St. Paul’s Cathedral rose in splendor above the rooftops as the carriage negotiated the busy thoroughfare. In the summer heat, the air was ripe with the unpleasant odors of the slaughterhouse. After they passed Honey Lane, the streets narrowed, with dark corners, low passageways, and ramshackle houses.
Bella was grateful that last night’s rain had washed the air clean of soot. Puddles filled the potholes in the blackened street, where ragged urchins ran about the slippery cobbles, splashing water over each other. It was in just such a place that she’d found her latest addition to the orphanage, Henry. She was very fond of Henry. He’d been all skin and bone when she’d found him, cast out after he’d grown too big to sweep chimneys. Henry had been living on the streets and picking pockets for some rogue. He’d filled out and grown an inch since he’d been with them. Under her care, he’d promised faithfully to reform his bad ways and, so far, had kept to it. If she were able to supply him with the skills to earn a decent living, he would never have to go back to that life.
The carriage drew up outside the ramshackle old house. “I grew up in a place just like this,” Mary said.
“Really, Mary? How did you get your start in life?”
“A kind benefactor, Miss Lacey. A ladies maid taught me the skills, and her mistress gave me a character. Now, my fella, Will Butler, who works at the foundry, and I are saving up to marry. We want to have an inn one day. I hope the children here have the same luck.”
Bella huffed out a sigh. “As do I, Mary.” After alighting, she stood in contemplation of the house’s shortcomings. Over a hundred years old, the dwelling had never had pretensions to grandeur. The desperate need for its renovation always brought an anguished sigh to her lips. There was so much to be done. Passing through the rusty gate, Bella took in the sagging guttering and paint-stripped woodwork. She and Mary carried the two laden baskets up the steps. The interior was even more in desperate need of repair. The roof leaked in most of the attic bedrooms, and the cellar flooded every winter. Fighting the mold had become a full-time job.
She drew her apron from her basket as Mrs. Armitage, the housekeeper, came into the hall to greet her. “Good morning, Miss Lacey.”
A widow in straightened circumstances, the lady now lived here with the children. Bella could sense the list forming in the august lady’s mind. So many requests and so little money to fill them. As they chatted, she tied the apron around her waist. There was time before his lordship arrived. If he really meant to come. First, she would inspect the house from top to bottom to ensure Mabel had swept and mopped the floors and performed the other chores expected of her. Her housekeeper had enough to do.
A motley group of children of indeterminate ages scurried down the corridor with cries of welcome. Bella greeted each of them, checking for signs of illness or distress before handing the basket of freshly baked iced buns prepared by Cook and one of oranges to a gangling boy of eleven.
“Kindly distribute them in the yard. One each, thank you, Henry.”
With eager shouts, the children rushed after Henry.
“You may go and assist him, Mary,” Bella said.
As the corridor emptied of children, Bella ran up the stairs.
Several minutes later, having assured herself that the maid was doing her work, she came down to find a man at the open door.
“Good day, Miss Lacey.” Immaculate in a camel frockcoat and brown trousers, with a tan-and-cream striped waistcoat, Lord Eaglestone made her feel hot and dusty.
She quickly untied her apron as she went to greet him. “Thank you for coming, sir.”
Bella was warm with relieved surprise to find that not only had he come as he promised he’d arrived early, at the time she’d initially requested.
The world weariness she’d noted in him when surrounded by men at Lord Maudling’s supper party was not evident today. There were flecks of gold in his amber eyes, which were keen with interest. Her confidence grew.
“My pleasure, Miss Lacey. Now, show me the rest if you please. I fancy a ride in the park on such a pleasant day.”
Bella suffered a jolt of disappointment. She motioned to the staircase. “Please come this way. I shan’t keep you long.”
“I rather hoped you’d join me on that ride, Miss Lacey.”
“Thank you. Unfortunately, I won’t have time.” She raised the silver watch pinned to her ruched bodice. “My father’s carriage returns for me at two.”
He plucked his gold watch from his waistcoat pocket with long fingers. “That gives us more than two hours. I’ll have you back here by two.”
What if she was seen and her father heard of it? He’d need little reason to ban her from coming here. But she couldn’t risk Eaglestone going off alone. “A drive sounds most pleasant.”
CHAPTER FOUR