Read Online The Taste of Innocence by Stephanie Laurens - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Stephanie Laurens
Tags: Historical
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seats.
Miss Emma Quince, known as Quince to all, eyed Charlie severely, but bent enough to incline her head when Sarah explained that she kept the books and oversaw all repairs to the house, furniture, and furnishings. “Which,” Sarah said, “in an establishment such as this is a rather more demanding role than the norm.”
Quince smiled thinly, but thereafter kept her eyes on her plate.
“Quince spends most of her time looking after the babies,” Sarah continued. “And Lily here helps.”
Lily Posset, a bright vivacious girl, once a charge of the orphanage herself, beamed at Charlie, clearly appreciating his sartorial elegance. He smiled and nodded down the table to her. Although he didn’t look her way again, Lily kept darting quick glances his way; Sarah pretended not to notice.
Jeannie joined them and took her seat with a quiet hello. She was followed by a lumbering ox of a man who subsided into the chair beside her.
Sarah introduced Kennett, the man-of-all-work, a beefy, brawny hulking man who hid his soft heart behind a perpetual scowl—which fooled no one, the children least of all. “Kennett also takes care of all our animals.”
Charlie raised his brows at Kennett. “What do you run?”
“Only what we can use,” Kennett growled. “Cows for milk, goats and sheep for wool and meat. Ain’t no room for more. We use the fields for grains and cabbages—you wouldn’t believe how much this lot can get through in a winter.”
“And Jim here,” Sarah broke in, indicating the youth who’d slipped into the chair next to Kennett, “is our lad about the house. He helps everyone with everything, errands, fetching and carrying, feeding the animals.”
Jim beamed back at her; he nodded to Charlie, then gave his attention to the rich stew Mrs. Carter ladled onto his plate.
The last of the staff to join them was Joseph Tiller. Sarah smiled at him as, with a smile for her and a careful nod to Charlie, he drew out his customary chair next to Katy. Dark haired, pale skinned, Joseph was good-looking in a reserved and gentle way; despite his quiet reserve, Katy, Sarah, Jeannie, and Quince were convinced he was far gone in worship of Lily. They were all hoping that at some point he would get up enough courage to ask Lily, at the very least, to walk with him when they escorted the children to church.
“Joseph Tiller—Lord Meredith.” Sarah waited while Joseph, after a second’s hesitation, reached over the table and grasped Charlie’s proffered hand. Sarah wasn’t sure how Charlie had known Joseph was a gentleman, but…“Joseph comes to us from the Bishop of Wells. The orphanage operates under the bishop’s auspices. Joseph helps teach the children, especially the older boys.”
Charlie smiled sympathetically. “Not an easy task, I imagine.”
Joseph’s lips quirked as he sat. “Not generally, no, but there are compensations.”
Mrs. Carter banged her spoon on the saucepan’s lid and the children abruptly fell silent. Joseph bowed his head and said grace, his voice firm and sure rolling out over the bent heads.
The instant he said “Amen” a whoop erupted; noise exploded and engulfed the room. Reaching for his fork, Charlie raised his brows.
Joseph met his eyes and smiled. “Always happens.”
The meal passed in the usual distracted fashion with various staff members having to rise and settle disputes and arguments among their vociferous charges. But neither maliciousness nor anger intruded; there was no tension, only a sense of fun and an undercurrent of content.
Every Monday when she sat among them for the meal, Sarah found reassurance in that supportive atmosphere; that was why her godmother had established the orphanage, and why she continued to devote to it so much of her time.
As the last dollops of custard were scraped from bowls, Charlie turned to her and grinned. “They’re a lively lot. They remind me of an enormous family.”
She smiled back, then patted her lips with her
Miss Emma Quince, known as Quince to all, eyed Charlie severely, but bent enough to incline her head when Sarah explained that she kept the books and oversaw all repairs to the house, furniture, and furnishings. “Which,” Sarah said, “in an establishment such as this is a rather more demanding role than the norm.”
Quince smiled thinly, but thereafter kept her eyes on her plate.
“Quince spends most of her time looking after the babies,” Sarah continued. “And Lily here helps.”
Lily Posset, a bright vivacious girl, once a charge of the orphanage herself, beamed at Charlie, clearly appreciating his sartorial elegance. He smiled and nodded down the table to her. Although he didn’t look her way again, Lily kept darting quick glances his way; Sarah pretended not to notice.
Jeannie joined them and took her seat with a quiet hello. She was followed by a lumbering ox of a man who subsided into the chair beside her.
Sarah introduced Kennett, the man-of-all-work, a beefy, brawny hulking man who hid his soft heart behind a perpetual scowl—which fooled no one, the children least of all. “Kennett also takes care of all our animals.”
Charlie raised his brows at Kennett. “What do you run?”
“Only what we can use,” Kennett growled. “Cows for milk, goats and sheep for wool and meat. Ain’t no room for more. We use the fields for grains and cabbages—you wouldn’t believe how much this lot can get through in a winter.”
“And Jim here,” Sarah broke in, indicating the youth who’d slipped into the chair next to Kennett, “is our lad about the house. He helps everyone with everything, errands, fetching and carrying, feeding the animals.”
Jim beamed back at her; he nodded to Charlie, then gave his attention to the rich stew Mrs. Carter ladled onto his plate.
The last of the staff to join them was Joseph Tiller. Sarah smiled at him as, with a smile for her and a careful nod to Charlie, he drew out his customary chair next to Katy. Dark haired, pale skinned, Joseph was good-looking in a reserved and gentle way; despite his quiet reserve, Katy, Sarah, Jeannie, and Quince were convinced he was far gone in worship of Lily. They were all hoping that at some point he would get up enough courage to ask Lily, at the very least, to walk with him when they escorted the children to church.
“Joseph Tiller—Lord Meredith.” Sarah waited while Joseph, after a second’s hesitation, reached over the table and grasped Charlie’s proffered hand. Sarah wasn’t sure how Charlie had known Joseph was a gentleman, but…“Joseph comes to us from the Bishop of Wells. The orphanage operates under the bishop’s auspices. Joseph helps teach the children, especially the older boys.”
Charlie smiled sympathetically. “Not an easy task, I imagine.”
Joseph’s lips quirked as he sat. “Not generally, no, but there are compensations.”
Mrs. Carter banged her spoon on the saucepan’s lid and the children abruptly fell silent. Joseph bowed his head and said grace, his voice firm and sure rolling out over the bent heads.
The instant he said “Amen” a whoop erupted; noise exploded and engulfed the room. Reaching for his fork, Charlie raised his brows.
Joseph met his eyes and smiled. “Always happens.”
The meal passed in the usual distracted fashion with various staff members having to rise and settle disputes and arguments among their vociferous charges. But neither maliciousness nor anger intruded; there was no tension, only a sense of fun and an undercurrent of content.
Every Monday when she sat among them for the meal, Sarah found reassurance in that supportive atmosphere; that was why her godmother had established the orphanage, and why she continued to devote to it so much of her time.
As the last dollops of custard were scraped from bowls, Charlie turned to her and grinned. “They’re a lively lot. They remind me of an enormous family.”
She smiled back, then patted her lips with her
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