Mrs. Hughes approached the desk, coming to a stop in front of it. “I know your secret.”
Georgie met her gaze, feeling dread in her stomach. “Which is?”
“You have beguiled Lord Grenton, using your status and beauty,” Mrs. Hughes said, “but he will not be fooled for long.”
“Mrs. Hughes…” Georgie started.
The housekeeper stepped back. “These girls will have misplaced grandeur and won’t be satisfied with the jobs that are available to them,” she said. “Learning to read is not the only way to determine their worth.”
Something in Mrs. Hughes’ manner didn’t fit with the animosity of her words. Georgie considered her for a moment, then quietly asked, “Do you know how to read?”
Mrs. Hughes visibly tensed. “I never saw a need for it.”
“Would you like to learn how?” Georgie asked.
“For what purpose? I have done just fine without it.”
“I agree; but I would be happy to teach you.”
Mrs. Hughes gave her a look of disbelief. “You would be willing to teach me, even after everything that has transpired between us?”
“I would, gladly.”
Mrs. Hughes hesitated before admitting, “I did try when I was younger, but I was unable to.”
“You are older now. It might be a different experience.”
“I had a problem recalling my letters, and my mother declared me a lost cause. I stopped trying and I accepted my lot in life.”
Georgie gave her an encouraging smile. “There is no shame in that. You have made something of yourself, and you should be proud of everything that you have accomplished.”
Mrs. Hughes held her head high. “I am.”
“These girls would be fortunate to hold a position such as yours,” Georgie said, “but if they start off as a scullery maid, there would be little chance of that.”
“There is no shame in being a scullery maid.”
“There isn’t, but don’t you want more for these girls?”
To Georgie’s surprise, Mrs. Hughes’s face softened. “I suppose I see your point. I have grown rather fond of them. But that doesn’t mean I will let them shirk on their chores.”
“I expect nothing less.”
Mrs. Hughes looked at her as if seeing her for the first time. “I may have misjudged you, Miss Lloyd,” she said. “I just assumed a lady, such as yourself, would look down on someone like me.”
“I assure you that I have never thought less of you, nor would I,” Georgie responded. “After all, my own circumstances have been reduced.”
“But you have still experienced a world that I will never be privy to.”
“A cage is a cage, no matter how gilded it is.” Georgie leaned back in her seat as she admitted, “It wasn’t always that way, but it all changed when my father died. I was forced to accept that my life would never be as it was again, and it was terrifying.”
Georgie had just uttered her words when Lord Grenton stepped into the room and said, “That is most unfortunate. No one should be in that position.” He gave her a sheepish smile. “I hope you don’t mind, but I told Wilson I didn’t need to be announced.”
“Not at all. This is your orphanage, after all,” Georgie said, holding his gaze.
Mrs. Hughes glanced between them. “If you will excuse me, I need to ensure the girls are on task.”
After the housekeeper left the room, Lord Grenton removed his top hat and held it in front of him. “I apologize, but I couldn’t help but overhear your last comment. It resonated with me, deeply.” He paused, looking unsure for a brief moment. “I have felt trapped in a cage of my making for so long that I can scarcely believe that I will ever be free of it.” His words were sad, resigned.
