AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I have been well, Edith,” Madalene replied.
Edith pointed towards two upholstered chairs that faced the desk. “Would you care to have a seat?”
Madalene stepped around the chair and sat down. “How have you been faring?” she asked as she eyed the large stack of paper on the desk.
“I have been quite busy, if you must know,” Edith shared, returning to her seat. “I never thought running an orphanage would require so much paperwork.”
“Would you like me to hire someone to help you with that?” Madalene asked.
Edith waved her hand dismissively. “That won’t be necessary. I find that I enjoy the mundane task, assuming the girls leave me alone long enough to accomplish it.”
“Do you not have enough staff to properly tend to the girls?” Madalene questioned.
“Heavens, that’s not what I meant,” Edith declared. “We have more than enough, but I prefer to spend as much time with the girls as possible.”
“I am sure they appreciate that,” Mrs. Foster commented.
A twinkle came to Edith’s eyes. “They are wonderful, and they just want to be loved, especially the little ones.”
“What are their ages?” Mrs. Foster asked.
“The girls range from four to fourteen,” Edith shared. “They are mostly bright and inquisitive children and have already endured so much at such a young age.” She paused, growing solemn. “Some of these girls were found on the streets in the rookeries, and some came from other orphanages where they were not treated as kindly as they should have been. Many of them were half-starved and their hair was so tangled that it had to be cut prior to being cleaned.”
Mrs. Foster gasped. “How terrible.”
“Sadly, we have only seen the physical scars on the girls, but many hold emotional scars, as well,” Edith continued. “I must admit that I was ill-prepared to be headmistress of this orphanage.”
“I disagree,” Madalene said. “I believe you are more than qualified.”
“How so?” Edith challenged.
Madalene grinned. “You are by far the most clever woman that I know, and you have bested me at shuttlecock every time we have played.”
Edith laughed, as Madalene hoped she would. “I am unsure how that makes me qualified to run an orphanage.”
“I could have hired any number of women to run the orphanage, but I wanted someone that would love the girls,” Madalene said. “That is what my mother would have wanted.”
“Well, I would rather be a headmistress than work as a governess somewhere in the country,” Edith remarked with a slight shudder.
“You would be a terrible governess,” Madalene joked. “You have always preferred being in charge.”
“That is true,” Edith agreed. “Furthermore, with the generous salary that you have allotted me, I will be able to move my mother and sister out of their rented room at Floyd’s Coffeehouse.”
Madalene moved to sit on the edge of her chair. “If you would allow me to give you the funds, they could move out today and into somewhere respectable.”
“My father was the one who got us into this mess,” Edith said with a shake of her head. “I will be the one that will get us out of it.”
“That isn’t necessary—” Madalene started.
Edith spoke over her. “This is not your problem to solve, Madalene,” she remarked firmly. “You have done more than enough for me and my family already.”
Madalene pressed her lips together. “You are being quite stubborn.”
“No more than you are,” Edith contended, softening her words with a smug smile.
“Fine,” Madalene said. “But if you change your mind, I am more than willing to help.”
“I know, and that is why you are one of my dearest friends.” Edith reached for a paper on the desk and set it in front of her. “You will be happy to know that we have recently acquired a French teacher for the girls.”
