“Ah, that tells you everything you need to know then.” Julia sat back with a satisfied smile and lifted her teacup to her lips. He felt admiration growing at that smile and tilted his head to the side, the better to watch her.
“Why do I feel as if I have missed something? Care to explain it for a mind not as clever as your own, Julia?” he asked, pleading with her.
“Edward, think about it,” she said gently. “Keeping who the father is a secret at this time is an odd secret to keep. You have as good as threatened him, so, that means she is protecting him. If I didn’t know any better, I would wager she is very much in love with the father.” Julia turned her eyes on the doorway, thoughtful once again.
Edward couldn’t look away. His jaw had dropped, and he was staring at Julia, stunned.
“I have surprised you again,” Julia summarized, turning back to face him once more.
“She is in love?” he asked, his voice squeaky. “How can you be sure?” He adjusted his cravat, pulling on it, feeling a sudden tightness building there.
“It’s what anyone does for someone they love, is it not? They protect them, come what may.” Julia smiled one more and glanced at the doorway. “We best be quiet, she is returning.”
As Esther returned, the two ladies fell into eager conversation once again. Edward didn’t participate straight away. He was too busy staring at Julia, feeling something slide into place.
What we do for those we love… we will go a long way.
The more he looked at her, the more he knew the truth. He cared for Julia, very deeply indeed. It was a long time since he had felt this feeling and the last time that he had felt it, things had gone very wrong.
I cannot let it happen again.
* * *
“Julia, Julia, look!” Lucy cried excitedly as Julia stepped into the orphanage. “Look!”
“I am looking, dear,” Julia said softly as she took Lucy’s proffered hand. “Good Lord, what is happening here?”
“Changes! He says it’s for the better.”
“Who says?” Julia asked, looking round the building.
The orphanage was busy today. A group of children walked past, all following one of the teachers, Miss Macron. As they walked around a carpenter who seemed to be working on building some new tables, they all chattered excitedly. On the staircase, some of the floorboards were being ripped up by another carpenter, as standing over him, a draper was measuring some windows.
“What is happening?” Julia murmured to herself, more than Lucy, as she was dragged forward.
“Boys, no running on the stairs, you’ll end up hurt!”
That voice!
Julia held Lucy back, from fear of an impending collision as she looked up the stairs. Lucy immediately held onto Julia’s gown, staring up with her.
The twins, Robert and Malcom, were running down the stairs, leapfrogging over the carpenter, before one of them nearly fell face first. He tripped on the lip of a step, only rescued as a figure ran after him.
“Edward,” Julia murmured to herself as Edward caught Malcolm midflight.
“What did I say?” Edward asked, lifting the boy high so that he was safe. “Jumping over carpenters is a health hazard. Not to mention rude,” he added and glanced back to the carpenter with an apologetic look, who laughed anyway, rather amused by the incident.
“We always jump on the stairs!” Robert insisted, pulling on Edward’s trouser leg as they descended the last of the stairs.
“Hmm, something tells me some new teachings are in order,” Edward said with a laugh as they reached the broom step.
When his eyes found Julia’s, she was frozen to the spot, smiling back at him rather giddily.
He has done all this?
Edward smiled too, practically beaming. He placed Malcolm on the floor and addressed both boys.
“Now, can you two do me a favor and look after Lucy? She wanted to do more of her drawings. Can I put you in charge of finding the paper whilst I talk to Julia?” Edward asked, his tone buoyant. To Julia’s joy, the boys seemed to delight in being given the responsibility.