listen to you.”
She groaned, feeling light-headed at the thought of speaking in front of all those people. Instinctively, she looked for Nathaniel and spotted him talking to Sir Hercules Robinson, the Governor of New South Wales and other gentlemen of politics. Her nerves increased. When Florence first suggested a garden party to celebrate the ten year anniversary of the Home’s opening, Nicola hadn’t thought she’d be making a speech, otherwise she’d not agreed to it.
“We’ve come a long way, Nicola.” Belfroy spoke into the comfortable silence between them.
That he called her by her first name for the first time surprised her more than she could say. “Yes we have, Mr Belfroy.” She swept her gaze around the property taking in the orchard and gardens, the orphanage dormitory, the schoolroom and lastly the back of the big house itself. “Your commitment has brought a lot of happiness and hope to many people.”
“All this was your vision, my dear.” He slowly creaked to his feet. “Without your ambition to help others and your tireless energy, none of this would be as it is.”
“But your generosity, your inherit kindness started it.” She supported him to stand upright. “We make a good team, don’t we?”
“That we do, my dear.” He tucked her hand through his arm and patted it. “It was a lucky day when we met.”
“Very true.” Nicola thought back to the windy day when she’d been so hungry and despondent. Mr Belfroy had done more than give her a place to stay, he’d given her the chance to hope that her prospects would take a turn for the better, and they did.
“I’m sorry Hilton couldn’t make it.”
She looked at him, pondering his words. Her family had become his, her children loved him like a grandfather, and he was Godfather to them, but was it enough for him? “How is Mr Warner?”
“He works constantly from what I can gather from his letters. Hilton has amassed a colossal fortune.”
“He is happy?”
Belfroy shrugged as they began walking towards the crowd. “Who am I to judge?”
“He’s never come back to this country.”
“He never will, my dear.” Belfroy gave her a sorrowful look. “When one’s heart gets broken, we cannot keep returning to its source or we’d lose our sanity. No, he has a wife and two small sons and lives for his businesses. That is enough.”
“I didn’t realise I’d hurt him so severely all those years ago. I am sorry for that.”
He patted her hand. “It was an unintentional hurt, my dear. You know, anniversaries can be dreadful things.” Belfroy sighed. “They make people remember things that are better left alone.” He patted her arm. “Come, this isn’t the occasion for sadness. Smile, my dear, or your husband will have me locked away for upsetting you.”
Grinning at the remark, Nicola covered his hand with hers. “He wouldn’t dare, he knows how much you mean to me.”
“Nicola. Mr Belfroy.” Florence, holding up the skirt of her green gown hurried towards them. “It’s time for the speeches.”
The serious expression she wore made Nicola want to laugh. “Why are you looking so worried? You won’t be talking in front of everyone.”
Florence, a twinkle of mischief in her eyes, dropped her skirt and straightened her shoulders. “Being second in charge does have its advantages, you know.”
With her free arm, Nicola slipped it through Florence’s. Together the three of them walked back up the garden to the paved area where people waited, eating and drinking. She left Florence to help Mr Belfroy get ready and quickly stepped over to Fran, who stood behind one of the refreshment tables. “What are you doing? We hired staff to serve.”
Fran rolled her eyes. “I thought I’d just help out for a moment as they got a little busy and well…I couldn’t let them struggle for the want of hands.”
Hiding a smile, Nicola gestured for her to come out from behind there. “You should be staying with your fiancé, the poor man.”
“Oh, he’s right enough. He was debating with the mayor about the state of the roads near his shop.” Fran stood on tiptoe seeking out John Lawson, the baker and son of Mrs Lawson, who helped at the soup kitchen. John had courted Fran for eight years and she finally agreed to marry him next spring. The difference in their stations caused gossip at first, but Fran didn’t bat an eyelid at that, as Nicola knew she wouldn’t.
Nicola searched too, but for a different reason. “Have you seen the children?”
“The girls were here…” Fran