With a slight grimace, Georgie admitted, “I know nothing about how to run an orphanage.”
“That is a good thing,” Mrs. Peters said. “You could breathe fresh life into this place. It is far too dreary for my tastes.”
“I haven’t even met the girls yet. I have been holed up in this study since we first arrived.”
“I did notice that, especially since you missed dinner.”
“I wasn’t hungry.”
Mrs. Peters placed a hand on her sleeve. “You must take care of yourself first and foremost if you want to be able to help others.”
Georgie bit her lower lip before she voiced her greatest fear. “What if I fail?”
“That is impossible. I know what you are capable of,” Mrs. Peters said. “I have known you since you were a little girl, and you have never once disappointed me.”
“I fear that you might be biased.”
Lowering her hand to the side, Mrs. Peters replied, “I know I am, but it changes nothing.”
Georgie gave her a grateful look. “Thank you, Mrs. Peters,” she said. “You always seem to know the perfect thing to say.”
A knock came at the door before it was pushed open, revealing Alice. “I have turned down your sheets and scoured the room for any signs of rats.”
“Did you find any?” Georgie asked.
Alice looked hesitant. “I do not think you want to know the answer to that question.”
Mrs. Peters stepped back and encouraged, “Go to bed. This work will be here for you tomorrow.”
Georgie’s eyes swept over the disheveled desktop. “That is a lovely thought,” she murmured.
It was still dark, but Georgie was wide awake, attempting to ignore the straw poking through her bedding. She had never slept on a straw mattress before, and it was easily the worst sleeping situation she’d experienced to date. How she missed her feather mattress!
She’d had a fitful night of sleep and saw no reason to remain in bed a moment longer. She sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed, the only sound in the room was that of Alice lightly snoring in the corner.
Rising, Georgie walked over to the window and saw that the sun was just starting to rise, bringing with it a whole new day. She should feel elated that she was safe, far away from her brother, but all she felt was trepidation. The thought of failing weighed heavily on her conscience. These girls were depending on her, and she knew nothing about running an orphanage. And what of the servants that she had left behind? Had her brother punished them for aiding in her escape?
Georgie leaned her head against the window frame. Tears welled up in her eyes as she thought about her father. She wished that he was still alive. He had always doted on her, and she loved nothing more than spending time with him. What she wouldn’t give to hear his voice one more time. No doubt he would tell her that everything would be okay, and she would have believed him, for her father had never lied to her.
A tear escaped and slid down her cheek. She reached up to wipe it away. There was no point in crying. It would solve nothing.
The sound of a floorboard creaking in the hall drew her attention. Who else was awake? She went to retrieve her wrapper and put it on, then stepped quickly to the door and opened it.
As she glanced down the hall, she saw that it was empty; but she was sure that she had heard something. She exited her bedchamber, quietly closing the door behind her, and started walking down the hall. She wasn’t entirely sure where she was going, and for what purpose, but she felt an inquisitive interest, nonetheless.
The worn floorboards were cold on her feet, but she pressed on. She had just passed the stairs when she saw a silhouette in the darkness approaching her from down the hall. Fear resonated within her, and she realized she hadn’t fully thought this through.
Georgie decided not to confront the person and hurried towards the closest door. She opened it and slipped inside. Once she closed the door, she saw that she was in the girl’s sleeping quarters. Beds were lined up next to each other and the only light came from the lone window on the far wall.
A towheaded girl sat up in bed and looked at her with sleepy eyes. “Is it time to wake up?” she asked quietly.
“Not yet,” Georgie said. “You may go back to sleep.”
“I don’t think I can.”
“Why is that?” Georgie asked as she walked closer to the bed.
“I had a terrible dream.”
