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Helen had felt so useless at the time, and she was afraid she’d never learn to take care of the babe. And yet she had. And now she was glad to provide a beacon of hope to a young mother that she’d learn, too.

“This is not ‘ow I imagined birthing a babe,” Abbey suddenly said.

“No?” Helen asked, glancing from folding childbed linen while Abbey fed her babe.

“I thought I’d be married, in love.” She scoffed as if love was a fairy tale children told each other and then found out it was all a lie.

Helen had been married and in love. And she loved Laney more than she had thought possible, yet it wasn’t how she had imagined having a babe, either. “Sometimes miracles come in unexpected ways,” Helen answered. Abbey looked at the baby Gavin with all the sadness in the world. She was almost a child herself, and now she had the burden of raising her babe all on her own.

“Do you have family somewhere, Abbey?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Abbey answered eagerly. “I ‘ave a sister in London. That’s who I came looking for.”

“Oh!” Helen didn’t anticipate this answer. Perhaps she could help Abbey find her? “How did you lose contact with her?”

“We worked in a small ‘ousehold, my mama and me, in Sussex. My sister went to London and found work at a respectable ‘ome. She sent us money and said she’d send for us once she settled in. But Mama died unexpectedly and the old master started paying me special attention.” Abbey grimaced, and Helen felt bile rise in her throat. Was that how Gavin was conceived? “I ran away. and I came to London looking for my sister. I couldn’t write ‘er, because all I can write is my name. By the time I came to London and found the address she gave me, she was no longer living there. So I ended up on the streets. I found work at the factory, but I couldn’t do that and take care of Gavin once he was born.”

“That’s when you found out about this place,” Helen finished for Abbey.

Abbey nodded. “Yes. I’m sure my sister is looking for me. She doesn’t know what happened to me and Mama. Maybe she thinks I am dead.”

Helen frowned. “Maybe I can help you.”

Abbey raised a brow. “‘ow?”

“Perhaps I can help you find your sister. What is her name?”

“Althea. Althea Bilbrough. Oh, thank you, thank you.” Abbey wiped her tears.

Helen felt a mix of feelings. She couldn’t promise the girl anything, yet she’d given her hope.

She wrote down the last known address for Althea and hoped that she could find Abbey’s sister happy and healthy. But what were the chances of that?

Victoria entered the room at that moment with Maggie and walked toward Helen and Abbey.

“What a precious little child,” she said as she waved at Gavin. She turned to Helen with a satisfied smile. “Are you ready to leave?”

Helen nodded and stood, with Abbey following suit. The poor girl, now full of hope, escorted them out of the house, thanking Helen every step of the way.

“What was she thanking you for?” Victoria asked once they were back in the carriage.

“I promised her to try and find her sister. I am afraid I just gave her empty hopes. I don’t know where to even start the search for her.”

Victoria reached out and took the piece of paper from Helen’s fingers. “Is this her name?”

“Yes, and her last known address.”

Victoria squinted at the note. “I shall ask Uncle Bastian to look into it. He has solicitors and other men of business who can help in that endeavor.”

Helen suddenly brightened up. “And I can ask Jarvis once he comes back. They will certainly have more luck with the search than me or poor Abbey.” Or I can ask Ian. Helen sucked in her cheeks to keep herself from smiling.

Victoria’s eyes fairly glowed as she spoke. “Helping people gives a special kind of exhilaration, doesn’t it?”

Helen had to admit it was true. She hadn’t even helped Abbey yet, but the idea that she could, that she’d made the first step toward it, oddly made her hopeful as well. “You seem to enjoy yourself there immensely.”

“I am just happy that I can help,” Victoria said with teary eyes. “It’s not the same as being able to help my family. But at least I don’t feel useless anymore.”

“I am certain the women in the shelter think you were heaven-sent,” Helen answered with a weak smile. A headache was setting on again. “That place has changed; it cheered up right before my eyes. And it’s just because you were there.”