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They stepped onto the veranda, and Mr. Stewart lowered his arm to the side. “I do appreciate you taking the time to speak to me.”
“I assure you that it is no trouble at all.”
“I’m afraid I was unable to speak to any of the children,” he revealed. “After they scattered, I didn’t see any of them.”
“That is because they were forced to go back to work,” she replied. “Do you know that children as young as six years of age work in the mines?”
“I did not.”
“Some have to crawl through narrow spaces as they drag their heavy load of coal behind them. Their bodies are nearly black when they exit the pit,” she revealed. “For many of them, they remain in the darkened pit for the entire day as they spend their time minding the doors.”
“That is awful,” he murmured.
Daphne glanced over at him. “They hardly ever bathe, and their hair is matted against their heads,” she continued. “They have deep scarring on their little bodies from the leather straps they use to haul the coal, and you can see the outline of their bones beneath their clothing.”
Mr. Stewart pursed his lips, then said, “I had no idea that children were treated so deplorably at the colliery.”
“But it is not just the children who are treated so distastefully,” Daphne declared. “No one seems to care a whit about these people because they are migrants. They consider them savages, even though they have only treated me with kindness.”
“That is because you are caring for their children.”
“That may be true, but I would like to believe they are good people who just want to work for an honest wage.”
Mr. Stewart stopped, and his boots ground into the gravel. “I was asked to report on the conditions, but I do not want to give you any false hope that the bank will make changes.”
“I understand.”
Mr. Stewart clasped his hands behind his back. “Is there someone else that I can speak to in town who shares your same passion?”
“Sadly, most of the gentlemen in the town share Mr. Huxley’s view on the matter.”
A disappointed look came to Mr. Stewart’s face. “I had been hoping that there was at least one decent man in this town.”
“There are many, but they do not hold any authority.”
“That is not an issue for me.”
“If that is the case, Mr. Burke worked as a trapper at the colliery when he was a boy, but he is now the blacksmith,” she said. “He often speaks up about the ill treatment he used to receive there.”
“Do you think Mr. Burke will speak to me?”
“I do, but it might be best if I provide the introduction.”
Mr. Stewart smiled. “I would greatly appreciate that, Miss Locke.”
Daphne’s eyes landed involuntarily on his lips. “Would you care to join us for dinner?” she blurted out.
His smile slipped for only a moment. “I would be honored to dine with you this evening.”
“Wonderful,” she replied, turning towards the manor. “I shall speak to the cook.”
“In all honesty, I would rather dine with you than eat at the coaching inn or the pub,” Mr. Stewart said as they began walking back.
Daphne felt a blush creep onto her cheeks at his kind words, but she chided herself for being foolish. The coaching inn and pub were known for their lackluster food, but it didn’t stop the travelers from eating there.
What was it about Mr. Stewart that caused her to blurt out an invitation to dinner? And why did she find herself so nervous in his presence? She had been around handsome men before, but there was something different about this one.
Chapter Five
