William smiled. “If it helps, I don’t think she likes anyone.”
“If that is the case, may I ask how she was hired on as the housekeeper?”
“She came highly recommended.”
“By whom?”
“My mother,” William replied. “She was a lot like you are. She saw the good in other people, which is something I didn’t inherit.”
“It is something that can be learned.”
William shook his head. “I don’t believe that to be the case.”
“Although, I am curious to know what good she saw in Mrs. Hughes,” Miss Lloyd joked. “She told me that I was walking too loudly in the hall yesterday.”
“Too loudly?”
“Apparently so,” Miss Lloyd said. “Mrs. Hughes has a list of complaints that she runs through every morning.”
“What else is on the list?”
“What isn’t on the list?” Miss Lloyd countered, tossing her hands in the air. “She complains that my gowns are too fancy to be worn at an orphanage and insists that I dress in drab gowns.”
“I see; and do you have any intention to?”
“I do not.”
William nodded in approval. “I concur.”
“I do feel that Mrs. Hughes is attempting to protect the girls in her own way,” Miss Lloyd said. “She is not someone who accepts change very easily.”
“I would give her time. Mrs. Hughes did run the orphanage until you arrived.”
Miss Lloyd didn’t look very convinced. As she opened her mouth to respond, Dinah stepped into the room with a broad smile on her face.
“I am sorry that we kept you waiting,” Dinah said as her husband followed her into the room. “I do hope you two found something to talk about.”
Rising, William replied. “That we did.”
Dinah bobbed her head. “We would have been down much sooner, but Nathanial couldn’t decide which cravat to wear.”
“That isn’t entirely true,” Hawthorne replied. “My wife wasn’t pleased with my original choice.”
“You chose poorly the first time,” Dinah said, offering him a private smile, “but your second attempt was much better.”
Miss Lloyd rose from her seat. “I do thank you for inviting me this evening.”
“You are always welcome in my home, Miss Lloyd,” Dinah said. “Besides, we need to inform Lord Grenton of our plans for the orphanage.”
“Our plans?” William asked, glancing between Dinah and Miss Lloyd.
Dinah turned towards him. “But, of course,” she replied. “I am a patron now, and there are some changes that we must see to at once.”
“Such as?”
Dinah tsked. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We must have something to discuss over dinner.”
As if on cue, the butler stepped into the room and announced, “Dinner is ready to be served.”
