Page 40 of A Gentleman's Reckoning
“Thompson? I don’t know the name—unless it is the Thompson whose name appears on the underside of my tea set.” He chortled at his own joke.
“Precisely the one,” Geny said with a broad smile. “Mr. Thompson’s family is in ceramics.” She challenged him with her gaze, and Lord Amherst’s flustered look returned.
“Now, if you both won’t mind, I will rejoin my friends and leave you to enjoy the Marbles.”
She dipped into a curtsy and walked away, but not before catching some of the murmured words that Miss Purcell let fall on not being too careful about one’s company. Geny did not even mind that. If it had not been for her own mother’s kindness, she might very well think exactly as Miss Purcell did.
“This is quite the fashionable place,” Mr. Thompson mused when she rejoined them.
“It is all the rage. My father said I must go so that I would have a topic of discussion at parties.” Geny exchanged a droll look with Margery, and they both smiled. Margery could read exactly what she was thinking.
They continued along the exhibit, and as they went, marveled at the age of the statues and how wonderful it was that they could look upon something that had been created so many centuries prior. When they had seen everything, Geny was satisfied that she would be able to tell her father she had indeed visited the exhibit when he returned. It was an agreeable feeling when her father was pleased with her, and she attempted it as often as she could while remaining true to her convictions.
She turned to Margery. “I had forgotten to tell you. Part of the wall in the stable came down, and it hurt one of the orphans. Do you remember Gabriel, who is now twelve?”
Margery thought for a moment. “Is he not one of the sponsored orphans?”
Geny nodded. “He was standing too near the wall when it fell, although I believe he poked at the hole with a stick, which was not the wisest of him. He is a good boy, and I regret that this should happen to him.”
“Is he all right?” Mr. Thompson asked.
His concern caused Geny to send him a grateful look. There were too few gentlemen who were truly concerned with an orphan’s welfare. Her mind went back to the way John hadsprung into motion when it happened. He rushed over to see that Gabriel was more comfortable and seemed annoyed that he was not able to fetch the surgeon for himself. The memory brought a sensation of longing and chagrin. That she should have such strong feelings for him—and that they should have shared such an intimate embrace without a proposal or any promise—was not only shocking, it was agonizing, for she could do nothing to bring a proposal about.
“He was hurt,” she told Mr. Thompson. “He has broken his arm, but the surgeon set it easily and promised he would have full use of it afterwards. So he was very lucky. It could have been much worse if he had been hit on the head, for instance.”
“What a relief,” Margery exclaimed. “I would not like for anything to happen to him, or any of the orphans.”
“Matthew was there,” Geny said, remembering it with a shudder. “I warned him not to draw near and thankfully he heeded my advice.”
“Will your father be able to repair the wall?” Mr. Thompson asked her. They had begun walking toward the entrance of the museum, and he offered an arm to both women.
“The steward—Mr. Rowles,” she added, glancing at him to see if he recognized the name. He nodded as though he did. “He and I had found a mason to repair the wall when it seemed there was only a little work to be done. Now the budget for fixing it will be much greater, for the foundation will have to be strengthened in addition to the repairs. I am concerned that the donations are not enough at present to undertake such a large project.”
A look came over Mr. Thompson’s face that she would not have caught had she not been looking at him then.
“I hesitate to say this, my lady. Actually, it is not in my nature to…” He looked uncomfortable, and Margery’s curiosity must have overcome her, for she pulled him to a stop and peered up into his face. He looked at her, then Geny.
“Last week, I donated five hundred pounds to the orphanage, and I am hoping that this will be enough to cover the project. It should be. There should be no problem with the asylum’s finances at the moment.”
“You donated to the foundling asylum?” Margery asked, a look of disbelief and admiration in her eyes.
He nodded and lifted his hand to rub the back of his neck, as though he did not like the attention. Geny was very sure he did not, but she would not hold back from expressing her gratitude.
“Please know how very grateful I am that you have done such a thing. We are greatly in your debt.”
“Well…” Mr. Thompson seemed unsure of what to say next and cast his gaze around desperately, then his look brightened. “I have just had a splendid idea. Let us go to Gunter’s and have some ice, shall we? The day is warm enough for it, wouldn’t you say? And I heard there is even pineapple to be had.”
Margery and Geny exchanged another glance and both nodded and smiled at him.
“That sounds lovely,” Margery said. She was the first to slip her arm back into Mr. Thompson’s.
The next day,Geny waited for her father in the sitting room for fear she would miss his arrival, and he would closet himself in his library without seeking them out. Matthew strolled in minutes before their father’s voice sounded in the entryway.
“It’s Father,” he said, starting toward the door.
He was still young enough to expect to be received with paternal affection; she had cause to be more wary. Then again, he was the heir and did receive more consideration than she.
“Well, Son, no signs of illness, I hope,” the earl said.
