Chapter 5 #2
“Selfish gits, the lot of them,” Jasper grunted.
Though she was clearly distraught, Miss Willa sat up straight and swatted the man’s arm.
“Language, sir!” she scolded.
“Pardon, Miss Willa,” Jasper said with a wheezing laugh. “Just a bit upset over all we’ve lost, is all. Got nothing left. Not even enough to serve breakfast.”
Caroline’s heart bled for the situation, and her mind scrambled for a solution.
“I have work at the shop in a couple of hours. I can ask Mrs. Parks to give me some wages in advance,” she insisted. “It might take some convincing, but I am sure I can manage something. We cannot let the children starve!”
“That will not be necessary,” Damien stated.
Caroline jumped. He had been so quiet she had nearly forgotten he was there. She quickly recovered from her surprise and gave him a glare.
“I am not just going to sit back and do nothing,” she all but snarled.
“No, you are not,” Damien replied, seizing her with a gaze that warned her to watch herself before turning his attention to Jasper. “Is there a bakery nearby?”
“Aye, there is,” Jasper said with a nod. “But they only donate once a month, and their last drop-off was only two days ago.”
Caroline waited, breath held, as she anticipated Damien’s reaction. That was twice now that Jasper had failed to address Damien with proper etiquette. She expected Damien to snap at the disrespect.
“We are not going to ask them for a donation,” Damien replied instead, reaching into his pocket and pulling out his billfold. “We are going to buy them out of their morning supply.”
Jasper’s mouth dropped open as Damien pulled out a wad of bills and offered them to him. When he did not take them, Damien grabbed his wrist and placed the money in his open hand.
“Do not waste any time. Bakers rise early. They no doubt already sold some of their supply, and we cannot let them sell any more,” Damien commanded.
Jasper’s pale blue eyes shifted up to Damien’s face, still in apparent shock.
“Who... who are you, sir?” he asked.
“I am the Duke of Ravenshaw. Miss Mason’s betrothed. And as of this moment, the new owner of this establishment,” Damien answered.
Despite the grave tone in his deep voice, Caroline and Miss Willa gaped in shock. Jasper, too, seemed to experience a moment of awe. Then he slid out of his chair, bowed toward Damien, and whispered a promise to be back straightaway with the bakery’s inventory.
When he was gone again, Damien turned not to Caroline, but Miss Willa.
“How much?” he asked.
Caroline looked quickly at Miss Willa’s face, and in doing so, snapped the other woman out of her shock.
“You... Your Grace, you cannot just walk in and purchase this place!” Miss Willa expressed. “This institution relies on charity; no one owns it. It is supported by donations!”
“Give me any price, and it will be paid,” Damien said, his tone far too casual for what was happening.
“It is obvious these donations do not cover nearly enough. Under my ownership, I can see to its needs straightaway. I will pay for repairs. Purchase more food for the children. Clothes, too. Toys. Security as well, since it is so obviously needed. Whatever is necessary, just make an itemized list, and I shall provide it. Now, please, madam. Name the price. As Miss Mason said earlier, she does have to get to the shop in less than two hours, and I must go with her.”
Speechless, Caroline looked to Miss Willa, awaiting her reaction. After a moment of shock, the woman scrambled out of her chair and sank to her knees before Damien.
“Oh, thank you, Your Grace!” she sobbed, pressing her hands together tightly as if in prayer. “May the Lord bless you! You have no idea how long we have prayed for such kindness!”
From him, no less, Caroline quietly mused, her eyes shifting from Miss Willa to Damien. It was yet another act of charity she had not suspected him capable of. Maybe I have been wrong about him?
“Oh, no, this is not a kindness,” Damien replied, a look of disgust forming on his face as he took in the poor state of the kitchens.
“In fact, I am thoroughly repulsed by this establishment. How the Crown or anyone would allow children to live in a place such as this is beyond my measure of comprehension.”
There he is, Caroline thought, feeling what little hope she had in him drop away.
“You do not have to be so harsh,” Caroline scolded, pulling Miss Willa to her feet. “Miss Willa has worked incredibly hard to keep this orphanage running despite all adversity!”
Damien gave a casual shrug of his shoulders.
“I have no doubt. That does not make my words any less true.”
Caroline glowered at him, but before she could say anything in return, the sound of footsteps echoed through the old building, and a moment later, four of the orphanage’s oldest boys, Thomas, Nathan, Hugo, and Rupert, came jogging into the room.
Damien’s look of distaste grew more apparent as he took in their shabby clothing and the unclean state of their long hair.
“Who are you?” Thomas, the oldest at fourteen, demanded of Damien once he took in Miss Willa’s still sobbing state.
“I am your new patron, boy,” Damien stated, meeting the young man’s glare with one of his own.
“Do not speak to them so harshly,” Caroline hissed in warning.
“The real question is, can you be trusted to assist Miss Willa?” Damien went on, ignoring Caroline’s scolding. “She could use some help from strong lads like you.”
Caroline watched as all four boys puffed out their narrow chests and raised their chins.
“Of course we can,” Nathan answered, his tone solemn.
“Good,” Damien said with a terse nod. “Jasper is at the baker’s, buying your breakfast. He will need your help getting it all back here.
There will be leftover money. Whatever he does not spend, I want two of you to go to the mill and purchase flour and oats once you have the baked goods brought to these kitchens.
Another two shall go to the market to purchase eggs, milk, and meat. Can you handle such a responsibility?”
“Of course, we can,” Thomas answered solemnly, but his attention was on Miss Willa. “Should we go, Miss Willa?”
The matron, still trying to overcome her emotions, nodded as she blew her nose into her kerchief.
“Go, boys, and remember your mathematics. Just as Miss Mason taught you. Mind your manners, and stay with your partner,” she replied.
“Right then,” Damien grunted, rolling up the sleeves of his black shirt.
“Miss Willa and Caroline, go see to the other children. They are no doubt hungry and will want their breakfast.”
Although Caroline desperately wanted to tell him to go jump in a lake, she kept her lips sealed as she helped Miss Willa wash her face.
“And what will you do?” Caroline asked with a hint of bitterness.
Already, though, Damien was heading to the hutch filled with tin cups and plates.
“I am going to set the tables,” he said, saying it as if it were something obvious.
Just who is this man?
Caroline looked at him, convinced he was really mad. Then a burst of laughter came from upstairs, and she and Miss Willa hurried toward the stairs.