Page 9 of A Dream of Redemption
“It would seem” being the operative words here. Clary had his suspicions about what was happening to those missing children but he would reserve judgment until he inspected the place.
“What will you do if we find the orphanage is an absolute mess?”
He expected to find the orphanage an absolute mess.
“Mr. Brown already has some men and women trained that can step in and take over if we need. From previous experience, I have also preordered fresh clothing and bedding and mattresses. I shall send a missive as soon as we arrive and they will be delivered.”
Lady Helen rested her head against the back of the squab. “You are already sure it’s going to be my worst nightmare.”
“You read the report?”
Lady Helen nodded. “I notice that our tiger and the two grooms you brought with you are armed. Do you expect trouble?”
“Let’s just say I like to be ready for any outcome.”
Clary was certain there was going to be trouble. If his suspicions rang true, Dan Glover, the overseer, was not going to be happy at being shown the door. Clary had a horrible suspicion he knew exactly what was happening with the missing children. He suspected that Glover had a good little sideline going on.
Lady Helen shot Lady Antonia a worried look. It was too late for regrets now. They didn’t have enough time to turn the carriage around. Except they could. But it would mean a chance that Glover would learn of the visit by the time they’d come back. Their surprise would be lost.
On a sigh he said, “Should I turn the carriage around?”
Lady Antonia’s head jerked up to look at him. “Please don’t on my account.” Her eyes portrayed that perhaps she had a more adult view of life than he’d thought. “I can be strong. I can help you.”
Clary frowned at the words “help you.” It wasn’t he that needed help but the children would.
Lady Helen asked, “Since we still have a way to go, why don’t you tell us the story of how you came to work for my sister?”
Even though Clary knew that question was coming it still made his innards curdle. Three sets of eyes swiveled his way.
“There is not much to tell.”Liar.
“You are being modest. I heard you helped save Marisa.”
“I wish I could have done more.” Five years ago, he had not been able to stop Victoria, His Grace’s enemy, from kidnapping the duchess. The resulting carriage accident meant she could no longer have children, and His Grace would never have a son that could inherit his title. The dukedom would revert to the Crown, as he had no living male relatives. Clary often wondered whether he would have this job if Her Grace had been able to have children of her own.
“So,” Lady Antonia probed. “Where did you meet Marisa?”
Lady Antonia looked at him with hero worship in her eyes. Lately she had begun finding excuses to seek him out. He wondered if this was why she had decided to come. Lady Antonia had never wished to accompany them before; besides, Her Grace had refused to allow it.
He tried to answer her question. “In the course of my business.”
All three ladies looked disappointed at his answer.
“And what business was that?” Lady Helen finally asked with a bite to her words, as if she knew he was deliberately being evasive.
“Being a man of business,” he said. “How do you think I got this job working for Her Grace?” Not a lie entirely, he had been a man of business, just not the business he alluded to. He had simply turned the question on the women, letting them form their own opinions.
Luckily this seemed to pacify them. He turned to look back out the window at the streets he’d grown up on. Dirty, dangerous, and a place he would never go back to.
When it became obvious he was not about to reveal more, the women went back to discussing how they would approach the job of reviewing the orphanage. On an inward sigh, he listened and his annoyance grew. They really had no idea of what they would find or face.
The rich sat in their big homes, all warm and well fed, with fires attended and kept stoked by servants, food appearing on demand, again from servants, and they never gave a thought to those less fortunate than themselves. He tried not to let bitterness coat his thinking. He wanted to rant and rave at the fate of birth. A fate that had dictated the life he was given—not given, more like forced upon him. But he knew he could not change his past. It was his future he was focused on, his and Simon’s.
That was why he owed Her Grace everything. She knew his background and still treated him as a friend and business partner. She’d ensured Simon would never live the life he himself had been forced to endure for many, many years until he was empty inside.
—
Helen might not be very good with people, she was not as outgoing or as gregarious as Marisa, instead, she studied those around her as she would a map. Looking for the signposts of a likable personality, good character, and truthfulness. While she did not think Clary was a liar, he was not being forthcoming about his past. He must be of good character or Marisa would not have hired him. As to a likable person, he barely had any personality. He rarely smiled, or talked, or showed emotion. In fact, he showed little if any interest in anything around him—except for the orphanages. Helen could tell the children meant a lot to him.
