“Hello, Caroline.” He rose to greet her. “I didn’t know you would be here.”
She smiled. “Josephine Wilcott and I are acquainted, so she invited me. We teachers are allowed to have a day out, right? May I sit?”
“Please.” He pulled out a chair. “May I ask how you know Miss Wilcott? From what I’ve seen of her, you two don’t seem like you have much in common.”
Caroline giggled. “Believe it or not, she volunteers at the orphanage.”
“Doing what?”
“She teaches the girls needlepoint, with the occasional lesson in dance or deportment. She loves being the center of attention.”
He could believe that.
“May I inquire how you were invited? Are you here with your employer?”
Drat, he was stuck. He stared at Caroline, wondering if he could tell her the truth. He could lie, tell her that Heath had a son who was his student. No. What if she discovered he wasn’t telling the truth? He risked losing the only friend he had made.
He studied Caroline. Something in his gut told him he could confide in her. “All right,” he said, sighing loudly. “There is something I need to tell you, but you must swear to keep it a secret.”
“Of course.” She bent closer. “I would never divulge the confidence of a friend.” Caroline smiled.
Friend.
It had been a long time since Kane could use that word to describe another person. He always kept to himself, afraid his particular proclivities would come to light. But looking at Caroline, he saw the sincerity written on her face. He could trust her.
“My employer is Sir Heath Foster.” He pointed to Heath, who was still in Miss Wilcott’s clutches. “He inherited a baronet title, but because of his upbringing as a farmer, he lacks a proper education, so I am tutoring him.”
“That is very kind of you.”
“But because of the embarrassment it might cause, he has been introducing me as his estate manager.”
“That is understandable, and I will keep your secret.”
“Thank you.” He reached across the table for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
Caroline returned the gesture, then opened her mouth to respond, but must have thought twice about it since she closed her mouth. Was that a slight tremble in her hand? Had he said something wrong? Then Kane saw her give a side glance both ways before leaning closer to him.
“Since we are sharing secrets, there is something I would like to tell you.”
Her serious tone put his senses on alert.
“I am worried. This morning, I noticed two of the older girls in the orphanage were missing.”
“What do you mean, missing?”
“Gone, vanished. I told the police, but they aren’t too concerned. The girls are sixteen, so the police think they simply ran off, either to London or with boys.”
“What do you think?” It was a difficult stage of life. Not yet an adult, still innocent of most things, but yearning for the excitement young people thought awaited them in the world.
Caroline bit her lip. “I think something happened to them and they are in trouble. Harriet and Bea were good girls. They were looking forward to getting jobs in the next few months.”
“What can I do to help?” Kane was never one to turn down a friend.
“I want to inquire around town. Perhaps go to the train station and docks. See if anyone noticed them.” She let out a small cry. “I just don’t know what to do. How can two girls just vanish overnight?”
“I will make inquires as well. Perhaps if I ask, being a man, someone might loosen their tongue easier. Besides, if someone is responsible for taking the girls, they will know you work at the orphanage and keep quiet.”
“Thank you.”