Page 4 of The Duke's Unclaimed Bride
“Even so, if I pay, you will have your recompense. Besides, shouldn’t Mr. Talbot be glad to have this expense taken off his hands?” Edith reasoned, turning to the workhouse master.
A frown creased Mr. Talbot’s face, his gaze hard for a heartbeat. Then, as if rehearsed, he smoothed his expression into a courteous smile.
“Thank you, My Lady,” he said, his tone sickly sweet. “Your generosity knows no bounds. If only all the children in my care could grow up to be as kind as you.”
Edith followed his gaze as he looked down at Tilly.
“Thank her, Tilly,” he growled softly.
The girl flinched, stepping closer to Edith.
“Tilly,” Mr. Talbot hissed. “Show your gratitude to the lady. Now.” He reached for Tilly, but Edith gently pulled the girl behind her.
“You’re frightening her,” she said firmly.
“She is in trouble! Of course, she’s frightened. Yet she remains my charge, and she must learn the consequences of her actions,” Mr. Talbot grunted. “Step away from her.”
“No,” Edith replied. “She is not going anywhere with you.”
“Yes, she is. Step away,” Mr. Talbot growled.
Edith stood firm, feeling Tilly trembling behind her.
“Please… don’t let him take me,” Tilly whispered.
Edith reached behind her and gently squeezed Tilly’s hand.
“Come here this instant!” Mr. Talbot shouted. “If that child wants to leave my care, she must pay her way out first. I think, well, at least ninety pounds should be enough for all the trouble she’s caused.”
“Ninety,” Edith gasped in shock.
There was no way Tilly would be able to make that kind of money before she reached adulthood.
“Besides,” Mr. Brackett chimed in loudly. “She is still a criminal in the eyes of the law, and she is bound to the workhouse and its rules?—”
“I followed the rules!” Tilly cried out.
“You set fire to the dormitories, you ungrateful wretch!” Mr. Talbot snarled.
“Our beds are all straw! And you crammed eight of us into rooms that shouldn’t even have four!” Tilly yelled, stamping herlittle feet. “Our beds are squished together, and they touch the fireplace! You said it was nice to have a fireplace, but the coals spit fire! Someone could be burned! It’s not safe!”
People began to murmur and whisper.
“What a cruel man.”
“I think he should be reported. That girl may be feral, yes, but she’s just a child.”
“He seems drunk on power.”
“Even my dogs are kept better than those children.”
Even though the ton clearly disliked the sight of a common child at their event, for them, cruelty was not a pleasant trait in a man.
“That’s not true! You set them on fire on purpose!” Mr. Talbot snapped back.
“Enough!” Edith cried. “Mr. Talbot, what kind of man would have children sleep on straw? Even servants are afforded better comfort.”
Mr. Talbot glanced around, gulping. “Well?—”
