Page 90 of A Pure Lady for the Broken Duke

George appeared and came over to where they were standing.

“I have come on an errand,” he said. “And it concerns your brother. But Helena thought I should speak to you first.”

“Oh? My brother? What could you possibly want with him?”

George explained the offer and asked, “What do you think, Miss Jenny? Is this something that might interest him?”

Jenny smiled. “What an idea. Yes. I think he would jump at the offer.”

“And your parents? Would they feel it might disrupt the business if he were to leave?”

“Possibly. But I know Robert has always loved horses and has longed to work with them. But what opportunity did he have stuck here at the bakery?”

“Might I speak to him now? Is he around?” George asked.

“He should be upstairs with the family. I am just finishing. We can go up together in a moment if you do not mind waiting.”

“Of course,” George said as he wandered away and began to examine the workings of the bakery.

Helena took Jenny’s arm and asked, “And it will not upset you to have your brother working for Thomas? After…”

Jenny put her finger on Helen’s lips. “Hush. After is past. There is only now, and if this is what Robert wants, then I totally support him.”

Shaking out her towel, Jenny hung it on a line and taking off her apron, signaled, “Let us go and surprise the family.”

They went out the back of the shop. Jenny locked up and they went to the front and climbed the stairs to the flat.

As they reached the top, Jenny called out, “Robert? Where are you? There is someone who wishes to speak with you.”

Robert came out of the kitchen. He was now fourteen and had grown a few inches in what seemed to be no time at all, but he was still a short and slender young man, and Jenny could see hewouldmake a perfect jockey.

“Oh, hello, Mr. Edgerton, did you wish to speak to me?”

George smiled when he saw the boy who was quickly becoming a young man. “Yes. Might we sit together for a moment?”

Robert directed George to a chair and he sat opposite.

Jenny and Helena went into the kitchen where Susan and Sally—who was now twelve—were preparing supper.

“Oh, hello, Helena. Nice surprise seeing you. Are you staying for supper? We have a nice saddle of mutton with a parsnip sauce, and you are more than welcome to stay.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Barnett, but I am just here with Georgie on an errand and we will be leaving shortly.”

Jenny then asked, “What can I do to help, Mama?”

“Nothing my dear, you go entertain your friend. Sally and I are on top of everything.”

Jenny smiled and, taking Helena’s arm, they left the kitchen and went to her room, not wanting to disturb George and Robert in their important conversation.

They sat on the edge of Jenny’s bed and Helena took Jenny’s hand in hers and asked, “Are you really doing well?”

Jenny looked wistfully at her and replied, “As well as can be expected, I guess. I do not think I shall ever get over my feelings for Thomas Haddington. But I know I must try.”

“Would it upset you to have Robert working for Thomas?”

“I do not see why. I should be so happy for him. My only concern is for my parents and the bakery. But Sally is coming along very well and shows a sincere interest in baking, so I am certain she could fill Robert’s shoes if he left. I think my parents always expected some of us would seek our lives elsewhere. It is only natural. At one point I thought it would be me who would be the first to leave, but… that did not happen.” And she fell into a moment of silence.

Helena squeezed her hand. “Jenny, you are still young. Life is stretching out ahead of you. Who knows where your life might take you. You might end up being the wife of a printer someday. Or a top pastry chef in a grand house as you always dreamed. Or…”