He slowly rose to his feet without finishing his sentence, but Susannah completed it for him. “You would not have come to London.”
Glancing over his shoulder, he gave a quick nod. “She needs rest.”
“I truly do not mind staying in. Tell her to rest all she needs.”
“I shall do that, but it is not you that pushes her. It is the voice inside her head. I have no doubt it sounds a lot like her mother telling her if she stays in bed instead of doing her duty inSociety she is not living up to her name. If only I could send that awful woman’s influence to the North of England with the lady herself.”
Susannah blinked at him, not quite sure what to say. In the end she said nothing. As uncharitable a thought as it was, she realized that having a good mother for a short time was so much better than having one who tormented her for her entire life. Perhaps time with some people was not quite as important as the influence they left.
Johnathan pulled the flowers he'd procured after Sunday services close to his chest as the strong cold breeze threatened to steal petals from the buds. He probably should have had the flowers delivered instead of taking on the responsibility himself, but he wanted to be there to see Susannah’s face. Their conversation about her favorite flowers had led him to the hothouse early this morning for their best pink roses.
A little street urchin ran by so close that he bumped Johnathan’s leg which sent him sprawling onto the ground.
The boy, no more than six, let out a curse usually reserved for grown men. Then he glanced up. His eyes grew wide when he realized the station of the man he’d accosted.
“Sorry, sir. I meant nothin’ by it. I ain’t no pick pocket. Please don’t—”
“Rollins!” Someone yelled from down the street. A big man jogged down the sidewalk waving a large chimney broom. “Get back here, boy!”
The little lad's eyes widened and he scrambled to his feet, wincing as he did so. His first few steps were a little unsteady and Johnathan wondered if the boy was sincerely hurt.
“Rollins, you worthless scrap. Get back here.” The man was getting closer.
The boy bolted down a nearby alley.
The angry chimney sweep closed in. Johnathan was not sure why he did it, perhaps it was because the boy reminded him so much of Michael, but instead of stepping out of his way and allowing him to chase after his apprentice, he stepped in front of him. His intent was to bring the man up short but he did not stop, bowling him over and crushing the precious flowers in the process.
A string of curse words flowed from the man’s mouth as they both tumbled into the street.So that was where the boy hadlearned such crass language,Johnathan thought as he picked himself up off the ground and dusted off his trousers.
“What do you think you’re doin—” The man stopped, taking in Johnathan much the same way the boy did. “My apologies, sir.”
Normally he’d have let the incident go and accepted the man’s apology, but the boy needed time to make an escape. Doing his best to summon the indignation Al would have had at having his clothes rumpled, he said, “I should think so.” He retrieved his dirty hat. “Do you know how much this topper costs? Perhaps I should charge you for it.”
“No, sir. It were an accident. The boy, he—” The big man glanced around, his eyes narrowing when he did not spy his apprentice. “I just needed to catch the boy that knocked into you. We got a chimney to clean and he’s too much a coward to do it. If anyone is to blame it’s that boy for runnin’ off.”
The thought of the little lad being shoved down a dirty chimney sent a shiver down Johnathan’s spine. Wasn’t there a law against using someone so young? If there was not, there should be. Perhaps he’d pursue it in Parliament next session, but that would not help this lad now.
“Even so, you are a grown man. Have a care and take some responsibility for your own actions.”
The chimney sweep’s jaw flexed, his eyes narrowing. “Of course, sir.”
Johnathan thought about correcting him, but what was the use in telling the angry man he was speaking to a peer? It would only bring more anger down on his poor assistant. Hopefully the boy had found a good place to hide.
“I shall let this incident go for now, but perhaps you should think about employing an older boy as your son is so opposed to the work and is a mite young for the occupation.”
“He ain’t my son. He ain’t nobody's son. Just another no account that needed work for a scrap of food. But if he ain’t gonna work, I ain’t gonna feed him.”
Not willing to give this heartless man any clues, Johnathan stopped himself from looking the way the boy had gone, his heart pinching. He did not have parents anymore either. If he’d not had money, would people feel this way about him as well?
“But you’re right. I might as well get me a new boy.” The man touched his hat, Johnathan nodded, and they both walked their separate ways.
Ten steps away, Johnathan remembered the flowers. He retrieved the bundle only to find most of them had been broken beyond repair. How could it be so hard to give flowers to one lady?
One rose in the middle stood out and he carefully pulled it from the others, hoping the stem was whole. A petal drooped, but that seemed to be the only detectable defect. One flower wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing. Hopefully it was enough.
Two streets down and one street away from Kendall House he came upon Al as he strode in the same direction.
“On your way to see how Melior fairs?” He asked as Johnathan came abreast of him.