Page 35 of The Duke's Bride in Disguise
"And what are they doing now?" Raff asked, for he was not so domesticated that he could discern the work the girls were carrying out. It looked, to his eye, like sewing, but rather more laborious and complex.
"Why," Mrs Raab beamed, "They're making bobbin lace. Such a wonderful skill for the girls to learn, and it also generates an income for the Asylum, which goes toward helping to feed and clothe the girls."
The lace mustn't generate a lot of income, Raff thought wryly, for the all the girls appeared half starved. Though, perhaps the profits went to feed the pleasantly plump matron?
"And do they work every day?" Raff asked.
"Oh no," Mrs Raab looked shocked, "They've a half day on a Sunday. Come, Your Grace, I'll bring you to see the dining hall."
Raff turned to follow Mrs Raab, but before they had a chance to move down the dark hallway, Lady Emily gave a cry of annoyance.
"Drat," she said, giving a theatrical frown, "I seem to have left my reticule behind in your office, Mrs Raab."
"I'll have one of the girls fetch it, my Lady," the matron replied.
"Oh no," Lady Emily trilled, in a high-pitched voice that sounded rather false to Raff's ear, "I simply couldn't tear them away from their work. I shall fetch it, and catch up with you and His Grace in the dining hall. I know his Grace wouldn't want to missthatportion of the tour."
Without waiting for a reply, Lady Emily turned and hared down the hallway, a glum looking Mary following in her wake.
She's up to something, Raff thought, as he and Mrs Raab continued with the tour, and, indeed, when Lady Emily caught up with them, a quarter hour later, her skin seemed rather flushed.
"Is all alright?" Raff queried, wondering at her pink cheeks and excited air.
"Fine as fivepence," Lady Emily said quickly, turning her attention to Mrs Raab, who was extolling the virtues of a balanced diet.
Raff would have believed her, had he not spotted the corner of a sheaf of torn paper, peeking from her beaded reticule. He frowned; he knew that she had been up to something.
The rest of the tour passed quickly; Mrs Raab insisted on showing them the dormitory—a vast, draughty room with mouse droppings upon the floor—before she escorted them back to the front door.
"Thank you again," the matron said, her eyes focused on Raaf, "For visiting. Do call back, whenever you like, Your Grace."
"You seem to have made an impression," Lady Emily whispered, once the door had closed behind them. Her green eyes danced with amusement and, though Raff was annoyed with her for deceiving him, he still allowed himself a moment to appreciate her beauty. During tea, he had thought her a ghost, but now, with her eyes sparkling, her cheeks flushed, and her plump mouth turned up in a smile, she resembled a fairy or a woodland nymph.
Raff kept his silence as he handed the young stable lad a few coins and assisted Emily and Mary up onto the Phaeton. It was only once they were on their way, heading down Hercules Road toward the bridge, that he voiced his annoyance.
"If you're going to pull a stunt like that again," he said, his hands gripping tightly to the reins, "Then at least have the courtesy to tell me about it first."
"What do you mean?"
Lady Emily turned toward him, wearing an overly innocent expression that faltered at his dark scowl.
"I am no fool," he murmured quietly, "Don't think to insult my intelligence, my dear. I know that you took something from Mrs Raab's office, and I want to know what it was."
"Well, it wasn't one of her hideous ornaments, if that's what you're worried about," Emily replied glibly.
He scowled again, and her smile faltered.
"Fine," his betrothed gave a sigh, "If you must know, I took a page from one of the ledgers."
"Lord," Raff heard Mary cry from her seat beside Emily, "I had nothing to do with it, Your Grace. I was an unwilling accomplice in it all."
"As was I," Raff replied dryly. He took his eyes from the road before him, to glance at Emily. "Tell me," he said, "What for; I assume there was some reason for your act of thievery?"
Lady Emily bristled indignantly under his censure, casting him a scathing look.
"Of course there was," she huffed, "It is for one of our maids, she came to us from the Asylum and she wishes to know who her parents are."
"Could she not have asked the Asylum herself?" Raff asked, frowning in confusion.
