“It is a job, and those can be hard to come by.”
Miss Lloyd didn’t look convinced. “I am sure she will return to the orphanage straightaway.”
“We shall see,” William said as he started for the door.
As he was about to depart, Miss Lloyd said, “Thank you, my lord.”
He stopped and turned to face her. “I do not fully understand your reasons, but I hope you know what you are doing.”
“I do.”
“Then that is all I can ask.”
Miss Lloyd took a step closer to him. “I know you must think me foolish.”
His lips twitched. “You cannot possibly know what I am thinking.”
“I just know that there is more to Sarah than becoming a scullery maid,” Miss Lloyd said. “We just need to give her the opportunity to prove it.”
“Why is it that you have so much faith in other people, Miss Lloyd?”
“I suppose I just want to believe the best in others.”
“And what if you are wrong?”
A sad look shadowed Miss Lloyd’s face. “I have been wrong before,” she admitted. “It took me a long time to accept that there was no good inside of my brother.”
“I hadn’t realized you had a brother. Does he know where you are?”
Miss Lloyd shook her head. “Heavens, no,” she replied, “and I hope he will never find out.”
“Why is that?”
“He was trying to force me into an arranged marriage with an awful man,” Miss Lloyd shared. “He beat me when I refused.”
William felt a surge of protectiveness wash over him. “He beat you?”
“Most soundly, and more and more often,” Miss Lloyd murmured. “I daresay that he would have eventually killed me if I hadn’t left when I did.”
William stared at her, shock and awe blending in his heart. Miss Lloyd had always seemed a pillar, standing up to him without a hint of fear. To learn she had been subjected to such cruelty—and still retained such strength—was amazing and humbling at the same time.
“Why didn’t you say anything before?” William asked.
Miss Lloyd gave him a weak smile. “I didn’t think it was prudent.”
William lifted his brow. “Whyever not?”
“I am your headmistress, your employee,” she started, “and I have no desire to become a burden to you, and it is not your responsibility.”
“I am, first and foremost, a gentleman, and am duty-bound to help a woman in need.”
“I am not in need.”
“That is not how I perceive it.” William crossed his arms over his chest. “Do you suppose your brother is looking for you?”
Miss Lloyd pursed her lips, hesitated for a moment, then said, “I know he is.”
“How?”
