Chapter 12 #2
Her heart softened. It was a very cozy place where the children could learn and grow and play. She noted vegetable plants growing in the corners, and strolled over to where she saw two children with their hands buried deep in the dirt.
“Are you plucking out weeds or plants today?” She asked lightly.
The little boy couldn’t be more than four. “Weeds! I think.”
Before she could say anything more, the slightly older girl gasped loudly and pointed at a small carrot. “You did it all wrong!”
“No, I didn’t!”
Hastily bending down, caring little about her dress now, Isla collected the carrot. “It’s very hard learning what to pull sometimes, isn’t it? But fortunately, I do think we can plant it right back. That doesn’t always work, but this one looks brave and strong. Shall we bury him back in?”
“Yes, please!” The little boy looked ready to cry. “I didn’t mean to do it all wrong.”
“Of course you didn’t,” she reassured him. “Some of the weeds look very much like vegetable greens. Wouldn’t you agree it takes a sharp eye?” She asked the girl.
“A very sharp eye!” The girl nodded her head so hard it looked like it might hurt. She stopped abruptly to say, “I’m Lucy.”
A name just like Lacey. Just as bold too, Isla noted. She smiled, noting the girl didn’t seem to notice the difference of finery between them. “A pleasure to meet you, Lucy. I’m Isla. And who might you be?”
“James!”
“And a pleasure to meet you, James. Now, who wants to plant the carrot back in?”
They both did, of course. So Isla gently walked them both through the process of shifting the dirt and planting it back in.
They asked questions every five seconds.
Clever children, she tried to answer them all but found herself laughing over the onslaught of their curiosity as they went from carrots to cabbage to cats.
“Lucy!” A shrill voice shouted once they were back to pulling weeds properly. “We’re going to play marbles!”
“Oh!” The girl scrambled up. “I need to go! Isla, won’t you play, too?”
Isla paused in surprise and then glanced at James who had accidentally faceplanted in the dirt. Helping him back onto his knees, she said, “Can James come with us?”
“Yes, I suppose so. But no touching any marbles, James,” Lucy instructed while brushing her dark braid from her face. “But you can, Isla. I don’t think you would lose any marbles. Would you?”
She tried to keep a straight face. “Well, you never know. I’ll be happy to watch alongside James.”
Taking the little boy in hand, Isla followed Lucy across the courtyard. They passed Genevieve who was dancing in a circle with most of the other girls, and they all waved happily.
“I’m coming!” Lucy screeched. “I’m coming and I have Isla with me. Everyone, make room!”
And there really was happiness here. Smiles and laughter were freely shared at this orphanage. Isla’s heart filled with gladness to be here as she knelt back on the hard ground alongside James to watch Lucy play marbles with three other children.
As she chuckled over the children’s eagerness to win, Isla decided to braid her hair with a scrap of cloth Lucy offered her. She was about to tie her hair back when she felt eyes her way.
All she had to do was turn to find Ronan. He stood by a small table of buckets for water and nuts for the children. Someone had placed him there surely to have him assist.
When she met his gaze, he quickly turned to look elsewhere.
“Ah, not again!” A boy cried. The voice called Isla back to where Lucy had won the second match.
The girl was good. She won the third match as well. After a helpful hint to maybe share the fun to the girl, Isla found herself playing with everyone. Leaning forward, she tossed the marble and collected two more. Everyone groaned as she laughed at the small victory.
“Do you think I can win?” Isla turned to ask James, only to find the boy had left her side.
Surprised, she let the children play on while she climbed up onto her knees so she might scout the courtyard and find him. Where had the boy gone? He was quiet, surely, but had been content only moments ago. Maybe he was hungry…
There he was.
Isla inhaled deeply as she watched James near the main doorway. Even from this distance, she could see his troubled expression and worried lip. He pointed to his elbow to someone. The boy must have scratched himself at some point.
And there was Ronan, awkwardly kneeling down beside James.
Her breath caught as she watched his serious expression soften. Never leaving the boy’s gaze, he smoothly slid out a handkerchief and then laid out his hand. James let the tall duke tend to his scratch before tying the white fabric––now no longer that white or starched––around his arm.
There was no blood, but James must have been very sad. Maybe that was why Ronan was willing to let loose the handkerchief. But of course, he was a duke. A handkerchief was easy to replace.
Still, Isla watched them together and muttered for the children beside her to play without her. She easily forfeited to watch the duke behave so gently with the boy. It was a vulnerable sort of moment that no one else had seen.
But I did, and I don’t think I shall ever forget it.
Her heart was near full to bursting by the time Isabel was rounding everyone up to take their leave.
Soon the children would have their supper, and their routines were more important than anything here.
The chatter between the adults carried on once they left the youth, but Isla remained quiet as she thought about her time with them.
“Are you well?” Ronan asked once they had shared their farewells with the party. The carriage had been called back for them, the streets not safe enough to remain parked for long.
“Hm? Oh,” Isla murmured. “Yes, thank you. I’m quite well.”
He flexed his arm beneath her hand. “You’re quite. It is unexpected.”
A slight smile crossed her lips. “I suppose I am. I am only thinking of how much those children deserve better. Even with so little, they are happy. I think I admire them.”
“You are rather good with them,” he quietly said. She noted the way his gaze drifted over her dress, which her mother would definitely not be happy about seeing upon their return. Mrs. MacLaren would certainly have words for her.
Isla didn’t mind. She watched as their carriage came around as she told Ronan clearly, “Thank you. They’re easier than most grown men.”
He coughed as he helped her into the carriage, though she could have sworn it was nearly a laugh.