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She frowns. “But I have not delivered the message yet.”
“You have come all this way, and that alone deserves something.”
She steps in and then stops there, staring down at the gleaming floor. I have to urge her every step of the way. Now, in my time, a child would—rightfully—be wary following a stranger into a house. This doesn’t seem like that. It’s the house itself that makes her nervous, as if the housekeeper or butler will appear at any moment, shouting at her to take her “dirty” self back into the streets.
I manage to get her up the next floor and to the dining room door.
“This is Edwina,” I say. “She has news from her mother, Clara Burns.”I turn to Edwina. “I believe there’s a slice of cake left that I really hate to toss out, if you would like it.”
The girl stares at me.
“The child is terrified, girl,” Annis snaps. “Take her to the kitchen where she can eat in comfort.”
I’m about to snap something back when I catch both Isla and Sarah looking at me, Isla subtly nodding and Sarah’s pained look telling me she wishes Annis were not right, but she is.
I see the girl then, and she does indeed look terrified. I’m trying to give her a treat, but to her, I’m forcing her into the lion’s den, with the sort of people she has been taught to avoid, lest she say or do something untoward.
“My apologies, Edwina,” I say. “Yes, let us take the rest of this cake to the kitchen, and you can deliver your message there.”
The scrape of chair legs as Gray rises. “I shall join you.” He catches Isla’s look. “In a moment. Once I have finished my tea.”
I escort Edwina down two levels to the kitchen, where Mrs. Wallace is folding sheets fresh from the laundress. I quickly explain and add, “I promised Edwina’s mother some sugar if she could help. Dr. Gray said it would be all right.”
I tense, praying Mrs. Wallace isn’t going to balk. Sugar is far from the cheap commodity it is in the modern world. The housekeeper seems to consider and then nods at the girl, her gaze softening as she says, “Certainly. I will package up some sugar.”
I take Edwina into the room where the staff eats. As I set the cake plate down with a fork, I settle into the seat opposite.
“Your mother sent you with news?”
Edwina eats a bite as she nods. “She says the pudding was delivered. It came in a box addressed to my father, but his new wife couldn’t make out the name of the person who sent it. The message said it was a gift for work he had done. The box has been burned.” She looks up from her cake. “Mama said you would ask after it.”
I smile. “I would have. Thank you.”
So someone sent the pudding, and the new Mrs. Burns decided to pretend she made it by destroying the box. She may have suspected it came from a mistress, in which case she’d have no qualms about the subterfuge.
“Mama said you also asked about work my father was doing, and I am to give you this.”
She passes over a tiny folded piece of paper. On it is an address.
“Mama does not know what it is for. She said you would ask that, too. All she has is that.”
“Which I appreciate, and I will certainly be sending you home with some sugar.”
“Thank you, miss.” She eyes her half-eaten slice of cake and, with great reluctance, pushes it toward me. “Might I have this wrapped, miss? I have a little brother and sister at home, and Mama says we ought to share when we can.”
“I think you can finish that, and I will find a treat for them.”
“There is half of the cake left in the cupboard,” Gray says as he walks in. “Mrs. Wallace cuts them in two, part for lunch and part for tea. You may take the other half.”
I smile over at him. “You’ll survive?”
“I will send Alice to the baker’s for cream pastries. It is a sacrifice I am willing to make.”
“As you prefer cream pastries anyway.” I turn to Edwina. “This is Dr. Gray.”
The girl eyes him. “You are the gentleman who owns this house?”
“I am.”
