Page 34 of Trapped with a Wicked Duke
Thomas set down the newspaper and leaned back in his chair. "I was hoping to ask you for a favor. I have some errands to run today, and I was wondering if you would be willing to accompany me."
Rose raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Errands? I am not sure that I would be of much help."
Thomas chuckled. "You would be more help than you know. And I promise it will be an… enlightening trip for you."
Rose hesitated, wondering what Thomas had in store for her. "Where are we going?"
"Ah, now that would ruin the surprise, wouldn't it?" Thomas replied, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
Rose weighed her options, and ultimately, she decided to go along with Thomas. She could not deny the thrill of adventure that ran through her at the thought of a secret outing with him. "Very well, I will accompany you. But only if you promise to keep me safe."
She watched as Thomas's face lit up, and he leaned forward, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "I promise. You will not regret it."
As they continued their journey, Rose noticed that they were no longer in the fashionable West End of London, but in a part of the city she had never been to before. The buildings were tall and narrow, the streets were crowded and dirty, and she could not help but feel afraid. Thomas reached over and took her hand, his grip warm and comforting. "Do not worry, Rose. You will be safe," he said, his voice filled with reassurance.
The carriage finally came to a stop, and Thomas helped Rose out. They were in front of a large, stone building, and as they approached, Rose could see that it was an institution for orphaned children. She was immediately struck by the difference between this place and the others she had seen in her life. The building was clean and well-maintained, and she could hear the sound of children's laughter filtering through the open windows.
Thomas led her inside, and Rose was greeted by the sight of dozens of children, all dressed in clean clothes and playing together. They were well-fed and happy, and she could see that they were learning their letters and numbers.
"They are all so happy," Rose whispered, looking up at Thomas. "I had imagined such places to be quite bleak and empty of laughter."
He smiled, pride shining in his eyes. "I have been working with the institution for several years now, and it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. These children are the future, and I want to make sure they have every opportunity to a better life."
A tall, thin man with a serious expression approached them. "Your Grace," he said with a deep bow. "It is an honor to see you again."
Thomas clasped the man's hand. "Mr. Bentley, it is good to see you again as well. May I introduce Lady Rose?"
Mr. Bentley's face lit up, and he turned to Rose with a warm smile. "Lady Rose, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. His Grace has been such a benefactor to this institution, and his generosity has made a world of difference to these children."
Rose felt a swell of pride in Thomas and smiled. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Bentley. I have heard much about the good work that is being done here."
Just then, a small, curly-haired little girl stepped out from behind Mr. Bentley. She could not have been more than four years old, and her big, brown eyes were filled with shyness.
"And who is this?" Rose asked, smiling down at the little girl.
"This is Madeline," Mr. Bentley said, his voice filled with pride. "She is one of our brightest students, and she is always eager to learn."
Rose crouched down to be on the same level as Madeline and held out her hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Madeline."
Madeline looked up at Rose with a shy smile and took her hand. Rose felt a warmth in her heart as she looked into the little girl's eyes, and she knew that she would never forget this moment.
Later after they had toured the rest of the orphanage, they returned to the carriage. Mr. Bentley escorted them.
"The final vote is in a few days, Mr. Bentley. Hopefully, there will be sweeping changes and other institutions will benefit from the law I am putting forth." Thomas shook Mr. Bentley's hand.
Mr. Bentley's face lit up. "Your Grace, we are so grateful for your support. It has made all the difference to these children. They have a brighter future thanks to you."
Rose felt so proud of Thomas and his efforts. "It is truly wonderful what you have done here," she said.
As they settled back into the carriage, Thomas turned to Rose. "You seem to have made a friend there," he said with a smile.
Rose blushed. "Madeline is just the sweetest thing. I could not help but be enchanted by her."
Thomas chuckled. "It is a good thing. I did not realize you had such a soft spot for children."
"Me neither." The carriage jostled as they made their way back to the fashionable West End of London. The slums gave way totownhomes and large homes with gated front gardens. "Thank you for taking me with you today," Rose said. "Why did you?"
Thomas did not answer right away. When he did, he spoke slowly. "I wanted you to truly understand the importance of what I am doing. It is easy to speak of good things and espouse grand ideas, but it is also important to know the people who are actually going to be helped."
