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Richard’s jaw tightened and he put the glass down. “I don’t have to tell you everything,” he said as he walked towards the door. “I just wanted to give you the news, but I don’t owe you any explanations.”

“Where are you going?” demanded Preston. “What about Blackmore? What did he say about Spencer?”

“He’ll tell me more later,” said Richard. “I must take my leave now. I need to change, and I have another engagement today.”

“Don’t think I believe you for a moment!” cried Calliope as she followed Richard to the door, which he opened.

“Bring her here, dearest!” cried Grandmama. “We must meet your bride.”

Richard nodded, his veins growing cold. “I will.”

As he ran up the stairs to his bedchamber, he didn’t know if he should be relieved or concerned. What was certain was that it would take a great deal more work and acting—by both himself and Miss Grant—to convince his family, and the whole ton, that this was real.

6

After Lord Richard left, Jane returned to the classroom, expecting it to be completely empty.

She stilled in the doorway as she saw a small figure sitting at a desk. Lily flipped through a book that lay in front of her. Hercules stood from his dog bed and trotted towards Jane with adoring, wet eyes, emitting happy, high-pitched yips, and wagging his tail so intensely that it appeared as though it might detach.

As always, the sight of Hercules cheered her up, and she patted his head enthusiastically, evading his attempts to lick her. “Here’s a good boy,” she said to him. Then she looked at the girl, feeling like she may spook her with a wrong word. “I’m glad you came back, Lily.”

A knock had her turning around as Ruby stuck her head through the doorway. “I saw you run here in distress. Is everything all right, Janie? Can I bring something?” She frowned as she looked over the empty classroom. “Where are all the little ones?”

Ruby was a tall woman in her fifties, with hair still dark, and a slightly wrinkled, puffy face. She was a kind soul and had taken Jane under her wing when, as a sixteen-year-old girl, Jane had been uprooted from her papa’s mansion after his death. Ruby had always felt more like a mother or a nanny than a friend.

“I suspect they have gone home. Thank you, Ruby. There’s not much you can do.” She smiled. “But I appreciate you.”

Ruby nodded and left, and Jane turned her attention to Lily again, nodding to her encouragingly.

“I did like the looks of this book,” Lily said. “And it’s much cleaner and quieter here than in the mill.”

Jane’s heart drummed as she took a careful step closer. “I can imagine it is.”

Of course, she couldn’t do anything to the children to make them stay and learn except for inspire them to want to.

And despite the big setback this morning, she wouldn’t give up. She’d work with the one girl who wanted to be here. Consistency was key, and it needed to start with the one pupil who was here.

Even if part of her wanted to just sit down for a moment and understand what she had just gotten herself into… She was now engaged—at least on the outside. Of course, she would never go through with the wedding, and she was so glad Lord Richard was of the same mind. Thorne would be disappointed in the end, but it would be better for everyone.

Even if he blamed himself for having spoiled her reputation and chances for a good marriage, she was never sorry to be under her brother’s roof. Despite a constant feeling of being out of place, she loved this world where things were hard but straightforward and honest. Thorne and his men protected her and cared for her. She felt appreciated—more than she’d ever felt in Papa’s cold home, enduring his cold presence.

And she felt useful here, in Whitechapel. Back at Eaglestone House, among the fashionable, intricate furniture and timeless paintings, she had always felt so alone.

She never wanted to return to that world where she was only a pitiful bluestocking. Here, she was a teacher, helping children to improve their lives and change their futures for the better. Or she would be, if she could get them to come to her class.

She grinned at Lily, who stared back at her with big eyes. “Well, you’re here, so let’s learn!”

Lily gave her a hesitant look, then a small nod. It broke Jane’s heart to see this girl wearing a dirty frock with patches and tears and a cap that looked more gray than white, with her toes sticking out of holes in her shoes. She’d need to see if she could get her some newer clothes. She couldn’t sew, but she could buy something with the small income her father had left for her.

“All right,” said Jane as she pulled up a second chair to sit next to Lily at her desk. The book was open and there was an illustration of a little boy and girl holding hands and walking somewhere, their faces sad. Jane knew right away it was The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes by Oliver Goldsmith, the book she’d hoped to read with the class later. “How wonderful that you picked a book. Why that one in particular?”

“I do like them pictures, I do,” said Lily.

Jane nodded. Perhaps she was wrong to start teaching the unwilling children with boring letters of the alphabet. Perhaps this was exactly the story children needed to hear, despite the book being quite moralistic. The story was about an orphan brother and sister who rose from bitter poverty through education and good behavior.

“Yes, these are lovely,” said Jane. “Would you like to hear the story?”

Lily nodded.