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the party and I don t even want to go!
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 Boys, Robert ordered sharply, walking over.  Sit. Here. He snapped his fingers and pointed to the
bottom step.
They slunk away from her and obeyed, staring up at him. They glanced at Bel anxiously.  It was an
accident, Miss Bel 
 I know, I know, she said more gently, already feeling the chagrin that followed inevitably in the wake
of her outburst.  It s all right, Tommy. I didn t mean to yell. She wished the earth would swallow her.
Still bright red in the face, she forced herself to look at Robert, dreading to see the lordly disgust she
would surely find in his stare. But when she dared glance at him, she found only patience.
 We don t have to go. Do you want to stay home?
Home, she thought in misery. Is that where I am?
He took matters into his own capable hands, sending the boys back to Cook for supervision. They
didn t dare disobey him.
He walked slowly to her and examined the small fingerprints on her dress.  My valet can probably get
this out with white wine. If not, we ll buy you another.
His soft tone was her undoing. She covered her face with her hands and sat right down on the step
where she had been standing.
Robert eased down onto the step below her, giving her knee a caress.  Why didn t you tell me?
 How could I? I didn t want you to know what I had been reduced to. I have my pride, Robert. I tried
everything before turning to this life, you must believe me 
 I don t mean the oranges, darling. I don t care about that. Why didn t you tell me you brought those
children here?
His question startled her. She lifted her head from her hands and gazed at him uncertainly.
 I will be solely responsible for them, Robert. I swear they won t make any trouble. I ll polish the armor
myself 
 Hush. Where did they come from?
 God only knows. I met them when I was an orange seller, before I resolved to see if Harriette would
take me on. I tried to look out for them. Today when I saw them, I tried to enroll them in a charity
school, but the headmaster wouldn t take them. They ll earn their keep, Robert, I promise you that. It s
just that I m the only adult they know. They re good boys, if a little rambunctious, and they have nowhere
to go. I feel it is my duty to take care of them 
 And right now, it s mine, to take care of you, he said, gently catching her hand between his.
She stared at him.  You re not going to tell me to send them away?
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 Of course not. Why are you so upset, Belinda? His voice was low and lulling.  I feel as though there s
something else bothering you. What aren t you telling me?
She gazed longingly at him.  I don t want my past to come between us, Robert.
 Miss Hamilton, he chided softly,  I happen to like oranges.
 You do?
He cupped her cheek.  What s wrong, sweeting? Confide in me.
I can t possibly, she thought. Her heart wrenched.
 Didn t I make you a promise that I would never disappoint you? That first day I came to see you, you
didn t want to tell me about Dolph, but I ve protected you from him. You didn t want me to know about
Mick Braden, but I was there for you then. You didn t want me to know your father was in jail or that
you used to teach at Mrs. Hall s, but each time you trusted me with these things, did I ever let you
down?
 No, she whispered.
 Did I ever frighten you? Betray you? Make you angry?
 No.
 I m on your side, Belinda. Can t we put an end to the secrets?
She thought she might well fall apart if he didn t stop gazing at her so gently and questioning her with
such soft intent.
 I only want to help.
 I know. And you have helped me, Robert. More than you know.
He petted her knee, his gaze following his hand.  I wish you would let me understand why there is such
sorrow in your eyes. I try to chase it away, he said,  but it always seems to come back.
She lowered her head, holding on to her composure for all she was worth. She did not know how much
more of his gentle chivalry she could bear before she completely fell apart.
 I have seen sorrowful things, I suppose, she forced out stiffly.
 Like what?
 Well  She could barely speak past the lump in her throat. She cast around mentally for some ready
excuse.  Those boys, for instance. There are thousands just like them living out there on the streets in
direst poverty.
Suddenly she looked at him Hawkscliffe one of the most powerful men in Parliament, with the
strength and resources to make a difference where mere mortals like her could not. It was so much easier
to think abouttheir problems instead of her own. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]