Chapter 18
Gunter’s was a popular venue at all times of the day, and members of the ton flocked there to enjoy their famous ices, tea and cream cakes.
One might see nurses and tutors alongside their respective young charges, or courting couples who wanted to steal a moment alone without the prying eyes of their chaperones.
Large windows at the front of the shop, together with ample candle sconces, kept the room bright.
Several glass cabinets brimming with an appetising array of cake and sweetmeats lined the space.
Despite the crowds coming and going from the shop, it did not feel oppressive, owing to the cool room at the rear that kept the ices from melting and swept regular bursts of chilled air into the main hall.
Elizabeth and Georgina established themselves at a small table in the corner, and an attendant provided them with a large pot of aromatic tea and a tiered plate containing assorted sandwiches and some small cakes.
This was as good a time as any to intensify her attempt to seduce the impenetrable Elizabeth. If she gleaned any additional information about Solitaires along the way, then so be it. Georgina sipped her milky tea, eyeing Elizabeth over the rim of the cup.
“Shall we discuss how I might compromise you?” Georgina asked in a low voice.
Sharing the cut sandwich squares across both of their plates, Elizabeth replied, “I thought we might discuss how I am to reform your character instead.”
“Alas, I can think of nothing that will save me. I am beyond redemption.”
“I disagree. You need a project. Something to occupy that intelligent head of yours and keep you out of trouble. When your mind is not engaged in something worthwhile, you seem prone to roguishness.”
Georgina swelled, gratified that a scholarly person such as Elizabeth found her intelligent. She considered her point.
“What manner of project do you have in mind?” she asked, taking a bite of her sandwich.
“Well, as we have established today, it should have nothing to do with art.” Elizabeth steepled her fingertips together.
“But that need not limit you. There are many aspiring musicians who would benefit from a patroness. You might approach the Theater’s Guild regarding the support of their actors.
If that does not interest you, what about animal welfare?
They are often seeking volunteers to assist with homing stray and injured animals.
Or you might raise funds for the community gardens? ”
Georgina stared at her, her teacup frozen midway to her mouth. Elizabeth baffled her.
“Is it exhausting being so passionate about so many things?” She smiled and put her hand on top of Elizabeth’s as it rested on the edge of the table.
“Your goodness does you credit. To my shame, I have given none of these matters much thought. And you are quite correct that, given my position and means, I should make myself more useful.”
Elizabeth’s expression softened into a smile. “Perhaps once you have secured a project to amend your ways, I might allow you to compromise me. A little.”
Georgina grinned, and she reclined in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. “In principle, I already agreed with you. But now I have a most significant incentive to find a project at once.”
“Have I just unleashed a beast of epic proportions?”
Georgina swiped her tongue lightly over her upper lip. “From the moment I observed your forearms, I’m afraid.”
Elizabeth rested her elbow on the table and cupped her chin in her hand. “You intrigue me, Georgina.”
It occurred to her that perhaps Elizabeth did not welcome her flirtation and merely entertained her dalliance out of politeness. Georgina was far too forthright to want her to do that.
“In a pleasant way?”
Elizabeth nodded and sipped her tea. Georgina waited for her to elaborate. Unfortunately, she did not.
***
The ladies maintained a light-hearted conversation as they finished their tea, and after making payment, they returned to the street to await Elizabeth’s carriage.
As they lingered on the sidewalk, edging towards Bruton Street, Elizabeth became distracted by a commotion occurring on the corner.
She led the way into the fray, and Georgina followed casually.
A young boy with scruffy hair and a dirt-smudged face was being held by the collar of his shirt by an enraged man.
His captor, a street vendor, stood beside a large cart set up with baskets of fresh--smelling bread, bags of grain and flour, and a few sweet buns.
He gave the child a harsh shake when he tried to free himself.
The crowd thickened around them as curious onlookers gathered, keen to witness the disturbance.
Georgina cast a quizzical look at Elizabeth, who made a gesture for her to be quiet. Now, what was she going to do?
The man growled at the fearful young boy, reciting every punishment from both Bible and law that would come his way for succumbing to the vice of stealing.
Georgina knew that many children who resorted to thievery stole out of necessity and were unlikely to be reformed through punitive measures.
A stout gentleman of kind disposition edged into the dispute, offering the tradesperson some coins in payment for the boy’s misdemeanour.
