Page 76 of Of Fate and Phantoms
"You do," Mink said.
"Come on then," I said cheerfully. "Let's do it outside in the courtyard." I rose and so did Mink, but Finley stayed stubbornly on the rug.
"I ain't moving," he mumbled.
Alice walked in, but stopped when she saw the boys. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize you had company." She smiled at them. "Are these friends of yours, Charlie?"
Finley jumped to his feet and wiped his hands down his trousers. He bowed to hide his red cheeks. "Name's Finley," he said. "Pleased to meet you."
"Finley, Mink, this is Miss Everheart," I said.
"Everheart," Finley repeated. "Pretty name." He grinned.
She smiled back.
"I was just taking the boys outside to give them haircuts. Lice," I added.
She pulled a face. "Do you want me to fetch Bella?"
"Thank you."
She headed up the stairs while I led the boys back to the service rooms. Finley came meekly, his cheeks still a little pink.
"You think there'll be time for baths after?" he asked, glancing back over his shoulder.
I smiled. "Of course. You can go first, if that's all right with Mink."
Cook set up a chair in the courtyard while Mrs. Cotchin fetched warm water and clean towels, and Doyle looked for scissors and a razor.
Alice returned, shaking her head. "Bella refused, and Lady Vickers stood up for her," she said. "She doesn't want Bella catching their lice and giving it to her." She drew in a fortifying breath and began rolling up her sleeves.
"I'll do it," Doyle said.
"There's no need, Doyle," I told him.
"I don't mean any disrespect," he said, removing his jacket. "But have either of you used a razor before?"
Alice and I looked at one another. "Perhaps you're right," I said. "We'll assist you."
Finley sat down and meekly allowed Doyle to shorten his hair with the scissors first then shave the rest off. Afterward, he ran his hands over his bald head. "Do I look like him now?" He nodded at Cook.
Cook scrubbed his head.
"You've got eyebrows and lashes," Mink told Finley.
Mrs. Cotchin had gone to draw the bath and came out to announce that it was ready. She took Finley upstairs while Mink sat for his haircut. "When we get home, we're getting rid of all the blankets, the mattress, all of it," he said.
"I'll see what I can find here to replace them," I told him. "Are you sure you don't want to spend the night? We can fetch the other boys."
He didn't answer straight away, and I suspected this was something they'd discussed after we left this morning and a decision had not yet been made. "Not tonight," was all he said. "Maybe later."
So they were waiting to see how this arrangement turned out, and if we could be trusted. I didn't blame him. I'd find it hard to trust people being so kind to me, too, even if one of them was an old gang member.
After his haircut, Mink went up for his bath. Finley helped Doyle gather all the spare blankets and a few pillows that we could find. He turned out to be quite a handsome lad, despite his crooked teeth, but not as handsome as Mink. Without the greasy, lank hair covering Mink's face and the dirt on his skin, he appeared older. I guessed him to be about fifteen, although it was difficult to tell, as thin as he was.
"You both scrub up well," Alice said, inspecting the boys like they were about to lead a parade. "I'm very impressed."
"The blankets are stored in the coach," Doyle announced. "When would you like them and the boys delivered to their home?"
