Page 27 of Maid for the Duke

‘He’ll abandon you, mark my words. Once he gets what he wants, he’ll forget about these three and it’ll be back to the streets with all of you.’ The widow’s tone was vicious and harsh and Will thought he heard a slight slurring of her words. He stepped closer to the door, wondering if he would have to intervene.

‘They won’t be welcome back here, horrible little creatures. I opened my home to your family and this is how you repay me.’

The door opened and he saw the relief on Amelie’s face as she caught sight of him. Stepping forward, he took in the tear-stained faces of all three children and the grim line Amelie’s mouth was set in.

Quickly he relieved Amelie of the small bag she was carrying. It was light, hardly filled at all, and it made him sad to think this was all these children had in the world. With his free arm he scooped up Charles, feeling the boy’s gaunt face burrowing into his neck. Amelie ushered the two girls out in front of her and together they hurried down the stairs, Mrs Creedy now reduced to shouting obscenities at their backs. They all clambered into the carriage sat in silence for a few minutes once it got moving, all a little stunned by dramatic exit.

‘Are we truly never going back?’ Harriet asked eventually, her eyes flicking between Amelie and Will.

‘Never, ma chérie,’ Amelie said softly. Will saw the tears on her cheeks, heard the catch in her voice and knew in his heart this had been the right thing to do. What sort of man would sit by and watch these children suffer when he had the resources to help them? Amelie was right to be cautious, of course—they did not want gossip and rumour to follow them—but some things were more important than reputation.

‘Where are we going?’ Marie asked, her question directed towards her sister.

‘To Hampstead. It is a little journey, so you might want to rest on the way there.’

‘What is at Hampstead?’ Amelie asked once everyone had settle back and begun to relax.

‘My old nanny, Mrs Hampton. She worked for our family for almost thirty years in one capacity or another. Once Catherine grew too old for a nanny, she stayed and took the role of companion. When Catherine died she was devastated; I think she thought of her as her own daughter in many ways. I gifted her a small property and a yearly stipend so she could retire in peace, and mourn Catherine in her own way.’

‘Will she not mind us all descending on her like this?’

‘Not at all. She is a charitable woman but more than that she is pragmatic. She is one of the only people I can rely on to see the nuances of this situation.’

Amelie bit her lip and Will could see she was imagining everything that could go wrong. He did not want to dismiss her concerns, they were of course valid, but she did not know Mrs Hampton like he did. Within minutes of them arriving, she would put everyone at ease and settle the children in. It might not be a long-term solution, given her age, but she would be happy to look after Amelie’s kinsfolk for a few months.

They travelled in silence, with Charles and Harriet dropping off to sleep with the swaying of the carriage. Marie stayed awake, but she sat quietly, cuddled into her older sister.

It took a little over an hour to get clear of London and the busy streets, but before long the carriage was moving at a better pace and the scenery changed from houses and warehouses to green fields.

They drew up outside the perfectly kept front garden of the house he had given to Mrs Hampton a little less than a year earlier. He was pleased to see she had already made it her own, having planted multiple rose bushes in the front garden that were beginning to bloom.

‘Is this where we’re going to live?’ a bleary-eyed Charles asked, his voice full of wonder.

‘Yes,’ Will said, springing from the carriage as soon as it came to a stop. ‘Let me go and explain the situation to Mrs Hampton and then I will return to fetch you all.’

Despite his assurances to Amelie earlier, Will felt a little apprehensive as he approached the front door. Mrs Hampton had been in his life since he was an infant, a steadfast, comforting presence. In his heart he knew she would do anything he asked of her, but he did not wish to take advantage. The Mrs Hampton he had known a year ago would welcome the challenge of three emotional young orphans, but he did not know if her priorities in life had changed.

Mrs Hampton opened the door to him herself and, after a moment of disbelief, she threw her arms around him. He was so unused to such displays of affection that he felt frozen momentarily, but the warmth that emanated from his old nanny was enough to thaw him.

‘This is an unexpected pleasure, Your Grace,’ Mrs Hampton said, beaming at him as she ushered him inside. Before she shut the door, he could see her looking at the carriage with curiosity.

‘I have an enormous favour to ask, but first, how do you fare? Are you well? Are you happy?’

She led him through to a well-proportioned sitting room and bade him take a seat, positioning herself close to him. Every so often she would reach out and pat his hand, as if assuring herself it was really him.

‘I am in perfect health, thank you for asking, Your Grace. My life here is wonderful and it is thanks to your generosity I am able to live in such comfort.’

‘I am pleased to hear you are happy.’

‘And you? Nothing is amiss I hope. I am so happy you have paid me a visit.’

‘Nothing is amiss. At least not with me, but as I said, I have come to ask a favour.’

Mrs Hampton sat a little straighter and motioned for him to go on.

‘There is a young woman in my service who has a bit of a tragic past. She lost her home through the careless actions of her father, and was left to look after her younger brother and sisters with no real way to support them.’

‘Are these the three curious young faces I saw peering out of your carriage?’ Mrs Hampton had always been sharp and observant.