“Beaten?” The duke stopped short, his head whipping around to face her.
“I believe so,” she admitted. “One of the little girls, Alice, had a bruise on her cheek. She claimed she got in the way. There aretwo overseers that I know of for the children. One is rather quiet, but the other …”
She shuddered. She had rarely met either of them, but she could recall the other one’s cruel smile when he saw her once during her initial meeting with the children’s former tutor.
Her heart ached at the memory of Mr. George Penwright, but she pushed his memory away for now.
“Then they will be swiftly dismissed upon investigation,” the duke confirmed. “Regardless, I want to change the workhouse’s conditions and way of being run. So, I believe that removing you from their routine as well would not be a smart choice. They will need something reliable to hold onto while I oversee the renovations.”
“Renovations?” Elinor echoed hopefully.
She thought of him rattling the precarious railing on the staircase, of how he had looked at every room so far with a twisted sneer of judgement. Initially, she had thought he had been disgusted at having to be there.
Now, she wondered if it was more so directed at the lack of upkeep from his uncle’s ownership.
“Yes, Lady Elinor,” he answered slowly, striding back over to her. “And in exchange, you shall be my betrothed for the Season.”
Betrothed.
Oh, Heavens.
What had she stumbled into?
Her pulse quickened as she looked up at him, trying to find the words to askwhy, how she could even explain this to her stepfamily, and how somebody as undesirable as her would suddenly be betrothed to a duke.
And how could she explain where they had met?
Unable to think about that now, Elinor asked in a shaky voice, “What sort of changes?”
The duke looked amused at her avoidance of his condition, but he didn’t challenge her on it.
Instead, he answered her thoroughly. “To be frank, the workhouse will not be that anymore. Instead, Fielding House will become a boarding house, and I might even apply for it to be renamed. A new life for a new establishment, one where the children will not be forced to work. They may if they wish to, as long as it is skillful learning. Sewing, engineering, labor to help build their strength. Though, it will be regulated and optional. They will receive education?—”
He gave a pointed look at her, and Elinor had to fight back her protests that she could not publicly be their tutor.
“And comfort and proper care. I will have them equipped with fresh clothing and their stomachs will never go empty,” he finished.
“Your Grace,” Elinor’s voice was barely a whisper, emotion making her shiver.
The duke paid her whisper no mind as he spoke again. “Of course, this means heavy renovations for both the building and the staff. I will be hiring more people to attend to the children and the women here. Kitchen staff, cooks, maids, a true housekeeper. I also would like to have proper guarding outside. It is not safe in this area of London, and if people think that there is more worth to this place … I would not like to risk anything.”
Elinor pressed a hand to her mouth, smiling in hope. “Do you truly mean all of this?”
“Yes.” He cocked a brow. “Why would I not?”
“People in your … position often do not. Forgive my bluntness, but the former Duke of Fair?—”
“I am nothim.” The brusque response made Elinor flinch back, her eyes widening, but she nodded quickly. “Forgive me, I … I am making efforts to set my duchy aside from what the late duke did with it.”
“I understand,” Elinor murmured. “Forgive me.” She let silence settle between them for a moment before she finally addressedthe condition. “Though I must ask, Your Grace … Why do you need a fake betrothed? I am certain a man like yourself is not short of interest.”
The duke let out a hard bark of laughter. “Oh, really? And whatisa man like me?”
Elinor blushed, turning her face away, swallowing. Heavens, what was she doing? Perhaps her stepmother was right. Perhaps she really did ought to stay silent.
“Go on,” the duke purred in encouragement. “Do tell me. Handsome, maybe? Charming? Confident?”
Elinor’s face only burned harder as she stared at the far wall. Finally, she admitted, “Perhaps.”
