Page 96 of Dare to Love a Duke
“Oh, but we’re being heartless with our mooning.” Kitty looked apologetic.
“No. It’s all right. I’ve had to let him go.” Lucia made a motion of casting something aside, as if it was so easily done. Perhaps the more she told herself this, the more chance she had at believing herself. “And let go of the Orchid Club. But I’m not abandoning my dream. Somehow, I’ll make the girls’ home happen.”
“And you’ll have our help,” Elspeth vowed.
Lucia pressed her fingertips to her trembling lips. How fortunate she was. How very lucky.
A knock sounded at the door. She rose to answer it, and started when she saw Will standing in the hallway. At once, she embraced him, which was not unlike hugging an oak. He patted her back with his enormous hands.
“Mi dispiace,Will.”
“For what?” A puzzled look crossed his craggy face.
She pulled back. “I’ve cost you everything.”
“A bit of an exaggeration, eh? I lost a situation, but I’ve got my other work, and besides, there’s always more jobs.” He shrugged as if it was hardly worth mentioning.
“But you were all counting on me,” she said, aching with every word, “and I let you down.”
He exhaled. “The world don’t rest on your shoulders alone, missus. See here.” He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “Come on outside with me for a spell.”
“What—”
“You going to argue, or just take a little walk?”
She gave him a rueful smile. “I’ll be right down.”
He trundled down the stairs, the steps creaking beneath his mass, and Lucia followed. She heard Kitty and Elspeth behind her. At the front door, he waited, gesturing for her to precede him. She pushed the door open, and her breath left her in a rush.
The entire staff of the Orchid Club stood on the front steps and spilled into the street. Every single person the establishment had employed, from Jenny to Arthur to Peter, the groom. They all looked at her, wearing expectant expressions.
Her throat contracted. She’d tried her best to give everyone a personal apology and goodbye, but it clearly hadn’t been enough—and she couldn’t blame them. Her own foolish choices had led them to this sad state of affairs.
“Amici,” she said. “I am so sor—”
Jenny moved to the front of the throng. “None of that! We’re not here to rake you over the coals.”
“I’ve paid everyone their final wages.” That was the only other reason she could imagine why they would gather in the street outside her rented rooms.
Jenny dug her elbow into Arthur’s barrel-like chest.
“Oh, right!” He reached into his coat and pulled out a thick envelope, which he handed to her.
Lucia opened it, and the ground tilted beneath her. The envelope brimmed with cash, easily close to fifty pounds.
“What...” She tried to speak around the thickness in her throat. “What have you done?”
“We pooled our money,” Will said behind her, “so we could rent a new location for the club.”
“Bunch of us have been talking,” Arthur added. “We know you need the blunt from the club so you can start up that home for girls. First we thought to just have the cash for the home, but then we got to talking and—”
“And why just give you a bowl of soup when we can pay for the pot?” Jenny said, her voice practical. “That is to say, better to have a steady source of blunt rather than one lump that mightn’t last long enough.”
“Oh,miei cari.” Lucia’s eyes were hot and scratchy, and she felt the burning track of a tear trace down her cheek.
“You helped us, missus,” Will said in a matter-of-fact tone, “now we’re helping you.”
“Grazie mille.” She looked behind her to see Kitty and Elspeth smiling. “Did you know of this?”
