“Wonderful,” Hawthorne said. “I should warn you that she visited the orphanage, and she has some ideas on how to make it better.”
“I should have assumed.”
Hawthorne leaned back in his chair. “Dinah found Miss Lloyd to be a delight.”
“She did?” William asked.
With a nod, Hawthorne said, “She agrees that the girls should be taught to read.”
“We both know that would be an expensive endeavor, and I tasked Miss Lloyd with finding the funds to do so.”
“Miss Lloyd wasn’t able to find additional money in the budget, but she came up with another way to raise funds.”
William groaned. “Which is?”
“She is selling her gowns,” Hawthorne replied. “Dinah says that she is taking her gowns to the market tomorrow.”
“What woman would willingly sell her gowns to help girls she hardly knows?”
“Apparently, Miss Lloyd.”
William grew quiet. His respect for the headmistress grew immensely. He had tasked her with finding additional funds and she did it, albeit not in any way he’d expected. It was truly a noble act. But now he found himself in a difficult situation. Could he allow her to sell her gowns, knowing what she was willing to sacrifice for the children?
Hawthorne picked up his glass and took a sip. “What do you intend to do?” he asked. “Are you truly going to let her sell her gowns?”
“I am debating.”
“I wouldn’t wait too long, since she plans to go to the market tomorrow with Evie,” Hawthorne shared.
“The market is hardly a place for two ladies.”
“You need not worry,” Hawthorne assured him. “Evie will keep Miss Lloyd safe.”
“Pardon me if I find that a little farfetched.”
Hawthorne smirked. “Evie is a woman of many talents, and she carries multiple weapons on her person.”
“She does? For what purpose?”
“You need not concern yourself with that,” Hawthorne said. “Just know that Evie will not let anything happen to Miss Lloyd.”
William furrowed his brow. “Am I to let the matter drop simply because you told me to do so?”
“I am hoping that is the case,” Hawthorne replied.
“Do you ever tire of your secrets?”
Hawthorne shrugged. “I could ask you the same question.”
“I don’t have secrets.”
“No?” Hawthorne asked. “Then, pray tell, what is bothering you?”
“Why do you think something is bothering me?”
“I can see it in your eyes,” Hawthorne replied, “and eyes never lie.”
William huffed. “Perhaps you are just seeing things.”
