone would allow children to live in a place such as this is beyond my measure of comprehension.”
There he is,Caroline thought, feeling what little hope she had in him drop away.
“You do not have to be so harsh,” Caroline scolded, pulling Miss Willa to her feet. “Miss Willa has worked incredibly hard to keep this orphanage running despite all adversity!”
Damien gave a casual shrug of his shoulders.
“I have no doubt. That does not make my words any less true.”
Caroline glowered at him, but before she could say anything in return, the sound of footsteps echoed through the old building, and a moment later, four of the orphanage’s oldest boys, Thomas, Nathan, Hugo, and Rupert, came jogging into the room.
Damien’s look of distaste grew more apparent as he took in their shabby clothing and the unclean state of their long hair.
“Who are you?” Thomas, the oldest at fourteen, demanded of Damien once he took in Miss Willa’s still sobbing state.
“I am your new patron, boy,” Damien stated, meeting the young man’s glare with one of his own.
“Do not speak to them so harshly,” Caroline hissed in warning.
“The real question is, can you be trusted to assist Miss Willa?” Damien went on, ignoring Caroline’s scolding. “She could use some help from strong lads like you.”
Caroline watched as all four boys puffed out their narrow chests and raised their chins.
