Page 26 of Betrayal from Beyond
The girl’s confusion deepened. She cast a glance toward the kitchen. “I don’t think I should.”
“I see. Well, I’ll move over here, and we can talk while you grind.”
The girl ducked her head and went back to work.
“For the pigs?” Kara indicated the grain. “I’m surprised they provide you with meat.”
“They provide the staff with meat,” Miss Martin corrected her. “The inmates get bread and gruel and sometimes a bit of cheese.”
Not surprising, as Kara had long heard that the intent of hard work and meager meals was not only to make the workhouse a profit, but to also make it unappealing, so that they might not be overwhelmed with sheer numbers of the poor. She moved slightly closer so that she could lower her voice. “I understand you used to attend a day school for young women. A school run by Mr. Matthew Hanlin?”
The girl flinched when Kara said his name. After a moment, she nodded.
Kara waited. She checked to be sure the other women were occupied. “I heard what happened to you there, Miss Martin.”
The girl’s knuckles turned white where they gripped the wheel handle. “Who are you?” she whispered.
“My name is Kara. I’d like to be your friend.”
“It wasn’t like that—not like what they say about me.”
“I believe you.” Kara lowered her tone. “Mr. Hanlin is no friend of mine.”
Miss Martin kept grinding.
“Will you tell me your story?” asked Kara.
“I don’t think I should.” The girl was whispering again.
Kara considered. “You were a student there for two years or more. I assume you are well able to read and write?”
The girl nodded.
“Can you make change? Add and subtract numbers?”
Miss Martin lifted her head and met Kara’s gaze directly for the first time. “I started there as a student, but I became a teacher at that school, ma’am. I wanted to be a governess. I can read and write. I know geography and history. I can speak passable French. I can do accounts.”
“I am very glad to hear it. I do not know of a governess position at the moment—”
The girl shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. No one will have me now.”
“Would you like to leave this place?”
Miss Martin shot her an exasperated look. “Would you want to stay?”
“No. Nor do I believe that you should. I have some rooms available above a coffee shop in the city. My friend runs the shop. She is looking for someone to help serve customers, help in the kitchen, order supplies, things of that nature.”
The girl straightened. “Are you offeringmethe position?”
Kara stepped closer. “Mr. Hanlin possesses information that I need. People that I care for are in danger. I need to find someone to prevent them from getting hurt. Hanlin could help me locate them, but has chosen not to.”
“That sounds like him.”
“I want that information. I want to protect the people I love.” Kara paused. “But I also think that Mr. Hanlin did you great harm.”
Tears filled the girl’s eyes.
“I believe he will do it again, as often as he wishes, as long as he can get away with it. I want to stop him from hurting more girls like you, Miss Martin.”
