I stood and extended my hand toward the boy. “My name is Edward Paget. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
Lucas scowled at the gesture. “What do ye want?”
“I was hoping to talk to you about the man you’re working for. Captain Hollinsby?”
Lucas’s eyes narrowed. “Aye, what about ‘im? He gives me honest work, so if ye be lookin’ for gossip, yer better off scratching elsewhere.”
“Honest work?” I repeated. “And what sort of work is that?”
The boy shrugged. “Fixin’ things. Cleaning up the grounds. Little jobs like that.”
“I see. And are there other servants at Willowbrook? Or…perhaps those doing Hollinsby’s bidding are not servants at all, but something else entirely.”
Lucas shifted on his feet and averted his gaze. “I’m not s‘posed to speak about that.”
“I’m sure Captain Hollinsby asked you to keep it a secret. Do you know why he might have done that?” I continued when Lucas refused to look at me. “I think you do. You seem to be a smart, hardworking lad.”
“Aye,” he said softly. “I just want to help me family. That’s all. They be my responsibility.”
“I can understand that, Lucas. You see, one of the people at Willowbrook is very much like family to me. She’s in a bad situation working for Hollinsby, and I simply want to help her. I feel she ismyresponsibility. As I’m sure you have guessed, some of those servants are not there by choice.”
Lucas finally met my gaze and nodded.
“Her name is Adda,” I said. “Have you met her?”
He nodded again, this time with more enthusiasm. “She is kind to me.”
“I do not doubt that. She was always very kind to me as well. She saved my life, you know.”
“She did? Never mind, I believe ye. Sometimes she takes the blame when I mess up. That’s kind of like saving me, too.” He bit his lip. “How are you going to help her?”
My heart pounded. Telling Lucas much more was a risk, but it was one I needed to take. “Well, I was hoping you might be willing to offer some assistance. You see, I cannot go to Willowbrook on my own. Hollinsby and I do not get along. If he finds out I’m here, he might flee and take Adda with him.”
“What can I do?”
“What I need is proof he’s involved in slavery—that he’s forcing his servants to work without payment. A record, something written on paper, would be preferable.”
Lucas shook his head. “I cannot help ye with that. I cannot read.”
My hope deflated, but I refused to give up. “That’s all right. When you go to Willowbrook, do you ever do work inside the house? Perhaps near the study?”
“Aye, sometimes I help with the chores inside. Especially now that there are visitors.”
“Do you know much about the visitors? Heard their names?”
“No. Hollinsby don’t let me near them or around when they’re speakin’.”
I nodded in understanding. “If he’s preoccupied with his guests, does that mean he’s less aware of what his servants are doing during the day?”
Lucas pursed his lips in thought. “I s’pose that be true. He hasn’t shouted at me as much. Not been around to criticize my work.”
“And do you…do you think his distraction might provide you with an opportunity to sneak into his study?”
Lucas shrugged. “Aye, but I wouldn’t know what to look for in there. I cannot read, remember?”
His inability did complicate things but did not make them impossible. “The type of evidence I seek would likely be hidden. Possibly in a journal or a ledger.”
Lucas perked up. “A ledger? Those be full of numbers. I do know my numbers. Father taught me. I can look for Hollinsby’s ledger if that will help Adda.” He nibbled at his lip again. “If I do this, I won’t have any work. No work means no money.”
