Six Months Later

“I know you must miss them terribly, but you are happy here, aren’t you?”

Laura Smith looked down into the miserable face of young Elouise Drover, her heart breaking for the child. At only eight years of age, the young girl had lost both of her parents in one awful moment and had then been sent to the orphanage where Laura worked. Even though Elouise had been with them for a good few months, it was as though she had only been with them a day given the grief that was evident in her face.

“I like the other girls,” Elouise admitted, softly, tears dripping onto her cheeks. “But it isn’t like home.”

An orphan herself, Laura knew full well what Elouise meant and wrapped an arm around the girl’s thin shoulders. She remembered the day she had come to the orphanage, with all her earthly possessions wrapped up in a small, threadbare shawl. She had grown up here and now managed to earn a small living by assisting Mary Sanders with the care and protection of the girls. The orphanage was a fairly small building, with a cook and two maids to keep everything in order, and whilst it was nothing compared to the Home for Girls nearby, it certainly wasn’t as bad as the poorhouse. There were only thirteen girls altogether, with room for only two more. The girls who came here did not have enough of a fortune to go the Home for Girls, but neither were they so destitute that they were tossed into the poorhouse without a second thought. They were not gentry nor were they the dust of the earth. They still had a hope that they might, one day, find another family and begin life all over again.

For Laura, of course, that hope had never been fulfilled. She had not been adopted, had not so much as been looked at by another family, but at least she had employment and a small income. On top of which, she very much enjoyed encouraging and supporting the girls who came here, knowing exactly what it was they were feeling. That was why she was able to be such a support to Elouise, who was bearing the burden of being left entirely alone in the world.

“You must try to think of it less,” Laura explained, as she hugged Elouise. “It will not hurt so much if you let your mind occupy itself with other things.”

Elouise sniffed. “What else is there to think about?”

Laura was about to answer when the sound of footsteps reached her ears. Scrambling to her feet, she picked up her basket, turning to see Mary Sanders pushing the door open. Mary was tall and slender, with a practical nature about her that did not often turn into compassion. She was a good fifteen years older than Laura and had come to take over the orphanage at the same time that Laura was looking for employment. Whilst not unfair or cruel, Mary Sanders was not someone who the girls could turn to for comfort or sympathy, for she was a rather unfeeling creature.

“Do get on, Laura,” Mary said firmly, eyeing Elouise. “You have chores to do and sitting here with a crying child does not help get them done.”

Laura nodded. “Yes, I know. Elouise is simply a little distressed and I thought –”

Mary clicked her tongue, interrupting Laura. “No excuses, if you please. Be on your way. Elouise, dry your eyes and then splash some water on your face. I am sure you have something useful you can do. Why not try to continue with your embroidery? It is to be sold once it is completed, remember, so it must be your very best work.”

Elouise’s lip trembled as she nodded, her brown eyes so filled with pain and grief looking at the floor. Laura felt her heart twist with sympathy for her but, having very little choice but to do what Mary Sanders asked, contented herself with a gentle squeeze of the child’s shoulder before stepping past Mary Sanders and making her way to the front door.

Sighing heavily to herself, Laura wished that Mary Sanders could find it within herself to show the girls who came to the orphanage a little more compassion. Instead, it appeared as though she cared nothing for their sufferings, for she always only considered practical arrangements. When a new girl came to the orphanage, Mary was the one to ensure she had a bed, clothing, food and, of course, something to employ herself with which might then be sold and used as income for the orphanage.  The orphanage received some funds from their generous benefactors who had opened up the orphanage in the first place, but income from embroidery or other needlework was a welcome addition. Mary Sanders never once thought about grief or sadness or pain when it came to assessing the girls. It was as though emotions did not exist for Mary, as though she did not need to consider them for she had no understanding of them. It was not that way for Laura and, more and more, she found the girls turning to her whenever they needed someone to listen to them. She was glad of that, glad that her experience made her able to understand their difficulties, even if she had Mary Sanders to contend with at times.

Humming to herself, Laura stepped outside into the beautiful afternoon sunshine, tipping her head back for a moment so that she might drink it in. It was by no means warm, given that it was only the beginning of March, but Laura was glad that they had left winter far behind them. The orphanage was always terribly cold in the winter, even with the additional coal they were given. Last winter had been a particularly bad one. She shivered as she stepped out of the gates, making her way towards Smithfield Market where she might collect what they needed for tonight’s dinner.

“You ain’t cold, Miss Laura, surely?”

Laura smiled at the familiar face of the old market seller, Mr. Stone, standing behind his goods. Tugging her shawl a little closer around herself as the cold wind nipped at her, she shivered again. “I was thinking of the winter,” she explained, picking up a couple of potatoes and examining them. “It was a bad one, to be sure. I’m glad the sun has decided to show itself today!”

The old man chuckled, displaying a mouth that was missing a good few teeth. “I can agree with you on that, Miss Laura! Now, what is it you’re looking for today?”

Laura picked up yet more potatoes. “Ten of these, Mr. Stone.”

“Just ten?”

She chuckled. “Yes, just ten. Cook has more in, you see, so I won’t need too many today.”

“But you’ll be back tomorrow?”

Laughing, she paid him and collected the potatoes in her basket. “I am at Smithfield Market every day, Mr. Stone, as you well know. I’m sure I’ll see you again tomorrow.”

Mr. Stone’s eyes twinkled, and he touched his cap, before letting her move on. Laura, still smiling to herself, continued to walk through the marketplace, making sure she got everything that was needed. Cook wouldn’t be best pleased if she came back without!

