Georgie sat at the foot of the bed. “Do you want to talk about it?”
The girl shook her head.
“You are safe here,” Georgie assured her. “No harm will come to you.”
The child didn’t appear convinced. “Are you the new headmistress?”
“I am.”
“Mrs. Hughes says that we aren’t supposed to talk to you.”
“Why is that?”
The girl lowered her gaze. “She said that you are a lady, and you don’t want to associate with urchins like us.”
Taken aback, Georgie said, “Mrs. Hughes was wrong. I look forward to becoming acquainted with all of you.”
“You do?” the girl asked, looking up.
Georgie nodded. “I do,” she replied. “What’s your name?”
“Rebecca.”
“That is a lovely name,” Georgie acknowledged. “How old are you?”
“I’m six.”
Georgie smiled. “It is nice to meet you, Rebecca. My name is Miss Hol…” Her voice stopped and she rushed to correct herself. “Miss Lloyd.”
“Do you live in a castle?”
“No, I do not,” Georgie said. “Only princesses live in castles.”
The door opened and Mrs. Hughes stepped into the room with a candle in her hand. “Girls!” she called. “It is time to get up!”
Mrs. Hughes’s eyes landed on Georgie, and she asked, “Dear heavens, what on earth are you doing in here?”
Georgie rose. “I was becoming more acquainted with Rebecca.”
“You shall have more time for that later, but Rebecca is needed downstairs,” Mrs. Hughes said. “Come along, now.”
Rising, Rebecca groaned. “I don’t want to clean out the fireplaces today.”
“If you continue to complain, I will assign you additional chores,” Mrs. Hughes directed. “You know the rules.”
Rebecca pressed her lips together and followed the rest of the girls out of the room, her shoulders slumped.
Once they were left alone, Mrs. Hughes gave Georgie a disapproving look. “You would be mindful to remember that the girls are here to acquire skills to survive in this harsh world. They are not here to chit-chat and be idle.”
“What kind of skills?”
“We teach them how to become scullery maids, and with any luck, they will be hired at a grand house.”
“Do you not teach them how to read?”
Mrs. Hughes gave her a blank stare. “Why would they need to know how to read?”
“Surely, you cannot be in earnest,” Georgie pressed.
