Ariadne shrugged. A deep sadness came over her eyes as she cast her face downwards. “Nothing at all. She and the others like her were people of no consequence. What did it matter what happened to any of them?”
“That’s not how things should be,” Edward said shaking his head.
Ariadne looked up. “But that’s how things are.”
“I can try to change things,” Edward said hopefully. “I’m in a position to do so.”
“That makes only one of you. The rich don’t care. People like Lord Brexley are few and far between,” Ariadne said, sweeping her hair away from her face.
At the mention of Lord Brexley’s name, Edward’s ears perked up. “You know Lord Brexley?”
Ariadne blinked. “Well, of course. He is our well-wisher and has always tried to help us at every turn. He even offered me a position in his household which I declined.”
This was news to Edward. He knew that Brexley was involved in a number of charities but he had no idea he worked with people himself. His opinion about him had been shallow, based on their stiff rivalry at the Parliament but now he started to look at the man in a different light. He made a mental note to discuss this with him. He and Charles already had an invitation to tea. He would discuss that with him sooner rather than later.
“There are people out there who want to make actual change, it seems,” Edward said.
Ariadne looked unconvinced. “Helping people fix their lives goes beyond doing charity toward them. Our living conditions should be bettered. When illness comes knocking at our door, we shouldn’t be forgotten. When our children die on the street hungry, we shouldn’t be abandoned.”
“You won’t,” Edward vowed.
“We’ll see about that,” Ariadne said and then let out a deep sigh. Something else was bothering her.
“What ails you now?” he asked.
“Tell me more about your family,” he said.
He knew he had pushed his luck when Ariadne looked away, the shutter coming down again. “There’s not much to tell.” He knew so far that she was related to an Earl, but even Charles hadn’t been able to unearth that information yet. Edward was determined to know all her secrets.