Page 8 of An Orphan for the Broken Duke

Rose Beaumont had just turned seventeen last month. Far taller than Violet, and with hair so light it looked blonde in the sun, she was every inch their mother, while Violet looked more like their father. Blue eyes, a round face and a button nose; her body was slim, while her freckles were many.

Although she was now seventeen, Violet still saw Rose as that scared fourteen-year-old girl whom she had sworn to protect when their father died. She was bright and perceptive; she was wise beyond her years… and she is and always will be my baby sister.

“Is that so?” Rose narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

“What are you doing down here?” Violet asked, desperate to change the subject. “I thought you were in your room, reading.”

“I grew bored,” Rose shrugged. “Besides, reading the same book for the fifth time tends to lose its appeal. Rarely does the story change after the first reading.”

“I am sorry…” Violet grimaced. “I meant to try and borrow you another.” They had sold nearly everything in their townhouse, and even the books they owned were limited.

“It is fine,” Rose said. “You have been so busy. In fact, I thought I should speak to you about that.”

“Oh.”

Rose firmed herself up, even squaring her shoulders as if to appear taller and thus in charge. “I am seventeen now, Violet. Almost a woman grown. And with all that we are going through, I think it is time that I find a job so that⁠—”

“No.”

“You did not let me finish!”

“I did not have to,” Violet said. “You are too young to worry about such things, Rose. A girl your age should not be burdened with a job. You should be…” She clicked her tongue. “Outside, playing.”

“Playing?” Rose laughed. “Playing what, exactly? And with whom? I am no longer fourteen, Violet. And I am not so blind that I cannot see what is going on—how we are struggling. Let me help.”

“I said, forget it.” With that said, Violet put down her head and walked past her sister.

The suggestion was a good one—the right one—and Violet was so proud that her sister had made it. But she was still Violet’s baby sister, and to force her to help… knowing that no single job could save them… it was an admittance of defeat, a final nail in the coffin that Violet had tried so desperately to keep open for three years.

There must be a way to save us from this… There must be something I can do…

“You are being unreasonable!” Rose gave chase.

“Unreasonable is the exact opposite of what I am being.” As Violet had nowhere to go, she walked across the small foyer and up the stairs. The bedrooms were on the second floor, and she might as well go to her own so that she could close the door and end the conversation. “Reasonable, is what I am being. Reasonable and… and…” She strode up the stairs, reached the top landing, and turned on her sister. “And firm. You are not working. Not so long as I am here.”

Rose threw up her hands in protest. “I know who was really at the door just now. I am not stupid, Violet. Please, let me help!”

“You can help by not worrying about that which is not your concern,” Violet said to her. “That is all I ask of you, Rose. Please, just… just let me fix this.” With that said, Violet turned and strode down the hallway.

Thankfully, Rose did not continue to give chase. She knew Violet well enough to know how stubborn she could be, just as she knew that there was no point arguing with her once she had her mind made up.

That stubbornness was starting to become a problem. Rose was right to want to help, and Violet should have been grateful, even proud. But she was so determined to fix things on her own. There was always that slim chance that there was something she could do that would not force her burdens onto her younger sister.

There must be something!

Violet rushed into her room and closed the door. There, she stood, looking about the empty room as her desperation mounted. There was just a single cot in the room, as all the furniture had long been sold. Even her clothing, the few dresses that she owned, were kept in a trunk, rather than a closet.

It was a sad state of affairs, one set to become even worse.

Yes, losing the house was one thing, but if that happened, then Rose, who was not yet a woman, would be forced to go and live with their uncle, a man whom Violet did not much like. She would lose her sister… she would lose her home… she would lose everything!

As for what she planned to do about it? If only she had an answer.

It was the third time that week that Rhys had visited the orphanage. The first time was to inspect the place that he had poured so much money into. The second time was to try and find a solution to save it—one that was not forthcoming. And the third time was to confirm a decision that he knew would change his life forever.

“Please, come in, Your Grace.” Miss Wilks stood quickly when Rhys entered her office. She looked flustered, as well as tired. “I was not sure if I would see you again so soon.”

“I hope I am not inconveniencing you,” he said as he took his seat. “I know how busy you must be.”