“Why is that?” Haddington asked.
“She brought along a lady’s maid, a cook, and a butler,” Hawthorne interjected before William could answer.
“To the orphanage?” Haddington questioned.
William nodded. “She has also requested over a hundred books to be delivered there.”
“That is no small feat,” Hugh commented.
“Agreed,” William responded. “She has the grand delusions that she needs to teach all the girls how to read.”
Haddington gave a slight shrug of his shoulders. “Frankly, I find that admirable.”
“We are training these girls to be scullery maids so they can support themselves, and there isn’t enough time in the day to have reading lessons,” William said.
“I would find the time,” Hawthorne remarked. “I think it would benefit those girls’ lives to know how to read.”
“I’m not running a boarding school. I feed them, clothe them, and provide them with a skill to ensure they find employment once they leave us,” William said. “I am doing precisely what is being done at other orphanages.”
“But you can be better,” Hawthorne urged. “How would your mother have wanted it run?”
William took a sip of his drink, then said, “She would not want me to waste money in foolish endeavors. Just keeping the orphanage open comes at a great expense.”
“What if I contributed as well?” Hawthorne asked. “I have no doubt that Dinah would believe this to be a worthy cause.”
“Do you think Dinah might consider being a patron?”
“I think she would greatly enjoy that.”
William bobbed his head in approval. “That’s a brilliant idea. She can help me with the headmistress.”
“Knowing my Dinah, she will want to visit the orphanage and meet the girls,” Hawthorne said. “Do you think that will be an issue?”
“I do not, but she will need to use caution when she travels to the rookeries,” William advised. “It is no place for a lady.”
“I shall ensure the proper protection is in place.”
William almost smiled—almost. With Dinah on his side, he was confident that Miss Lloyd would fall in line, and he wouldn’t have to waste any more time arguing with her. What a vexing woman Miss Lloyd was! She kept attempting to disarm him with smiles, but he was not so weak as to be charmed by a pretty face.
He had noticed that her eyes sparkled when she smiled, and that she had a small freckle on her top lip. He shook his head. Those were things he definitely should not be noticing about his headmistress.
Hawthorne’s voice drew back his attention. “Dinah will be pleased that she has found a worthy purpose to put her energy to use, especially since she is so fond of children.”
“I will send word to Miss Lloyd to expect her,” William said.
“I suspect that her sister, Evie, will accompany her,” Hawthorne shared. “Those two are practically inseparable.”
“That won’t be an issue.”
“I haven’t seen much of Miss Ashmore as of late,” Haddington said. “Is she well?”
“She is, but she is driving her aunt mad by refusing to be home when her suitors come to call,” Hawthorne replied.
Haddington chuckled. “That doesn’t surprise me in the least.”
“Doesn’t Miss Ashmore wish to settle down?” Hugh asked.
Hawthorne gave him an amused look. “I have never met a woman who was so contrary regarding marriage. Quite the match to your dislike of the institution, if I may say so.”