An hour later, her basket heavily laden, Laura allowed herself to daydream as she made her way back to the orphanage. It was not something she permitted herself to do very regularly, since she felt it was something of a foolish enterprise. She knew her place in this world, knew what was expected of her and what she would, most likely, end up doing for the remainder of her days, but still, she let her thoughts wander. After all, she knew two young ladies from Smithfield Market who had, only recently, had their circumstances change in the most extraordinary of ways. It was foolish for her to believe that she might be next, but still, it showed her that there was always a chance that things might change for her.

She shook her head to herself, berating herself silently. She had no need to think about what might happen to her, for that was only filling her with false hope about something that, in all likelihood, would never happen. She would be working at the orphanage for the rest of her days, until she grew too old to do so – or until she had saved up enough money to purchase a small dwelling where she might reside until the last breath left her body. It was by no means a particularly wonderful life, but it was better than so many of the poor and weak around these parts. She could not complain, not when she knew that, had things been different, she might have ended up in the poorhouse or, perhaps, died from consumption. Besides which, the girls needed a listening ear, a gentle heart and quiet reassurance. That was something Mary Sanders lacked, which meant that Laura’s role did hold some importance in the running of the orphanage. She did not need to dream about what adventures life could take her on, what gentlemen she might meet or the like. She had to be content with the life she had. Anything else was foolishness.

Walking back towards the gates of the orphanage, Laura stopped dead as her gaze landed on what was the most beautiful carriage she had ever seen. It was practically gleaming in the sunshine, and was surrounded by footmen and tigers who were, clearly, waiting for someone’s return. She let her eyes linger on the crest that was emblazoned on the carriage doors, wondering who this might be and why they had come to Smithfield Market.

“Stop your gawking, girl! Be off with you!”

Laura’s eyes shot to one of the footmen, who was glaring at her. She drew herself up, refusing to be intimidated. “I am not gawking, sir,” she replied, a little tartly. “Simply wondering how I am meant to return to the orphanage when your carriage is directly in front of the gates!”

The footman’s eyes narrowed, but he did not rail at her again.

“Might I move past you?” she said, stepping a little closer. “You are all somewhat in the way, I must say.”

The footman stepped hastily back, as though she were some disease-ridden creature. “Do be careful, there.”

She made her way past him quickly, her back ramrod straight. “Might I ask whose carriage this is?”

“Impertinent chit,” the footman muttered, whilst the driver – who appeared much more amicable, shot her a smile.

“The Duke of Royston’s sister,” he said, sounding rather full of himself. “She has gone into the orphanage, miss. Do you work there?”

“I do,” Laura replied, wondering why on earth a Duke’s sister had appeared at the orphanage.

The driver grinned, ignoring the footman’s disdainful mutterings. “Then you will most likely see her ladyship inside, miss. Lady Alice, or ‘my lady’, of course.”

Laura nodded and smiled, thanking the driver before walking quickly into the orphanage. She did not want to allow herself to hope, but this might mean that the lady was looking to take some girls in! It often happened that the gentry sought out decent maids or the like from places like the orphanage, and Laura was always delighted when it occurred. It was not a particularly wonderful life by any means, but it was more than suitable for girls of the orphanage.

Entering the front door of the house, Laura was met by Helen, a young lady who had only recently begun employment at the orphanage, helping Laura and Mary to deal with the increased number of young girls who had come to the orphanage of late.

“You’re wanted in Miss Sanders’ office, Laura,” she said quickly, taking the basket and shawl from her. “You’d best go at once. There’s an awful fine lady in there!”

Laura could not help but smile. “Yes, I saw the carriage. I hope it might mean employment for some of our girls. The gentry are always looking for decent maids and we do have some of the very best trained up here.”

Helen looked a little uncertain. “I ain’t sure that’s who she’s looking for, though. She said something about finding ‘the perfect girl’. I overheard her as she came in.”

Frowning, Laura searched Helen’s face, seeing the worry written into her expression. “Even if she provides employment for just one of our girls, then I will be grateful.”

“You don’t think it’s for something a little.....darker?” Helen asked, looking even more concerned. “I have heard of the gentry seeking out a young girl for their own pleasures.”

Laura stiffened, then relaxed with an effort. “Mary is not as bad as all that,” she said, firmly. “Even if that was the request, I trust that she wouldn’t allow such a thing. She has never done so before and I do not think that she would do so now. As much as she may not care for a young girl’s emotional state, I can assure you that she does consider their future with the greatest of care.”

A look of relief passed over Helen’s features.

“I had best go,” Laura finished, pressing Helen’s hand for a moment to take away the last traces of worry. “Thank you, Helen.”

Swallowing hard, Laura straightened her skirts, lifted her chin and quickly made her way to towards Mary’s office. Whilst what Helen said did have some truth in it – for she herself had heard of gentlemen seeking out young ladies for rather selfish purposes, she did not think that Mary would ever allow such a thing to occur. That would bring down the rather stalwart reputation the orphanage had and, besides which, whilst Mary was very practical and not in the least emotional, Laura had every confidence that she would never send one of her girls to such a terrible future, even if all the money in the world were offered. One thing Mary Sanders had was principles, and she stuck to them without the slightest deviation.

With this in mind, Laura knocked on the door with confidence, her curiosity growing with every moment as she wondered what this fine lady had come for and, even more so, why she had been requested to attend.

“Enter.”

Mary’s sharp voice bid her come in and, with a deep breath, Laura opened the door and stepped inside, letting it close softly behind her.