For the love of Pawpaw and of Jamie, and of the rest of her family and friends. Or, maybe she was being shown this so she could help people like this when she became a duchess.
Of course! When she became a duchess, she’d have money and power in this society. She could enact change. Help people. She could do something for Millie, and for the other poor, hopeless people that lived here.
Sanitation would be the first thing to tackle. No wonder people got so sick here; there was no real way to dispose of sewage. Then, she’d— Avery patted her hand. “Miss Ramsey.”
Startled, she jumped and jerked her hand away. Mrs.
Comstock passed them, bearing a tray with a bowl on it.
GeekGirlsDontDateDukes.indd 105
4/11/13 11:26 AM
106
Gina Lamm
Geek Girls Don’t Date Dukes
Leah fought the heat that climbed her cheeks. “I’m sorry, I was daydreaming. What is it?”
“If you’re quite ready, we can return to Granville House.” Avery rose to his feet, studiously avoiding her gaze. Had she embarrassed him? She sure as hell hoped not. She’d only wanted to help, but apparently she hadn’t.
Leah nodded and turned to follow Avery to the door, but a sudden thought made her pause. Shoving her hand into her pocket, her fingers closed around a small box she’d placed in there before they’d left.
Maybe she didn’t have to wait to become a duchess to help out a little.
“Mrs. Comstock?” She held the box out to her.
“These aren’t much, but they may help her feel better.
They’re lozenges. When she’s awake, put one in her mouth and let her suck on it. The medicine inside will help her throat feel better.”
Mrs. Comstock’s face was wary, but she took the box anyway. “Thank ye, miss.”
Avery looked at Leah briefly before turning back to Millie. “Good-bye, Aunt.” His voice was low, rough.
There was no response. Millie lay still as death, the slight rise and fall of her chest the only indication that she was still among the living.
With a nod to Mrs. Comstock, and the delivery of a small bag, clinking with what Leah assumed was money, they descended the stairs into the dank and dangerous streets of St. Giles.
The afternoon light was long, and Avery led her briskly through the streets. Leah guessed he didn’t want to be here after dark any more than she did.
She kept her questions to herself for several moments GeekGirlsDontDateDukes.indd 106
4/11/13 11:26 AM
Geek Girls Don’t Date Dukes
107
as they crossed busy streets and avoided begging hands.
But as the neighborhood got cleaner and less frightening, and the sun sank lower in the sky, she got guts enough to speak.
“So that’s your Aunt Millie,” she said. “Do you know what’s wrong with her?”
Avery’s eyes were dark, and his strides lengthened.
Leah had to hustle to keep up with him. “It is a wasting disease. There is nothing that can be done to cure her.
We must make her as comfortable as possible.”
“How long has she been sick?” Leah stopped suddenly to avoid tripping over a young boy who was chasing a dog down the street. The mutt barked, and the boy yelled, and they both disappeared around the next corner.
“Three years.” Avery pointed, and Leah walked in the direction he indicated. “There is a medicine that eases her coughing fits, but it is very dear.”
“That’s the medicine you brought her, right?”
He nodded.
Leah took in a grateful breath as they left the line of shanties behind. The smell wasn’t good here, by any means, but it was certainly cleaner than in the depths of St. Giles. She looked over her shoulder and was unsurprised to see a wealth of emotion in Avery’s tight-set jaw.
“You really love your aunt, don’t you?”
He stopped, eyes flying open as if she’d punched him instead of asking him a simple question.
“We should be discussing the dowager’s expectations for the morrow.” He resumed walking as if she hadn’t asked him anything. “Now, your duties will be to assist in serving. The dowager likes things to be prepared just GeekGirlsDontDateDukes.indd 107
4/11/13 11:26 AM
108
Gina Lamm
Geek Girls Don’t Date Dukes
so, so be sharp, pay attention, and mind how you go.
The guests will arrive…”
He kept chattering, and even though Leah wanted to find out more about his past and his poor aunt Millie, she knew she’d have to do well at the rout tomorrow in order to keep things on track. She really did think things happened for a reason. And if her hunch was right, and she became a duchess, the first stop she’d make was the slums of St. Giles.
Avery had done the best he could, but if she could help Aunt Millie too, she’d do it in a heartbeat. Anything to keep him from bearing such a burden alone. That’s what friends do, right?
i