Page 52 of An Unwitting Alliance
Alan kicked a rock and watched it bounce before skidding to a stop. “Living on the streets would suit me better. I won’t live with them again. Ever.”
Cassandra met Tom’s eyes, and they shared a sympathetic glance for their young charge. Alan’s words were heartbreaking. Families should not be so easily divided. How could anyone not love this sweet little boy? His innocent eyes were a beautiful swirl of brown, and his smile, as fleeting as it was, would charm anyone with half a heart.
When they reached the workhouse, Cassandra stared up at the tall walls. She had never noticed how prisonlike it looked until now.
Tom pulled her and Alan into the alley on the side of the building. “We have to get past the porter at the gate without raising any alarm. Alan, will you be able to find the children’s workroom without being seen?”
“I got out, didn’t I?”
“Right you did.” Tom ruffled his hair. “Cassie, how are you at acting?”
She coughed. “Me?”
“Not to worry. Just act natural and leave the rest to me. Alan, stay behind us and out of sight. When you see an opportunity, take it.” Tom took Cassandra’s hand and pulled her out of the alley, and they began strolling toward the gate.
“Do have a plan?”
He squeezed her fingers. “You know me. I make it up as I go.”
“That’s what I am afraid of.”
As they came closer to the iron gate, they discovered not one but two men.
“Longbottom,” Tom muttered, slowing his step.
“The overseer?” Cassandra whispered. Did it have to be him?
Tom gave a firm nod. “You trust me, don’t you?”
Cassandra shook her head. “Not really.”
“Not reallyis better than an outright no. It will have to be enough. I apologize in advance, but this is for Alan.”
Nerves fluttered in her middle. What was he proposing? But one quick glance back at Alan behind them, trailing along the wall, was all the motivation she needed. “For Alan.”
“Smile, then. Like you mean it.”
She stretched her lips wide, but it was hard to smile when she was afraid for a little boy’s life.
“Gentlemen.” Tom heralded the men. “May you both be the first in town to congratulate me.”
Cassandra’s smile slipped, not sure what Tom was saying, but she pushed it quickly back into place.
“Move along,” the thinner of the men said. “We are working here.”
Tom laughed. “Can you not spare a minute to rejoice in the upcoming union of two people, nay, two souls who met by chance and were destined to be together forever?”
Cassandra froze. Upcoming union? Tom was not supposed to be announcing their engagement!
The thin man gritted his teeth. “I am the overseer here, and people’s lives depend on me. You will have to seek your felicitations elsewhere.” So this was Longbottom.
Cassandra had only a second to process the revelation when Tom pulled her close and brought her hand to his warm lips. “Is she not enchanting? I cannot believe her father agreed to let her marry me.”
The kiss, chaste and quick, sent a thrill through her. She had to push past the effect of his touch to register the ludicrous nature of his words.
Tom stepped closer to the two men, Longbottom growing increasingly annoyed while the stout man she assumed was the porter looked a mite amused. Tom latched on to Longbottom’s shoulder. “A man as fine as you, and one capable of running such an edifice as this, has certainly found true love and can understand how I feel.”
Cassandra sensed more than saw Alan come up directly behind them and slip around Tom.