“Please, my good man! Take the money and let him go,” the gentleman urged. “No harm done, after all.”
Georgina liked him. He was sensible. Sadly, the tradesperson had a different sentiment.
“We need a constable!” the man shouted, tightening his grip on the boy. “He needs to be taken to the watch.”
“That’s quite unnecessary,” the gentleman insisted. “I can settle this matter in an instant if you would but take payment. There is no need to trouble the authorities, I assure you.”
“And have him free to steal from me again tomorrow?” He puffed up his chest, as though to emphasise the seriousness of his claim. “He deserves a thrashing, at least!”
Georgina felt her pulse rise. If he raised a whip to that child, he would be on the end of her cane before he could blink.
Elizabeth edged her way past the gathering crowd.
“Indeed, sir,” she agreed with the vendor.
“Allow me to dispatch this child to the nearest constable. If I were you, I would accept this gentleman’s -payment and lose no time in continuing your work; every moment without earnings is a moment wasted, don’t you agree? ”
With a bewildered frown, Georgina looked between Elizabeth and the man. At least thrashings seemed to be off the table for the moment.
The tradesperson seemed to appreciate Elizabeth’s argument. His greedy eyes fixated on the pocketbook of the kind stranger. He accepted a generous amount well beyond the value of the misdemeanour and stepped back.
“Ah, my carriage.” Elizabeth waved to her groom, who pulled the phaeton up beside them. “Georgina, if I might prevail upon you to climb up first. This little fellow is tiny. I daresay he will fit between us easily.”
Georgina complied and stepped nimbly up into the carriage before reaching down for the boy’s hand.
His small face contorted with worry, but he did not object to going with them.
He weighed little, and lifting him up required minimal strength.
As he settled on the seat beside her, his feet did not even brush the floor.
Could Elizabeth really mean to surrender this poor child to the authorities? Georgina thought that a rather callous outcome for such a trifling matter. Over his head, she gave Elizabeth a stern look. “He’s a child. I won’t let you!” she hissed.
Elizabeth appeared rather unimpressed by this pronouncement. She rolled her eyes but said nothing.
Georgina gave the little fellow’s arm a reassuring squeeze. No matter what Elizabeth had in mind, he would not be going to a constable.
Elizabeth climbed up next and took the reins, oblivious to her groom’s startled glance. The crowd disbursed from around them, and Elizabeth jogged the horses along.
Once around the corner, Elizabeth stared down at the boy. He wore a grubby tunic, hole-ridden breeches, and no shoes. His baggy clothing drooped over his emaciated little frame.
“Where are your parents, my boy?”
“Nah, I ain’t got parents,” he replied, revealing a thick cockney accent. “I’m an horphan,” he added helpfully.
“I see. And where do you live?”
“Down by the docks. Me mate brung me up West yesterday. Said all the toffs live here. Right he was, too. I could have me dinner off these here streets.”
His na?ve words gripped at Georgina’s heart. She pressed her lips together and stared away.
Elizabeth continued to drive in silence for a while. “My name is Lady Mortimer, and the lady beside you is Miss Pace.”
He nodded to them both. “You swells ain’t taking me to the watch?” He eyed them with no little suspicion.
“No, we will not do that,” Elizabeth reassured him. “What is your name?”
The tightness in Georgina’s belly relaxed. Her sense of charity towards Elizabeth restored.
“Joshwa,” he answered, settling into the seat, reassured that they were not en route to a local constable.
“A pleasure to meet you, Joshua,” replied Elizabeth.
“There is no pride in taking something that is not yours to take, but perhaps you would like to earn a wage in a respectable household.” Joshua’s pansy brown eyes widened in disbelief.
“I know of just such a job, running errands and so forth for a kind and obliging mistress?”
Georgina found herself wondering, not for the first time that day, if there were any bounds to Elizabeth’s goodness. She truly helped everyone who crossed her path. An unbidden smile crept onto her face.
“You kidding, Missus? A proper wage?”
“A handsome wage, a warm bed to sleep in at night, plenty of food and time off to play,” Elizabeth confirmed, tugging the team to a halt outside Georgina’s abode in Half Moon Street. “Even toys.”
Georgina found herself again astonished by Elizabeth’s generosity of spirit.