“I got me a delivery boy—my son. Do not need another .”
“I could empty your refuse bins, or sweep the shop, or wash your windows. Anything at all. And I am a very good worker—and punctual .”
The butcher thought about the offer and then said, “I tell you what. You work for me every day until Christmas. Be early and leave late and I will pay you with two pound a tripe. T’won’t be no chicken, but it will fill your Christmas stomachs .”
Tommy beamed. “Thank you, sir. I will do it. I will be here first thing tomorrow morning. What time, sir ?”
“Be here at five o’clock sharp and we will see how well you do .”
Meanwhile, Doris was walking the crowded streets going from one Christmas tree purveyor to another looking for a small tree. She had never told Tommy, but she had collected three shillings and sixpence from selling flowers she had found discarded each morning at the Covent Garden flower market. They were slightly damaged, but she wound them with ribbons from an old bonnet she found in the trash and sold them to ladies on the street .
“Excuse me, mister,” Doris said, tugging at a tree seller’s sleeve. “I have three shillings and sixpence and I would like to buy a Christmas tree,” she said with finality .
The tree seller laughed. “Three shillings and sixpence? That would barely buy you a branch—let alone a tree. Away with you .”
Doris teared up and walked away. She tried three or four different sellers and they all laughed at her and told her to skedaddle .
Finally, she ran home, threw herself on the bed she shared with Tommy and cried, still clutching her three shillings and sixpence .
Diana heard her mother calling from downstairs, “Diana, it is time to start supper. Can you please, lend me a hand ?”
Chapter 13
T he Viscount of Berwick was at his luncheon. He was enjoying a fine glass of hock with a salad from his hothouse and a pheasant cutlet that his chef prepared just as he liked it with capers and lemon .
He mostly lunched alone, seated at a small table in his private rooms, overlooking his gardens that spread out on either side of the allée of trees that led from the main road up to his estate house .
As he savored the last of the wine, he noticed a horse and rider coming up the driveway. And he could see it was a woman. As she approached, he recognized Amelia in her riding costume. He frowned slightly, as he remembered their last meeting at the disastrous dinner party where he drank far too much, flirted with Lady Hortense, and was sent home by Amelia in disgrace .
Had she come to scold him once again, or did she want something, he wondered? In any case, she would shortly be shown up to his rooms .
“Danton, I need another bottle of hock. I am expecting Miss Amelia who has just ridden up,” Ludlow addressed his butler who had been serving luncheon .
“Yes, Milord .”
“And show Miss Amelia up .”
“I seem to remember she knows her way, Milord .”
“As a matter of fact, she does .”
Danton nodded and left .
Shortly Amelia appeared, flushed from her ride .
“Luddy,” she greeted as she entered the room. “Am I disturbing your repast ?”
“Not at all. Quite finished. I have just asked for another bottle of hock. Do have a glass .”
“Sounds delightful,” she said as she flung herself across a divan near the Viscount’s table .
Danton appeared almost immediately with the wine and poured them each a glass .
“Out for a ride, are you?” Ludlow asked .
“That is what I told Robert, but, in fact, I wanted to see you. Things were a bit rough when I had to send you home .”
Ludlow chuckled. “Indeed they were. And I was very angry with you for so mismanaging my little meeting with Robert. You behaved very badly .”
“Not nearly as badly as you,” Amelia said, standing up and taking her glass of wine to sip at the window. “You were most indecent to our Lady Hortense. She was to be Robert’s main focus for the evening and you were all over her like a swarm of bees .”
“Then you should not have seated her across from me .”
“I did not. That was all Robert’s doing to thwart me .”
“Then he obviously did not wish to have Lady Hortense thrust at him—as you are wont to do .”
“Now, now, Luddy. You must be nice to me. I have come here to forgive you. You do not want me rushing off in anger again, do you ?”
“Ah… but will I forgive you?” he said coming up behind her and giving her a small kiss on the neck .
She moved away from him. “I do not believe I am ready to forgive you today, Luddy. You are still too unrepentant .”
“Ah, but there is still the seven and a half percent hovering out there—yet to be collected. Certainly, that should be incentive enough for you to forgive me, no ?”
Amelia wheeled around to face him .
“You see, you still need my help. You are powerless without me, are you not?” she gloated .
“You have your uses. And I suspect you came to me today because you still want me to make that deal with your brother .”
“But he refuses to see you. How can I set up an appointment between the two of you ?”
“Because he will not be setting up an appointment with me .”
“What?”
“I am putting together a most persuasive delegation to convince your brother of the great value our canal can be to the county .”
“A delegation? Who would be on it ?”
“I have several mayors, a bishop or two and a handful of most influential business leaders .”
Amelia smiled and sidled over to Ludlow and put her hand on his chest .
“Are you not the clever one? Most ingenious .”
Ludlow reached over and put his hands around her waist and drew her to him .
“And this time you will succeed in arranging a meeting ?”
“Most assuredly,” she said and they leaned toward each other for a kiss .
*
“I promised I would collect the copies of your books,” Robert said as he stood at the Browning front door smiling .
Diana was surprised and briefly flustered for a moment, as she had not been expecting Robert to call .
“Do come inside, and I shall fetch the books for you .”
She led him down the hallway to the sitting-room. “I have already signed them, and they are sitting on my dresser just waiting for you to call .”
“I hope I am not disturbing you at your writing. But you said you wrote in the morning so I purposefully came late afternoon .”
“And you are correct. I am currently at the glorious task of peeling and chopping onions for our supper .”
Robert laughed. “Then I have interrupted your tears .”
“And a grateful interruption it is. I will just fetch the books .”