The captain let him do it. “The ladies are right. I need to change. You deserve better.”
Samuel wanted to tell him he should change for himself, but if that was a good motivation, he wouldn’t say anything.
“Is it true they paid you to rescue me?” he asked, signing slowly.
The captain exhaled. “Not my finest moment. But it’s different now. I care about you.”
He hugged the captain and patted his back.
The captain returned the hug. “We’re friends.”
They remained sitting in the messy room. A breeze from the open window swept through the room.
“Will you help me?” the captain asked.
Samuel squeezed his shoulder and signed, “You’re my first friend. Of course I’ll help you.”
That afternoon,Vivienne was sitting next to Samuel, reviewing the irregular verbs in sign language. His deep hunger for learning shocked Vivienne. The young men she usually metcared nothing about studying and learning, while Samuel would give anything to be taught something new.
The circus had finally moved out of London, after Cade had given up searching for Samuel, granting them a much-needed respite from the constant worry of being caught by the police. The newspapers had thankfully stopped talking about Lion Boy although countless sights of him throughout London had kept the readers entertained and the constables busy.
Some people had sworn to have been attacked by Lion Boy and demanded Cade pay them for the damage. After a few of those complaints, Cade had left London in a hurry.
The man who had enslaved Samuel, Murdock, was never mentioned. No article had reported his name, and even Cade had dogged journalists with a skill that bordered on magic. Not that she cared, but she wanted to see the face of the man who was vile enough to enslave a child.
“You don’t pour the boiling water on the leaves,” Dobkins said to Captain Jackson, “or the tea will taste bitter.”
“Rubbish. It releases the fragrance better.”
“You never listen to me!”
“I do. That’s why I’m nervous.”
Vivienne whispered, “They argue like an old couple.”
Samuel smiled. Since his cheeks weren’t gaunt anymore, his smile had become full, bright, and rather charming. His hair had grown and reached his jaw with dark golden curls. No trace of his sickness was left. Lion Boy was as unrecognisable as the captain’s flat. Clean, tidy, and not a bottle of whisky in sight. The captain looked a bit worse for wear, but his eyes were sharper.
She spied on Samuel’s profile as he moved his fingers while reading, slowing slightly on the most difficult words.
What pleased her was the fact his ordeal hadn’t left traces on him, at least on the outside. He looked like any other healthy young man, strong and handsome.
His determination to learn impressed her. His will to work hard was admirable. Had she been in his situation, she wouldn’t have been able to recover so quickly and focus on learning so many things. Her predicaments seemed so trivial compared to what he’d gone through.
He flipped his fingers in the air, signing, “I don’t remember all of them.”
“Take your time. You’re doing an incredible job.”
“An Englishman who can’t brew tea,” Dobkins said. “What’s next? You making cucumber sandwiches without butter?”
“Pot kettle black,” the captain replied. “You add French cheese, which is unpatriotic.”
Vivienne chuckled.
Samuel smiled, and his face brightened before he focused on reading again.
“You should take a break,” she said.
“Tea is ready.” Dobkins served tea and sandwiches, explaining to the captain why French cheese was a great addition over English cheddar.
