The Last Eligible Bachelor - Ashtyn Newbold Page 0,18
woman smiled down at the boy. “That’ll suit our stew quite nicely this evenin,’ won’t it? Can you thank Mrs. Ollerton and her friends?”
The boy offered a whisper of gratitude before backing away, a shy smile on his lips.
“It is our pleasure, Mrs. Roberts.” Mrs. Ollerton introduced Miss Taplow first, then me to the woman before casting her gaze about the room. She gave a quiet gasp. “Who is this young girl?”
I followed her gaze to the corner, where a young boy and girl sat with a bilbocatch, laughing as they tried to land the ball on the peg. They fell silent when they noticed the attention on them. The little girl’s smile faded.
“This be the daughter of a tenant of a nearby property,” Mrs. Roberts said. “Her father be quite ill, so she’s stayin’ with us for a time. Her mother died last year, so with her father ill, no one be there to look after her. Her father has the physician lookin’ after him, but he don’t dare risk her fallin’ ill too.”
“How tragic.” Mrs. Ollerton smiled at the girl, who tucked her chin, hiding her face away.
“Will she be away from home for long?” I asked, my heart aching over the uncertainty and fear the girl must have been feeling.
“‘Tis difficult to say.” The woman shrugged. “If any family has need of generosity, it be hers. I do much appreciate your baskets, and I’ll share all I can with her father.”
I studied the girl again, noting her slumped shoulders and narrow frame. Even my life as a maid was much easier than hers. I knew I could expect a meal three times each day and a steady and comfortable place to sleep. But I sympathized with her over the uncertainty she must have felt over her father. Would he recover? Would my father be hung for the accusations placed upon him? I pressed down the fear and pain that rose in my heart at the thought.
After exchanging a few short words with Mrs. Roberts, we went on our way, meeting the other group outside the modiste. Sophia had sent me with all her saved pin money over the last several weeks, as it would only be realistic for a woman of her breeding to have funds of her own to spend. She had entrusted me to use it well. Surely, she had meant for me to use it on purchasing her some new accessories, but after visiting Mrs. Roberts, I had a better idea of where to put that money. Sophia had a dowry awaiting her, so she did not treasure or value a few pounds like I did, or like the family of that poor girl would.
While all the ladies perused the shop, I kept my reticule held tightly closed, my heart pounding with excitement over my plan. But that did not stop me from admiring the row of pretty ribbons in the modiste. I had often shopped with Sophia, and out of habit, I examined the ribbons with her complexion and eye color in mind. Her skin was much paler than mine, as well as her eyes and hair, so I found myself drawn toward the various shades of blue and pink. As an added bonus, in this quiet corner of the shop, I did not have to hear Miss Benham go into raptures again over a certain fabric that had caught her eye. I enjoyed my moment of peace, touching the end of a satin ribbon. The silky fabric cascaded over my fingertips.
A deep baritone voice came from my left. “An excellent choice.”
I nearly tugged the ribbon off the spool. Mr. Hill’s chuckle quickly followed, far too close to my ear. “Forgive me for startling you yet again.”
I gathered my wits, keeping my gaze fixed firmly on the ribbon I still clutched between my fingers. “I take it as your revenge for my spilling tea on your boots?”
He chuckled again, though I hadn’t meant to make him laugh. Drat. I bit my lower lip. Had he already grown bored with the company of the other ladies? Perhaps they were too enthralled with the fabrics across the room to notice him for once.
“Are you considering that one?” he asked, bending slightly to examine the ribbon I held more closely. “It would suit you quite well.”
My heart lifted without permission at his compliment. It hadn’t seemed overly flirtatious, but simply sincere. Did he really think such a pretty ribbon would suit me? I shook myself. It