Death of a Duchess, Nellie Steele [non fiction books to read .txt] 📗

The man glanced to his wife holding Bessie. He nodded. “All right. We shall take the child, Headmistress.” He passed her an envelope. “Please count it if you wish.”

“I am sure there is no need for that!” Headmistress Williamson answered, shoving the envelope into her pocket. “Lenora, fetch anything that belongs with the child.”

I stepped forward with the blanket, choking back my tears. “She sleeps with this,” I choked out. “And she is fond of being rocked before bed.”

The woman accepted the blanket. “Thank you,” she offered. I stepped back and Tilly put her hand on my shoulder. “Oh, Charles, perhaps we should inquire after a nanny.”

My heart lifted. They were in need of a nanny. I cared for the child for the first six months of her life. I knew her schedule, all her likes and dislikes, I knew the child inside and out. Perhaps we would not be separated. I could fit into the role of nanny!

“Yes,” Charles agreed with Mrs. Bedford. “Yes, perhaps one of your girls would be suitable, Headmistress.”

The woman nodded at me as Headmistress Williamson responded. “Oh, why yes! Yes, of course we can assist with that. St. Mary’s turns out some of the best girls for service! I have the perfect girl in mind!” She stepped to the stairway, calling up. “Bertha! Bertha? Come down at once to my office!”

“Mr. and Mrs. Bedford, why don’t we step this way into my office where we can discuss the matter further?”

“Oh,” Mrs. Bedford said, hesitating. “What about her?” She nodded toward me. “She seems to know the child.”

Headmistress Williamson glared at me for a moment before plastering a smile on her face and returning her gaze to Mrs. Bedford. “Please step this way and we can discuss it. I assure you Bertha will be a lovely addition to your home.” She wrapped her arm around Mrs. Bedford’s waist, leading her to the office. As they crossed the foyer, I heard her add, “Between us, Mrs. Bedford, I cannot recommend Lenora. Oh, she seems kind enough, but she is a troubled girl.” They disappeared into the office as Bertha descended the stairs.

I swallowed hard as tears stung my eyes. I bit my lower lip and fled up the stairs to the bedroom. I flung myself across the bed as sobs wracked my body.

“She is a witch. Do not waste your tears,” Tilly said, following me and closing the door behind her. She climbed onto the bed, wrapping her arms around my shoulders.

“I do not shed them over Headmistress Williamson,” I said between sobs.

Tilly rubbed my back. “Do not cry, Lenora.”

I continued to weep. “They have taken Bessie.”

“They seem like a lovely couple.”

“Yes, I recognize that,” I responded. “And I hate myself for hating them but…”

“But you shall miss her,” Tilly finished for me.

“Yes,” I cried.

“One day, Lenora, we shall have all the happiness the world can offer. You must believe that.”

I wiped at my face, sniffling. “There is no happiness in this world for me,” I lamented.

“Lenora Hastings!” Tilly scolded. “Stop that talk this instant! I shall hear no more of it! We shall find happiness! Both of us. Even if you do not believe it, cling to the idea in moments like these. Together, we shall get through it!” She squeezed me tight. The warm hug eased my raw emotions. When I no longer sobbed, Tilly released me.

“You must finish your composition,” I murmured.

Tilly responded by rising from the bed and grabbing her composition from the writing desk. She tore it in two and threw it in the trash bin.

“Tilly! What an impetuous thing to do!” I scolded.

Tilly grinned at me. “As long as it has stopped your mind from dwelling on your sorrows, I do not care.”

“But now you shall need to rewrite it all!”

“It matters not. It was rubbish anyway. I can rewrite it if you promise to help me! But first, let us spend the afternoon playing a game.” Tilly pulled a stack of cards from under one of the beds. “Rummy?”

I smiled as I recalled her devilish grin as she waved the cards at me. Sorrow grew in my heart over her loss, and I cursed myself for not coming to her aid sooner, for not insisting she leave the brothel earlier. I regretted not paying attention to my foreboding sense, vowing not to ignore such feelings in the future. Tilly, a true friend, was gone because of my disregard for my own instincts.

The baby yawned and stretched in Ella’s arms. My mind snapped back to the present and to more pressing matters. His little mouth opened and closed before he began to whimper. “There, there, little one,” Ella cooed.

“I should check the time. He may be hungry.” I climbed from the bed and glanced at the clock in the sitting room. “It is later than I realized. I should feed him and dress for dinner. I imagine Robert will return at any moment.”

I fetched the bottle of milk and spoon from the sitting room and relieved Ella of the baby. “That is quite an amazing trick,” she murmured as I spoon fed the child.

“I’ve had a bit of practice at it,” I informed her.

After the child was fed, I swaddled him in a blanket and settled him in a dresser drawer, a trick I learned at the orphanage. Ella busied herself laying out my clothes as I nestled him in to sleep. I dressed for dinner and awaited Robert’s return in the sitting room. Ella and I sat near the fireplace reading.

Minutes turned to hours. After a time, I stared at the clock, wondering if the time may be correct. Robert’s tasks seemed to take far longer than I had anticipated. I attempted to return to my reading but found my mind unable to focus. I stood from my chair and paced the room.

“Is everything all right, Your Grace?” Ella inquired.

“Yes,” I assured her. “Only becoming fretful about Duke Blackmoore’s return. The hour is growing late. I expected him earlier