Page 43 of A Deal for the Duke’s Virgin

“Take two,” Thalia urged. “I’ll go without. And don’t forget the jam and cream.”

Sister Abigail gave her a tired smile. “You are remarkably kind, Lady Thalia. Your patronage does us so much good, I can hardly count it all up.”

Thalia paused, glancing uncertainly around, then leaned forward. She whispered so that only Sister Abigail could hear. “If you can hold on for another month, I may be able to help more than ever before.”

Sister Abigail smiled fondly. “You are kindness itself, Lady Thalia.”

“Yes, yes, you’ve already said that. What I mean is that I may be coming into some money.”

The nun frowned. “I… I have heard rumors that you are to wed soon, Lady Thalia.”

“I shan’t be marrying. Disregard any rumors you hear. It is true, my brother intends for me to marry, and I… I cannot risk ruining my family’s reputation. I owe my family that at the very least, even if my brother…” She bit the tip of her tongue, swallowing hard. Best not to drag Jonathan into this. “I won’t be marrying. My money will be my own. And when I have it, you shall all benefit. The board will take me much more seriously as a patron once I have my own funds to contribute and am not simply relying on the allowance my brother gives me.”

She wasn’t entirely sure what she had expected from Sister Abigail at this revelation.

The nun blinked slowly, nodding. “You are generous,” she said. “And you are so determined to do good. But despite our best efforts, Lady Thalia, we cannot hold back the tides.”

“I don’t intend to hold back the tides. I intend to divert a river.”

Surprise crossed the nun’s face. “We shall see.”

Thalia felt a pang of annoyance. Sister Abigail clearly did not quite believe in either her coming money or the power she would wield once she had it. Well, that was fair enough. Single women did not have influence, not unless they had a great deal of money. Which, of course, Thalia did not.

Yet.

“Well,” she said, “I suppose we should get going.”

Sister Abigail nodded, drawing back, and the little group set off.

Nicholas and Alex fell behind, chattering excitedly to Mabel, and Sophia walked silently alongside Thalia. After a moment, Thalia glanced down at her, lifting her eyebrows.

“You seem preoccupied,” she observed.

Sophia bit her lower lip. “Sister May said that I was not to trouble you with it.”

“Well, now you must tell me, and I promise I shan’t tell Sister May.”

Sophia let out a deep sigh. “My friend Hannah was sick with the flu for the last treat day,” she mumbled. “I asked if she might come today instead since she missed it, but Sister May said no. She said that you would have brought supplies for the number coming along, and it was not fair to expect you to bring more.”

“Ah.” Thalia nodded. “I see. I did miss poor Hannah. I understand she’s recovered now?” She received a nod in reply. “Well then, we shall set aside some food for you to take back to her.”

Sophia blinked up at her, all childish innocence and confusion. “But I don’t understand, Lady Thalia. Why could you not bring more food? You could take lots of us at once. We would all be very well behaved. I would see to it myself,” she pronounced.

Thalia bit back a wry smile. “That is a good suggestion. The thing is, I have to use my allowance to bring the food for our treats. And I… my allowance is not very large.”

That seemed to baffle Sophia. “But you are a proper lady. Everyone says so.”

“Yes, but I do not have much money of my own. My brother has it all. He gives me my allowance.”

Sophia seemed to consider that. “And… and he would not give you any more?”

“No, he would not.”

He thinks that my time would be better spent elsewhere. He resents the money I spend on books and treats and patronizing the orphanage. He would give me no money at all, I daresay, if Papa hadn’t stated in his will that I was to receive an allowance.

There was no need to tell Sophia that, of course.

After a moment, the little girl glanced up anxiously at Thalia. “Lady Thalia, am I being ungrateful?”