Page 114 of Foolish Bride
“Who are they?” Michael asked.
“Orphans that the priest looks after while he tries to find them homes.” She pulled the ermine tighter.
“So many from such a small village.” Michael had a lot of work to do to learn about the people under his protection. He would start after they broke their fast.
She nodded. “There was a fire a few months ago, and several people were killed. Their parents were among the dead. I am told four of them will go to some family that has been located in the far north. They are coming down to get them, but cold weather in the highlands has delayed their arrival.”
“And the other two?” Michael hated to think of any child growing up without parents, but these children were now his responsibility. Guilt for not trekking to Scotland immediately after he’d been elevated settled in his chest.
She shrugged. “Jimmie, the older boy, and Sarah, the baby, are brother and sister. No family could be located for them. They will stay with the priest until he can find a family willing to take one or the other in.”
“They’ll be separated?”
She nodded, and a tear dripped on his hand. He looked up and saw tears quietly rolling down Elinor’s cheeks.
Michael’s heart wretched at the idea of siblings being separated. Having almost lost Everett, he couldn’t bear the idea. Had the gunshot wound killed his brother, he wouldn’t have been at his wedding, nor would he have lived to stand at his own. One day, in the not-so-distant future, he would watch Everett take a bride. It would give him great joy knowing his brother’s child would inherit a dukedom. He had to stay a bout of his own emotion.
“I think it might be nice to spend some time with those two, Elinor. What do you think?” His throat remained tight, making the words rough and stunted.
She turned in his arms and looked at him. “What do you mean, Michael?”
“I was considering the idea of adding a nursery and seeing if they would care to live with us here.”
Her eyes were so wide, he almost laughed. “You want to take in Jimmie and Sarah?”
“Only if you think it’s a good idea.”
“For how long?”
He frowned. “Jimmie looks to be about seven or eight. He’ll have to go off to school in a couple of years. I went to Eton when I was ten. Of course, he will still come back during breaks. Sarah will marry in, say, sixteen years, then she will surely move away.”
Tears ran freely down Elinor’s face. “Are you sure?”
He wiped away her tears. “If the boy is willing to give it a try, then I think we should take them in and give them a family, my love. I cannot stand the idea of them homeless or separated from each other. I did promise you a family. I see no reason why we can’t start that family now.”
“Oh, Michael!” She clung to him.
Nothing would ever be as perfect as the strength of her embrace or the joy one small gesture brought her. “Does that mean you agree?”
She looked up. “I can think of nothing that could make me happier.”
“I will speak to the priest and Jimmie later today.”
“I am so happy.”
“I am glad you are. Do you think I can convince my lovely wife to rejoin me in our bed?”
She blushed and said coyly, “I might be persuaded.”
He kissed her neck, and she giggled.
“I can be more persuasive, but the yard is full of children and the priest sits in the shadows of the chapel.”
She spun and looked at the shadowed figure standing at the side of the chapel across the yard. “Perhaps we should retire to our rooms, your grace.”
“I am so pleased to have married such a smart woman.”
“And to think, just months ago you thought me a dunderhead.”
