She lifted each and held them in her hand. “They’re perfect and so lifelike. You do excellent work.”
“Thank you. You can keep those, and I’ll get started on the larger ones.”
“Excellent.” She took the figures with her and turned to the girls. “Come with me, dears. I’ll take you to my room for a proper scrubbing.”
Ghost blocked her exit. “Miss McKinnie, shouldn’t the staff see to the children?”
“I think the staff have enough to do. I can handle three little girls. And I have Grace to help me upstairs. You help our young master here get to planting after he has a snack. We all need to be done before Mr. Neal returns.”
“Yes, we do.” Cook said and grumbled under her breath while getting food for the children together.
If Cora was seeing clearly, the woman looked like she had tears in her eyes. Perhaps Cook had a heart after all.
Grace about fainted when Cora entered the room with the children. “I never… I mean…”
“Draw a bath please, Grace. We need to get these little ladies cleaned up if they’re to help clean the house.”
“They’re what?” Grace screeched.
“They’re going to help us clean downstairs to get ready for the party in a few days in exchange for some food.”
Grace’s mouth hung open, but she went and drew the bath while Cora eyed their clothes. They were threadbare, and no way they could put them back on after they were cleaned, but even with the material she had, it would take her time to make something for them to wear.
Cook entered the room with a stack of clothes in her hands. “Have these they can use. Just old and simple, but they should work.”
“Thank you. Where’d you get them so fast?”
“My trunk in my room. Had them left over from my little’ns.”
“Thank you so much. This is great.” If Cora didn’t know better, she’d think Cook wanted to help the little ones. “I didn’t know you had any children.”
“I don’t. Fever took them and my husband.” Cook handed over the dresses and left without a word.
Cora wanted to run after her and hug her and tell her how sorry she was for her loss, but despite losing her family, Cora had never had to face losing a child. She couldn’t imagine.
Cora had witnessed so much in life already, but children had always tugged at her heart. Giggles echoed from the bath, and Cora looked in to see the girls dunking each other under the water. They were playing like any normal children, despite their circumstances. They deserved better than living on the streets. Was this what God wanted her to see? That she didn’t have to have children of her own because there were many without homes or parents?
She didn’t have to have her own. She could adopt. Ed wouldn’t have to worry about them having a family. They couldchoosetheir family. She knew now that she needed to show Ed that a life with a family was possible so he didn’t have to send her away. They worked well together, and he was kind when he wasn’t snipping or ordering her about. There were other marriages with less in common.
A rapid knock at the door sounded. “Miss McKinnie. Miss McKinnie.”
She opened to find Ghost more pale than his name would imply. “Mr. Neal’s carriage pulled up. We need to get these children out of here and quick.”
ChapterThirteen
Ed arrivedhome to a young boy digging in the front garden. A child the size of his little brother only weeks before he died from starvation. He didn’t want to see such a sight ever again.
Ghost hurried out of the house to greet him. “Sorry. I was helpin’ with party stuff.”
“Who’s the boy?”
“Local. I needed some help if I was to finish on time. He’s workin’ for food scraps.”
Ed searched the street and his neighbor’s windows. A lace curtain fluttered. His muscles tensed. “What if people see? You know how it is around here. They don’t want the homeless. Order No. 873, remember? The police can come here. Imagine the scene and gossip. We don’t need a scandal.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll move him to the back of the house, where passersby can’t be seein’ him.” Ghost leaned in and whispered, “Gotta do somethin’ to get the work done.”
Ed hated the predicament he found himself in, but Ghost was right. “Fine. Make sure you give him a good meal when he’s done. The child’s so thin he might collapse before he completes his work.”
