Page 6 of A Dream of Redemption
Just then Lady Helen’s carriage pulled up, and as she stepped out she glanced up at his window. He should have stepped back but he couldn’t move and she gave a small wave before continuing into the house.
—
Helen stepped into her sister’s home and tried to hide her shaking hands. What on earth did she think she was doing? She was no expert on children, other than her nieces and nephews and her friends’ children, who would be very different from those she was going to meet. Although the orphans would be much younger than her, they were likely to be wiser about the world. She hated how naïve she was. How little she’d seen of what was outside her small, glittery life.
Already she was trying to fortify her heart. Marisa had told her upon her first visit to an orphanage she’d wanted to take each child home and love them.
Deep breath.Helen did not knock on the study door. This was to be her office too, so she merely breezed in with a confident smile on her face, and Marisa rose to hug her.
“Helen, I rang for tea when I heard you arrive. We will join Clary shortly but first I think we should have a little chat, woman to woman.”
Helen sat down behind her desk and ran her hands over it. She’d never had such a large desk before. It was masculine in stature and her task became very real. The smell of the inlaid leather in the middle, to place parchment on so it was easier to write, filled her nostrils. To the right she saw that Marisa had already supplied her with quills and ink and parchment, and lying in the middle of the leather inlay was a deep navy apron with a bright blue bow around it, to wear on her visit to keep her gown clean.
A sense of importance sunk into her bones. For once she was going to actually contribute something of worth to the world. She wanted to hug her sister.
“I won’t let you down, I promise.”
“Oh, Helen. When have you ever let me down?”
“It’s just I know how important the children are to you.”
Once the tea had been served Marisa said, “Come, let’s sit by the fire.”
Helen reluctantly left her desk and joined her sister by the fire at the end of their study. She sunk into the well-cushioned longue next to Marisa and waited for her to impart her words of wisdom.
“I don’t really know where to begin,” her sister said. “We ladies of thetonlead a very sheltered life.”
Helen sat sipping her tea not quite sure where this was going.
Marisa sighed and put her cup of tea down. She removed the cup from Helen’s hands and gripped them. “You are a sensible woman. Strong, courageous, with a huge heart, but you will see and hear things that will quite probably shock you.”
Helen tried not to let her hands shake. “I know the world is not a safe place. I know that people do terrible things to each other. I remember Mother and Father.” At her sister’s raised eyebrow she added, “Rather tame in the scheme of things, I imagine. But I read the news sheets too. I know how cruel and dangerous London is. That is why you decided to help the orphans.”
“When you visit let Clary guide you. He’ll know what to look for. But there are signs you can see too.”
“Go on.”
“Check the matrons’ and nurses’ rooms. See if they are kept clean and tidy or if they are dirty.”
She nodded. “That would indicate they are slovenly and likely lazy.”
“Yes. And most likely the children will also be dirty.” Marisa paused. “And try to talk to the girls on your own. Pick a few and speak with them privately. See if they will tell you how they are looked after. Usually the younger ones are too scared to talk so pick a few of the older girls. Ask them if they are given jobs to do and what kind of jobs.”
“Do you mean cleaning, that sort of thing?”
Marisa took a deep breath and let go of her hands. “No. I mean being forced to go out and steal, or sell things, or do favors for men.”
Helen gasped. “Surely not. They are children.” She knew about the pickpockets, young children starving on the streets. She also had heard of courtesans, mistresses, and the like. Before he’d married, her brother, Sebastian, had been known to like the ladies of the night, as they were called.
At her shocked look, her sister said, “I know I should have told you more about the unjust world outside of the ivory tower we young ladies live in but Sebastian ordered me not to.”
“Why? Perhaps the world would be safer for us and we could do more to help if we were told just how bad the streets of London are for those without someone to look out for them. I cannot believe I have been so protected or that I am so naïve to the ways of the world.”
Marisa nodded. “Perhaps not telling you the full story was wrong. You can defer to Clary if you think anything looks out of place or if you have any suspicions at all. He won’t care if you make a mistake. It’s better to err on the side of caution.”
Helen’s face heated at the idea of having to discuss such things with Mr. Homeward. “I can also talk to you, I assume?”
“Of course, but I won’t be there when you first visit Southwark. Clary is very easy to talk to and nonjudgmental. He has had an unusual upbringing.”
