Chapter 18 #2
“Joshua,” he said in a trembly voice. His face was streaked where his tears had made tracks through the dirt on his cheeks, but his eyes were dry now.
The blood on his face, which seemed to come from his hairline above his forehead, was drying.
I wished I had a cloth and some water so I could clean it.
“And your sister’s name?”
“Sarah.”
I made sure the cloth was snug, and after a few passes, I tied the ends together.
Lord Brookhaven slid his hands underneath Joshua’s body and lifted him, looking purposeful as he moved slowly and carefully. He ducked, carefully moving sideways so Joshua wouldn’t bump his head or catch his feet on the narrow opening. Joshua bit his lip, but he didn’t cry out.
As we moved through the narrow streets, Sarah walked beside me, chewing her fingers, while we followed Lord Brookhaven.
We turned down three or four streets before Lord Brookhaven stopped in front of a brick two-story house. “Miss Robbins, would you knock on the door?”
I knocked and the door was opened by a servant, who led us inside, where Lord Brookhaven laid Joshua on a small bed and the physician, Dr. Morton, came in and examined the boy.
“May I have some water to wash his face?” I said quietly to the servant.
“No need, mum. I shall wash him.” She left and returned a few minutes later.
“If you could wait in the room across the hall,” Dr. Morton said, nodding in that direction, “I shall send for you when I’m sure the bone is set.”
“You won’t hurt him none?” Sarah looked near to tears again.
“I shall make sure the bone heals straight and true. Now, go and wait.” His manner was gentle, for which I was grateful.
While we waited, sitting on straight chairs in a small drawing room, I asked Sarah, “Were you living in that building we saw?”
“Yes, ma’am. It’s just Joshua and me, but we take care of each other.”
“How old are you?”
“Nine years.”
“Would you and Joshua like to come and stay with me? I have an extra room with a comfortable bed. You can stay until your brother’s arm heals, at least.”
“And then will you send us to the poorhouse? We was there and we ran away. We don’t aim to go back.”
“I promise I won’t send you to the poorhouse, nor anywhere else you don’t want to go.”
The girl said nothing. I couldn’t bear to think of her and her little brother sleeping on the floor of that broken and rundown building. I could surely convince her to come and stay with me. I had so much room, and she and her brother were so young and vulnerable.
What was Lord Brookhaven thinking? Did he disapprove of my taking these orphaned children to live with me?
If he did, he made no mention of it. But Mrs. Drake would disapprove, I could well imagine, and so would Millicent.
Or perhaps I was wrong and their compassion and better natures would win out.
Lord Brookhaven’s face was serious, but there was a gentleness too. My mind went to what he’d said to me at the ball, and I realized I’d reacted badly. He’d only been trying to be helpful, saying what any friend would have said who was trying to look out for me.
I was distracted from planning what I would say to him by the sight of his bare neck.
I’d seen many servants working in the fields or in gardens and stables with part of their chests bare, their shirts open at the neck and chest hair peeking out, but it had never seemed anything but ordinary, and I’d never felt drawn to stare at them. Lord Brookhaven, however . . .
I forced myself to think instead about how kind Lord Brookhaven had been, how gently he had treated the little injured boy.
Would any of the other gentlemen I’d met so far, danced and flirted with in London, have been so kind?
No, they’d probably have reacted similarly to Mrs. Drake, whose behavior—flinching away and yelling at them—reflected most people’s feelings toward orphans and those who begged on the street.
Where was their Christian charity? At best, it was overwhelmed by their fear. At worst, they felt none.
While we waited for the physician to finish, a servant brought tea and cakes. And with a little encouragement, Sarah began to eat.
“Can I save some for my brother?” she whispered to me. Her eyes were wide, and a few crumbs sprayed from the corners of her mouth.
“Of course, when the surgeon is finished with him.”
While she was distracted by the food, I turned to Lord Brookhaven. “Thank you so much for helping me. I wouldn’t have known where to take him, and you appeared just when we needed you.”
Just when I needed him. I felt the tears crowd my eyes.
“I am glad that I came upon you when I did and was able to help.”
“You must think me foolish.” I said the words very quietly, hoping Sarah wouldn’t hear.
“Not at all. I think you showed a compassion and courage that is very admirable.”
“And you will help me bring them to my home?” I steeled myself for what he might say.
“Of course. You may rely upon me.”
My heart swelled and the tears threatened to fall. I blinked desperately to hold them back.
“After all,” he said with a tiny smile, “I’ve been carrying children around for seven years now. I am up to the task.”
I could have asked him more directly if he disapproved of me bringing the children to my home, but I was certain I had my answer.