“As little as I can,” Mr. Mason replied. “That you are a lady who has fallen on hard times since your parents died.”
“Which isn’t far from the truth.”
“No, it is not,” Mr. Mason agreed. “With any luck, Lord Grenton will pay you little heed as you go about running the orphanage.”
“That would be my wish, as well.”
Mr. Mason draped the satchel over his shoulder. “Lord Grenton did provide a generous income for you, but I doubt it will be what you are accustomed to.”
“That is the least of my concerns,” Georgie said.
“I will request for additional funds to pay for your lady’s maid, but I do not know how Lord Grenton will react to that,” Mr. Mason shared.
“If it comes to it, I will pay Alice out of my own income.”
Mr. Mason nodded approvingly. “If you need anything, please send word, and I will come as soon as I am able.”
“Thank you, Mr. Mason.”
Mr. Mason glanced down at her black crepe gown. “You have my condolences on your loss,” he said. “I didn’t know your father, but I was well aware that he was a champion of the poor. He fought hard to alleviate their burdens in the rookeries.”
“My father took his position in the House of Lords very seriously. He wanted to help as many people as he could.”
“That is a mark of a good man,” Mr. Mason said as he walked over to the door. “If you will excuse me, I need to depart before it gets too late.”
Mrs. Peters rose. “Thank you for coming, Aaron.”
Mr. Mason exchanged a smile with her. “Good evening, sister,” he said before he departed from the room.
Mrs. Peters’s eyes remained on the door for a long moment. “Aaron may be my younger brother, but he has always taken care of me.”
“That must be a nice feeling.”
“It is,” Mrs. Peters agreed, bringing her gaze back to meet Georgie’s. “That is what a good brother is supposed to do.”
Georgie smiled wryly. “I’m afraid Charles didn’t get that message.”
“No, he most definitely did not,” Mrs. Peters said as she approached the desk. “How are you faring?”
“I am well.”
Mrs. Peters lifted her brow. “I would prefer the truth, if you don’t mind.”
Georgie laughed. “I don’t know why I bother trying to hide anything from you,” she said. “You’ve always been able to see right through me.”
“It is a gift.”
Rising, Georgie walked over to the window. “Frankly, I don’t know what to feel right now,” she admitted.
“That is understandable. You have been through a lot.”
“I’m angry at my brother,” she said, her voice rising. “I’m angry that he put me in this situation.”
“You have every right to be angry. Lord Wakefield’s duty was to care for you, but he failed terribly.”
Georgie huffed. “That he did,” she agreed. “He has been an awful brother since my father died.”
Mrs. Peters walked around the desk and approached her. “He was awful before then, too, but it is time to move forward. You must not let that anger consume you. Instead, you must use that passion to help you thrive.”
