Chapter 32 #3
“Saw you at Montgomery’s.” Henry’s eyes glowed. “Didn’t know you could ride like that.”
“You were at Montgomery’s?” Surprise and dismay made his voice louder than he intended. “During the rebellion? That’s no place for a child.”
Henry’s chin jutted out. “I ain’t no—” He stopped. “That is, I’m not a child and I’m not a rebel, neither.”
Joshua bit his lip. If he wasn’t careful, he’d push the boy away again. “Of course not. But . . . why were you there?”
“Scouting mission, I guess you could say. Guv had to find someone and I didn’t want him going alone.” Henry took a turn on the offensive. “I still can’t figure how you came to be there.” He crossed his arms and studied Joshua.
“I was there . . .” Joshua swallowed. Because he couldn’t bear to think of Charlotte in danger. Because he wanted to be close if she needed him. He cleared his throat. “I work for Miss Carruthers,” he finally said. “I was her guide when she traveled north.”
“Miss Carruthers.” Henry repeated the name thoughtfully, eyeing Joshua from under raised brows. “She’s a proper lady, that one.” His mouth quirked. “Awful pretty, too.”
Joshua squelched the impulse to tell the boy to mind his own business. At least Henry was talking to him now. “Never mind me. Aren’t you supposed to be at Cooper’s Inn?”
“Got me a new situation. Mr. Ballantine paid off Mrs. Cooper and everything.” Henry crossed his arms as though daring Joshua to object.
Joshua swallowed back the stab of hurt. When he’d offered to pay off the indenture, he’d been roundly rejected. “Well, it seems to suit you,” he said, his voice neutral. “What news do you bring of the rebellion?” he asked, changing the subject.
Henry snorted. “Not much of a rebellion from what I could tell.”
“Was there fighting?” Joshua swallowed, wondering what had become of Simon.
“The rebels marched down Yonge Street but retreated as soon as a few shots were fired. Holed up at Montgomery’s Tavern, I heard, but they fled quick enough when they spied the militia coming for them.” He shook his head. “Guv said it could have been worse.”
Joshua let out a breath. Yes, it could have. “Guv?”
Henry jerked his head toward the front of the house. “Mr. Kinney. The lawyer. I work for him sometimes, too. If he needs me.”
“I see. You’re an errand boy?”
“Not a bit,” he said, raising his chin. “Mr. Ballantine says I’m his ’prentice. I reckon I’m setting up to be his right-hand man.” There was a defensive pride in his voice that dared Joshua to take exception to his pronouncement.
Joshua gaped. Apprentice to one of the richest men in the city. No wonder the boy didn’t want to come north. He cleared his throat. “Well, you always were a bright lad. I’m glad a man of Mr. Ballantine’s stature took you on. Bodes well for your future.”
Henry’s shoulders straightened, and his skinny chest puffed out to twice its size. “In the morning, I sit with his secretary. He’s teaching me to cipher and we read the paper together. Mr. Ballantine expects a full review of the day’s news at luncheon.”
“Sounds like a lot of work,” Joshua said. Truthfully, it sounded like no job Joshua had ever heard of.
“I’m a dab hand at numbers, Mr. Ballantine said it himself. And it’s a lot less work than clearing land in the bush.”
Ah, there it was. Joshua attempted a smile. “You’ll be a fine businessman if you continue at this rate.” The opportunities from such an education were substantial. Far greater than what Joshua could provide in the bush.
Henry looked down, using his finger to trap and nibble the errant crumbs on his plate. “I will be, you’ll see.” He met Joshua’s eyes then, and Joshua nearly took a step back at the vulnerability there. “You won’t tell Mr. Ballantine, will you? That I have to go north and live with you?”
Joshua held his hands out, palms up. “I won’t force you. Surely you know that.”
“But if you make a fuss, maybe Ballantine will send me away. He’ll figure I’m not worth fighting for.”
Joshua heard the scared little boy behind Henry’s words. His brother had known more loss and loneliness than any child should. “You are most certainly worth fighting for, little brother, but I will respect your decision. As long as I know you are happy and cared for.”
Henry nodded vigorously. “I am. I had two eggs for breakfast today.”
“Two eggs? I reckon you must eat like a king over there.”
Henry smiled. “Cook makes me bread and jam every night. So I don’t get hungry before breakfast.” He cast a longing glance at the gleaming jar of jelly on the counter, next to a golden loaf of bread.
Joshua rose, ruffling Henry’s hair. “Bread and jam, eh? That’s my favorite, too. Let’s see about another slice, shall we?”
Henry nodded and Joshua turned to slice the bread, his heart squeezing painfully in his chest. It was time he put the idea of reuniting with Henry out of his mind. The boy had landed on his feet and didn’t need Joshua anymore.
If things were different, if he were a man of means, he would be the one to provide for Henry. If things were different, he’d get down on one knee and propose to Charlotte Carruthers, too.