“You’re the lady from the school—I’ve seen you over there.” He returned his open gaze to Kit’s face. “I knew Cedric and James were up to no good when they told me to fetch the lamp oil—the whole jar. It’s not as if they’d ever stir themselves to fill any lamps. When I gave them the jar, they took it, and they was whispering to each other and laughing as they went out of the back door. I saw they’d stuffed rags in their pockets, so I followed them. I snuck down this alley after them and across to the school. I crept along the alley down the side of the school, and I peeked around the corner. They was stacking wood from the hall’s woodpile against the back door. Then they pulled out the rags from their pockets and got them all wet with the lamp oil—they used it all up—then they stacked the rags on top of the pile in a ball.”
Ollie paused, then said, “Could’ve told them that wasn’t going to work, but I didn’t want the hall to burn down, so I kept mum. Then Cedric got out his tinderbox and lit the rags—they went up with a whoosh! That was when I scarpered.”
He looked up at Sylvia. “I didn’t dare yell out or anything—they would’ve found me and beaten me bloody.” He drew in a breath and said, “So I got back to the kitchen, and they came in a few minutes later, laughing and clapping each other on the back.”
Ollie wrung his hands. “I knew it was all wrong, what they’d done. I’ve heard the missus ranting and raving about the school coming to the street, but at least schools like that give boys like me a chance, and it’s wrong of the Stenshaws to try to get rid of it just on account of they don’t like it.” Ollie looked miserable. “But I didn’t dare tell anyone what I’d seen.”
Kit laid a hand on Ollie’s shoulder. “You’ve been brave to come and tell us.”
“But if they”—Ollie tipped his head toward the house—“hear I’ve spoken up, I’ll lose me place and be out on me ear quicker’n you can blink. And me ma’s dead, and so’s me da, and I’ve nowhere else to go.”
Lightly gripping Ollie’s thin shoulder—in case the boy’s courage gave out and he bolted—Kit met Sylvia’s eyes, then looked back at Ollie. “Do you like working for Mrs. Stenshaw?”
Ollie looked at him as if he was insane. “Lord no! She’s mean to everyone. Folks only work here until they can find somewhere better.”
“Well, then.” Kit eased his grip. Rising, he patted Ollie’s shoulder. “Would you like to leave Mrs. Stenshaw’s employ and come and work for me at my house? I’m new to the city, and I could use a bright bootboy and messenger who I and the rest of my staff can rely on to run errands and the like. If you’d like to do that, you can tell the truth about Cedric and James and what you saw them do, then thumb your nose at Mrs. Stenshaw and leave with us.”
“And,” Sylvia put in, “in between running errands and cleaning his lordship’s boots, you can come to the school and learn your letters with the other boys.”
Ollie’s eyes had widened at the mention of Kit’s title, and his gaze had swung to Kit, but at the word “school,” his eyes grew huge, and his gaze shot back to Sylvia. He stared at her as if she’d offered him the moon. “Cor...you mean it?”
She nodded. “Indeed. Lord Cavanaugh”—with one hand, she indicated Kit—“is the sponsor and patron of the school, so yes.” She raised her gaze to Kit’s face. “Attending school is part of his offer.”
Kit hid a smile and looked inquiringly at Ollie.
The boy’s expression said he wanted to seize the offer with both hands, but fear held him back. After a moment, he swallowed and asked, “Will I have to say what I saw to her face?”
In light of the trepidation he could see in Ollie’s eyes, Kit shook his head. “No. You can leave speaking with Mrs. Stenshaw to us—and we won’t mention your name to her.”
Ollie’s fear fell away. His eyes shining like stars, he straightened to attention and looked up at Kit. “Then yes, please, your lordship! I’d like to come and work for you and go to school, too.”
Kit smiled. “Then you shall.” He glanced down the runnel. “Why don’t you go inside and