Page 78 of His Illegitimate Duchess

Elizabeth not only appeared confident and authoritative, but she also demonstrated a wit that put the girls at ease, and Talbot could tell that she adjusted her approach with each of them according to what she sensed they needed.

He proudly noticed that she often put her hand on their shoulders or adjusted the way they were holding the pen without hesitation.

“You did well,” he told her in the carriage on the way to the poorhouse.

“Several girls approached me to tell me how much they’ve enjoyed your lessons, well done,” Mrs Cooper added.

Lizzie blushed and looked at her hands.

“Thank you. I enjoyed myself tremendously as well. It’s been a long time since I’ve had the opportunity to teach, and I’ve missed it.”

Talbot decided he would build her a school and pay students to attend if necessary, only to be able to witness that light more often. *

“What story should we read next, Hettie? One about love, perhaps?” he teased.

Now that everyone had had a bath and was wearing clean clothes, Talbot found himself enjoying his time in the consumption wing far more.

Lizzie had gone with Mrs. Cooper to talk to the hospital administrator about organising lessons for the children, and Doctor Cooper was attending to patients in another wing, so Talbot had all the time in the world to banter with Hettie.

“I tell you what, you keep bringing those sweetmeats and I might fall in love with you,” Abigail yelled from her side of the room, and Colin directed an amused glance at Hettie, who was uncharacteristically serious.

“No talk of love,” she said vehemently.

“Why not?” Talbot protested. “Those are some of the best stories.”

“Let me tell you a story.” She sat up too quickly and was overtaken by a strong fit of coughing.

It took her several minutes to regain her composure. Talbot had almost forgotten her offer of a story.

“Once upon a time, there was a young girl who had everything that she could want for in the world: a family, a neighbour boy whom she loved and who loved her, and as soon as he finished his apprenticeship, they would get married, and then her life would be complete. They were so in love, though, that they decided not to delay the… consummation of their love,” she said with a mischievous wink.

“However, just before his apprenticeship was over, the first in a series of wars broke out, and the young man was sent to fight. He never came back. The young girl found herself alone, brokenhearted, and with child.”

“Oh, no,” Talbot either thought or said out loud.

“She was considered disgraced and ruined and was thrown out of her home, so she resorted to doing the only work someone like her was able to – to let disgusting, noisome, drunk men ruthlessly take what had once been given so freely to the only man she ever loved. And then her baby was lost to a fever that she couldn’t properly care for while she was working in the brothel.

The girl subsequently led a dirty, disgusting, shameful existence without any joy or love in it for as long as she lived, the end,” Hettie concluded, and the entire room was dead silent.

Someone was sniffling in the corner. Talbot realised that his mouth was open. He must have wanted to say something at some point. But Hettie wasn’t done.

“I’m not afraid of dying, Talbot. I welcome it. I cannot wait to be gone from this Earth. My biggest fear is that once I die, I will not be allowed to see James or our son again,” she said with tears flowing down her face.

“What was your boy’s name?”

“Thomas,” she whispered.

Talbot reached for her hand without thinking, remembering his own maybe-child and the life it never got to live.

“Hettie,” he croaked. “I’m certain James and baby Thomas are patiently waiting for you to join them, please never lose hope in that. They are! They are waiting for you! We always wait for those we love,” he kept soothing her as sobs shook her entire body.

When Hettie finally fell asleep, exhausted by her emotional ordeal, Talbot gently set her hand on top of the clean covers and left the room.

He leaned his back on the closed door and let himself cry, remembering the terror he’d experienced as he prayed while clutching Lizzie’s crimson sheets, not even daring to imagine what his life would have been like if she had died.

He also cried for Hettie, who used her coarse tongue and bravado to cover up the utter terror she lived with every day: that somehow, the things she had done to survive had soiled her so irrevocably that she would be denied the company of her baby in the afterlife.

Colin felt a small, warm hand slide into his. He felt his wife’s perfume, and his shoulders shook even harder. Lizzie said nothing; she just squeezed his hand as hard as she could.

*

Before they left the hospital, the Duke and Doctor Cooper went to see the administrator in charge.

“I want Hettie to be taken care of,” Talbot said in his most commanding tone, while flashing his signet ring.

“Your Grace, it’s not that simple,” the slight man tried telling him, but Talbot shook his head.

“You misunderstand. I will personally see to the cost. I want her to receive the highest level of care, and then, once she recovers, which she will,” he looked at both men as if they had been contradicting him.

“I want her to be given a stipend, and I want you to find a room for her at a respectable inn or house.”

The administrator bowed deferentially, “As you wish, Your Grace.”

On his way downstairs, Talbot felt feather-light. He realised he’d never felt so good about his title or money before, and he wanted to chase that feeling forever.

God, is this Your purpose for me? Is this why you have given me my title and my wealth? He wondered.