Sarah gave Georgie a rueful look. “I was just talking to Miss Lloyd.”
“Your chores won’t get done if you are dawdling,” Mrs. Hughes stated as she descended the stairs.
“Yes, Mrs. Hughes,” Sarah murmured, lowering her gaze.
Mrs. Hughes stopped at the bottom of the stairs. “Go along, then,” she said. “You know how I feel about shirking your responsibilities.”
Sarah turned on her heel and hurried down the hall without so much as a glance behind her.
Mrs. Hughes turned to Georgie, her chin lifted. “I would appreciate it if you did not distract the girls from doing their chores.”
“I was merely speaking to Sarah,” Georgie defended.
“The girls are on a strict schedule, and you need to be mindful of that.” Mrs. Hughes frowned. “The whole orphanage is buzzing about how you intend to teach them how to read.”
“It is wonderful news, isn’t it?”
“Is it?” Mrs. Hughes asked. “After all, the girls will still have to complete their chores, so they will need to wake up even earlier to do so.”
“Do the girls take issue with that?”
Mrs. Hughes huffed. “I take issue with that,” she declared. “What you are doing is sheer foolishness, and I fear that you are doing more harm than good.”
“I disagree.”
“You were raised in privilege, but these girls were lucky to be born,” Mrs. Hughes said. “Educating them will not help them.”
“It will give them more opportunities.”
“And what is wrong with becoming a scullery maid?” Mrs. Hughes demanded. “It is an honest profession for a young woman.”
“That may be true, but educating the girls will allow them to apply as housekeepers or lady’s maids.”
Mrs. Hughes eyed her critically. “What type of lady would hire a young woman from the rookeries to act as their lady’s maid?”
“One who sees value in what we are attempting to do here.”
“You are only fooling yourself,” Mrs. Hughes said. “The orphanage was doing just fine before you arrived.”
“I am only trying to help.”
“If you truly cared about these girls, you’d accept the fact that they were born nothing and won’t amount to anything in this life.”
“I refuse to accept that.”
“Then you are doing them a disservice.”
A knock came at the door, interrupting their conversation.
Wilson stepped over to the door and opened it, revealing Lord Grenton. He stepped into the entry hall, holding his top hat in his hands, and met Georgie’s gaze.
“I do apologize for calling on you at this late hour, but I was hoping for a moment of your time,” Lord Grenton said.
Georgie schooled her features into what she hoped was politeness. “Of course, my lord,” she said. “We may speak freely in the office.”
Mrs. Hughes stepped forward, her face softening. “It is a pleasure to see you again, Lord Grenton.”
Lord Grenton tipped his head. “Mrs. Hughes,” he acknowledged.
