Georgie sighed. “I am Georgie Holbrooke, sister of Lord Wakefield,” she revealed. “My brother was trying to force my hand so I would marry the most despicable of men. When I refused, he beat me soundly. The only reason he stopped was because our butler intervened.”
“Thank heavens for that,” Lady Hawthorne declared.
Georgie nodded. “I have no intention of ever marrying Lord Ransdale, and I know that my brother won’t allow my disobedience as long as I live in his house.”
Miss Ashmore’s brow lifted. “Your brother wishes for you to marry Lord Ransdale?”
“He does,” Georgie confirmed.
“Lord Ransdale is beastly,” Miss Ashmore said. “His mistress is heavy with child, and he walks around like a dog in heat.”
“Evie,” Lady Hawthorne admonished. “Don’t be so crass.”
“Well, it’s true,” Miss Ashmore said. “Lord Ransdale is a fine example of why I wish never to be wed.”
“Not all men are like Lord Ransdale,” Lady Hawthorne shared.
“Sadly, most amongst thetonare.” Miss Ashmore turned her attention back to Georgie. “How did you end up at this orphanage, and using an alias?”
“The servants at my townhouse banded together and decided that I needed to escape from my brother’s clutches before I ended up dead,” Georgie explained. “My cook, Mrs. Peters, is the sister of Lord Grenton’s solicitor, and she knew they were looking for a lady to run the orphanage. They thought it would be for the best if I went by Miss Lloyd while I was here.”
“Does Lord Grenton know the truth?” Lady Hawthorne asked.
Georgie shook her head. “No, and if he discovered it, he would dismiss me.”
“You don’t know that for certainty.”
“I do,” Georgie replied. “Lord Grenton has already threatened to dismiss me on multiple occasions for various reasons. Silly reasons, really.”
“Which are?” Miss Ashmore asked.
Georgie sighed. “I refused to dismiss Wilson—”
“Who is Wilson?” Miss Ashmore asked.
“He is the butler, but he only works for room and board,” Georgie said. “My brother dismissed him when Wilson confessed to helping me leave the townhouse.”
Lady Hawthorne walked over to the window and looked out into the alley. “It is rather unusual for an orphanage to employ a butler.”
“He had nowhere else to go,” Georgie said. “I couldn’t very well do nothing to help him.”
“I know, but I do understand Lord Grenton’s apprehension,” Lady Hawthorne remarked. “My husband told me that you also employ a lady’s maid and a cook.”
“I do,” Georgie responded, seeing no reason to deny it, “but I am paying them out of my salary.”
Miss Ashmore sat down on the chair. “I am curious as to why else Lord Grenton wishes to dismiss you.”
“I am lobbying to teach the girls how to read, and he is against that,” Georgie shared.
“Why would he be against such a noble thing?” Miss Ashmore asked.
Georgie returned to her seat, then said, “As of now, the girls are being trained to obtain employment as scullery maids, but I believe they are capable of so much more.”
“I would agree with that sentiment,” Miss Ashmore responded.
“Lord Grenton finally conceded that I could hire tutors to teach the girls, but only if I found the funds to do so,” Georgie said. “I went over the books, repeatedly, but I couldn’t find any expenses that we could do without. So, I decided I needed to raise some funds.”
“How do you intend to accomplish that?” Lady Hawthorne asked.
