Page 14 of A Dangerous Lord (Regency Spies & Secrets 3)

“How awful,” she murmured.

“That is why this orphanage is so wonderful,” Mrs. Foster gushed as she led them up the narrow flight of stairs. “It will give these girls opportunities that they would only have been able to dream of before, especially since your mother, Lady Hawthorne, has become a patron of the orphanage.”

“She has?”

Madalene spoke up. “Not only has she become a patron, but Harriet convinced some of her friends to donate money to the orphanage,” she said. “It has allowed us to expand and admit five additional girls.”

“What wonderful news!” Jane praised.

“It is, isn’t it?” Mrs. Foster replied. “What Madalene has been able to accomplish here has been no small feat.”

“I couldn’t have done it without your help,” Madalene remarked.

“I truly doubt that,” Mrs. Foster said as she came to a stop outside of a closed door. She turned her attention towards Jane. “This is where you will be instructing the girls.”

Mrs. Foster opened the door and stood to the side, allowing Jane to enter first. The small room had a window facing the street. There was a desk in the corner, and wooden chairs were set up in a circle.

“You are welcome to organize the chairs any way you see fit,” Mrs. Foster remarked as she stepped into the room.

Jane walked over and placed her hand on the back of a chair. “I believe I shall leave the chairs as they are for now,” she said.

Mrs. Foster stepped over to the desk and held up a few pieces of paper. “When you have a moment, you are welcome to review the lessons that I wrote up,” she encouraged. “Today, they are reviewing their colors and shapes.”

“That sounds easy enough,” Jane remarked.

“I cannot thank you enough for doing this,” Mrs. Foster said. “You are doing these girls a tremendous favor.”

“May I ask who has been teaching the girls up to this point?” Jane asked.

Mrs. Foster placed the paper back on the desk. “I have, and I’m afraid I’ve done a terrible job.”

“I can’t imagine that to be true,” Jane replied.

The headmistress huffed. “I can’t hear too clearly in my right ear, so I only heard half of what the girls were saying.”

Madalene gave her a concerned look. “Have you spoken to the doctor yet?”

“I have not,” Mrs. Foster replied, “but I am not too worried. I am just growing old.” She turned back towards Jane. “The girls aren’t scheduled for their lessons with you for another hour, so you are welcome to adjourn to the library and select a book to read while you wait.”

“I believe I will do that.”

“Do you remember where the library is?” Mrs. Foster asked.

“I do.”

“We don’t have too many books for you to choose from, but I do hope you find a book that will pique your interest.”

“I am sure I will.”

The headmistress turned her attention towards Madalene. “If you have a moment, I would like to discuss the budget for this month.”

Madalene nodded her approval. “I do, assuming it is all right with Jane that I leave her.”

With a smile on her face, Jane said, “I am perfectly content being on my own for the next hour.”

Jane watched as Madalene and Mrs. Foster departed, then walked over to the desk. She picked up the paper with the lessons and reviewed what Mrs. Foster wrote. It didn’t appear too difficult of a task, and she had no doubt that she could instruct the girls with ease.

She stepped closer to the window and looked out at the bustling street. As she watched the men and women walking purposefully along, a familiar person suddenly appeared in the crowd.

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