Page 62 of The Artisan and the Duke
Gregory gave his cousin a smile and said, “Thank you, Boris. I know that with your help it is only a matter of time before she is back by my side.”
***
“He lied straight to your face?” Fredrick scowled. “I never did trust that loud-mouth braggart.”
Talbert and Olly came into the kitchen where the St Claire brothers currently sat. Talbert asked, “You called for us, Your Grace?”
“Yes,” Gregory said to the two men. “I want you to go and make nice with the boys from my cousin’s house. You know where they normally go to blow off steam. See if they can tell you anything that might be a bit odd. Feel free to trade gossip about Fredrick’s run-in with the highwaymen if you need be. You have first-hand knowledge of part of that night after all.”
Fredrick nodded his agreement. “You have my permission to do so,” he said with amusement. “Feel free to add in the part about me kicking that one in the knee, even if you were not technically present for it.”
Talbert chuckled. “Alright,” he said. “Come on, Olly, I bet Todd and the boys are down at the tavern.”
“Be careful,” Gregory said quietly to the two young men. “Whoever else is in this with my cousin means business. They would not hesitate to harm you if they did so to Fred or Jules.”
Olly nodded and promised, “We won’t take any chance, Your Grace.” The two men were swiftly out of the room.
After Olly and Talbert’s footsteps faded, Gregory said, “I feel awful asking those young men to do more.”
“I think they are happy to do it. Most everyone is fond of the Duchess,” Fredrick said to his brother. “I found very little today. I even doubled back to a couple of the workhouses. There is nothing to be found there. Perhaps with your jostling of Cousin Boris, the rats will start to flee the ship.”
***
The lady of the house was a quiet type. The woman’s name was Sarah, and she was as soft-spoken and meek as anyone that Jules had ever run across. Sarah was, however, rather good with a needle and thread. Watching the woman work made Jules miss her mother.
The woman’s tools made it possible for Jules to borrow some thread and a needle to hem up her unfortunate dress. At least it did not drag under her feet now even if it was still too big most everywhere else. The children were out almost all day, and Jules learned that they worked in a factory nearby.
The thought of the children in the factory made Jules shake her head, but she could not naysay Wyatt, the tall man, and Sarah. Some of the children were their own, but most were just lost souls that the couple had taken in. Most days, Sarah was home mending and sewing, while Wyatt went out into the city to work at a newspaper stand nearby.
Wyatt came in with a grin on his face as he called out Jules name that particular evening. Jules had been waiting for Wyatt to find her a job, and her heart practically beat out of her chest at the sound of excitement in the man’s voice.
Wyatt beamed when he saw Jules. “The Lord has answered your prayers,” Wyatt said joyfully. “There is a factory on the East side that needs seamstresses. I have seen that you know a thing or two about sewing, and since I know some of the men who run the factory, I managed to get your name to the right people. They want you to come by bright and early in the morning. Isn’t that wonderful?”
“It is,” Jules said without a trace of deception. She really was genuinely thrilled. It felt like it had been ages since she had been free to leave her confinement. The very thought of simply walking down the street unfettered was enough to make her feel like laughing.
Sarah smiled over at Wyatt. “What a good man you are, Wyatt,” she said proudly to her husband. “I know you shall do wonderful,” Sarah said encouragingly to Jules.
Jules nodded enthusiastically. “I will definitely try. I’m so excited that I doubt I will sleep at all. I better get straight up and say my prayers. Thank you, Wyatt,” Jules said before she rushed upstairs.
Sleep really was elusive. Jules sat there trying to formulate how long it would take her to get to the manor house. She did not know for sure where Wyatt and Sarah’s house was, but from what she had pieced together, it was at least across the city on the Western side of London.
However, if she had to go East, then that might put her close to her old stomping grounds. Jules fell asleep finally out of sheer exhaustion with a smile on her face.
***
The next morning, Jules’ eyes popped open, and she quickly started to grab for her things only to realize that she had no things. Jules laughed at herself then gave her reflection a quick glance. She looked passable but still not much better than a sick sow.
Downstairs, Jules did not even bother to eat. Wyatt had already left, leaving behind a note for her with instructions on how to get to her new job. Jules held the note up as she stepped out the door. The sweet rush of faintly cool air hit Jules, and she paused to just breathe in that first free breath of air.
She would follow the note, at least until she was near the job’s vicinity, so she would not arouse suspicion. The last thing she needed was to end up back at the workhouses or the jail. Jules walked along just enjoying the sounds of the city.
It had been so long since she had just taken in the sights and sounds of London. Growing up here she had taken the clamour of the city for granted, and she only noticed its absence in the country at Thornton Hall.
However, the noise of the city had been replaced by other noises such as chatty crickets that fought to be heard over the bullfrog serenade.
The yell of a newspaper boy brought Jules out of her stupor. She gave the little boy a smile, but she had no money to buy a paper with and did not hinder him. Jules checked the note and cut down the next street.
Slowly the streets became more familiar. By midday, she was on a street that she had at least set foot on before. She was so far from the manor house that she thought of just going to her new job to get the chance to sit for a moment. Jules pushed on and pocketed the note. She knew where she was going now.
