A Dangerous Pursuit (Regency Spies & Secrets Book 1) - Laura Beers (macos ebook reader .TXT) 📗

“And I believe you have succeeded,” Mrs. Foster responded, glancing over at her.

“I hope so.”

The door to the orphanage opened and the plump housekeeper, Mrs. Kipper, appeared in the doorway. “Please come in,” she encouraged, ushering them inside. “You don’t need to stand on the pavement and risk getting pickpocketed.” She glanced up and down the street with a disapproving look on her face. “There are street urchins all about who are always up to no good.”

Madalene stepped into the building and stopped in the small, tastefully decorated entry hall.

“The headmistress has been expecting a visit from you,” Mrs. Kipper said once she’d closed the door behind them. “If you would please follow me, I will show you to her study.”

As they followed the housekeeper down a narrow hallway, Madalene could hear their booted steps echo off the tile floor. “Is it always this quiet in the orphanage?”

Mrs. Kipper laughed as she responded over her shoulder, “Heavens, no. It can get quite boisterous with twenty girls afoot. But the girls are currently receiving their lessons.”

Mrs. Foster spoke up. “What lessons are they receiving?”

“We teach the girls skills they need to find employment after they leave the orphanage, such as needlework,” Mrs. Kipper explained. “Furthermore, we educate them and train them in household business, thus enhancing their opportunities for obtaining a job.”

“What a blessing that is for them,” Mrs. Foster acknowledged.

“I agree,” Mrs. Kipper said as she stopped at a closed door and knocked before she proceeded to open it.

Madalene stepped into the square-shaped room as the blonde haired, petite headmistress rose from her desk to greet them. She was wearing a pomona gown with a high neckline, and her hair was pulled back into a tight chignon at the base of her neck.

“Sorry to disturb you, Miss Hardy, but Miss Dowding and Mrs. Foster have come to visit,” the housekeeper announced, clasping her hands together.

Miss Hardy smiled. “It is good to see you again, Madalene,” she said in a warm and inviting tone. “How have you been?”

“I have been well, Edith,” Madalene replied.

Edith pointed towards two upholstered chairs that faced the desk. “Would you care to have a seat?”

Madalene stepped around the chair and sat down. “How have you been faring?” she asked as she eyed the large stack of paper on the desk.

“I have been quite busy, if you must know,” Edith shared, returning to her seat. “I never thought running an orphanage would require so much paperwork.”

“Would you like me to hire someone to help you with that?” Madalene asked.

Edith waved her hand dismissively. “That won’t be necessary. I find that I enjoy the mundane task, assuming the girls leave me alone long enough to accomplish it.”

“Do you not have enough staff to properly tend to the girls?” Madalene questioned.

“Heavens, that’s not what I meant,” Edith declared. “We have more than enough, but I prefer to spend as much time with the girls as possible.”

“I am sure they appreciate that,” Mrs. Foster commented.

A twinkle came to Edith’s eyes. “They are wonderful, and they just want to be loved, especially the little ones.”

“What are their ages?” Mrs. Foster asked.

“The girls range from four to fourteen,” Edith shared. “They are mostly bright and inquisitive children and have already endured so much at such a young age.” She paused, growing solemn. “Some of these girls were found on the streets in the rookeries, and some came from other orphanages where they were not treated as kindly as they should have been. Many of them were half-starved and their hair was so tangled that it had to be cut prior to being cleaned.”

Mrs. Foster gasped. “How terrible.”

“Sadly, we have only seen the physical scars on the girls, but many hold emotional scars, as well,” Edith continued. “I must admit that I was ill-prepared to be headmistress of this orphanage.”

“I disagree,” Madalene said. “I believe you are more than qualified.”

“How so?” Edith challenged.

Madalene grinned. “You are by far the most clever woman that I know, and you have bested me at shuttlecock every time we have played.”

Edith laughed, as Madalene hoped she would. “I am unsure how that makes me qualified to run an orphanage.”

“I could have hired any number of women to run the orphanage, but I wanted someone that would love the girls,” Madalene said. “That is what my mother would have wanted.”

“Well, I would rather be a headmistress than work as a governess somewhere in the country,” Edith remarked with a slight shudder.

“You would be a terrible governess,” Madalene joked. “You have always preferred being in charge.”

“That is true,” Edith agreed. “Furthermore, with the generous salary that you have allotted me, I will be able to move my mother and sister out of their rented room at Floyd’s Coffeehouse.”

Madalene moved to sit on the edge of her chair. “If you would allow me to give you the funds, they could move out today and into somewhere respectable.”

“My father was the one who got us into this mess,” Edith said with a shake of her head. “I will be the one that will get us out of it.”

“That isn’t necessary—” Madalene started.

Edith spoke over her. “This is not your problem to solve, Madalene,” she remarked firmly. “You have done more than enough for me and my family already.”

Madalene pressed her lips together. “You are being quite stubborn.”

“No more than you are,” Edith contended, softening her words with a smug smile.

“Fine,” Madalene said. “But if you change your mind, I am more than willing to help.”

“I know, and that is why you are one of my dearest friends.” Edith reached for a paper on the desk and set it in front of her. “You will be happy to know that we have recently acquired a French teacher for the girls.”

“That is wonderful news,” Madalene declared.

“I thought you might enjoy hearing that,” Edith said. “Her name is Miss Rebecca Gaillard, and she came highly recommended from your solicitor, Mr. Walker.”

Edith glanced over at the long clock in the corner. “Most of