“Goodbye, Harry.”
“Is she all right now?” The little girl Ella had been playing with stood below them.
“She is,” Ruby said. “Thank you for your concern.”
“I don’t want to leave my new friend, Papa,” Ella said.
“And what is your friend’s name?”
“Meredith.”
“Hello, Meredith.” Forrest bowed before the little girl. She flashed him a wide smile.
“Perhaps you can visit with Meredith one day soon? Or she can come and visit with you?” Ruby suggested.
“Yes!” both girls cried.
“Excellent, we shall organize it. Now come along,” Forrest said. “It is time to leave.”
He said his goodbyes and told Lord Sinclair his daughter and Ella would be arranging a visit.
“We shall look forward to that, won’t we, Merry?” He picked up his little girl.
They waved and then stepped into the carriage, where Michael and Freya awaited them. The trip home was not overly long, but the sky was darkening when they stopped. Ella was sleeping in his lap, so he carried her inside and up to the nursery. As her nanny had arrived, he handed her over and said he’d return soon.
“I shall take my leave now, Mr. Howarth.” Ruby was outside the door.
“I’m sorry for the delay, Miss Knight. You have usually left by now.”
Her cheeks were sun-kissed, and she looked far too disturbing even dressed in ill-fitting gray cotton with her large floppy bonnet still on her head.
“It is not long past when I leave, sir.” She dropped into a curtsey. “Good day to you and thank you for the Gunther’s ice.”
“I will call you a hackney.”
“Thank you but there is no need. I enjoy the walk.”
“If you are sure?”
“I am. Goodbye, Mr. Howarth.” She dropped into a curtsey and then ran down the steps with far more haste than grace.
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
The kitchens in the Deville townhouse were a special place. Ruby loved sitting at the large wooden table taking tea with the other staff. It was a small window into life below stairs in a nobleman’s household. Of course, she was sure not all households were as happy as this one. Or maybe they were?
After running away from Mr. Howarth, again, she stopped in the kitchens briefly to tell the staff that were there about her day.
“And you say Walter leapt on the nobleman?” one of the maids, Sally, asked.
“Yes. He then stole his handkerchief.”
The table erupted into laughter.
“And how is your brother, Miss Knight?” Fairfax asked her.
The household butler was a wonderful man. Firm, yet fair. He had a dry humor. Mrs. Liall, the housekeeper, however, was a sour-faced woman who found fault in everyone. But Fairfax kept her in line.
“Well, thank you.” In fact, he was more than well. When Mr. Fairfax had heard he liked to draw, he’d found her some supplies to take home. “He is drawing every day with the supplies you gave him, Mr. Fairfax.”
