“I’m offended that you believe so, Miss Louisa,” he replied, although his words held no heat whatsoever.
As they continued their stroll, Patch once again in Miss Louisa’s arms, Aaron was relieved that the subject of the dog’s living conditions, nor marriage, returned. The former was hardly worth discussing, and the latter… well, he preferred not to have to consider it. Not yet, anyway.
When he returned the two young ladies to the school, Patch accompanied them. He and Miss Louisa agreed to continue their ticket sales and fund collecting the following day.
“I’m not all that sure he’ll be safe in the stable,” Miss Louisa said as she petted the dog’s head. “I’ll find somewhere better for him to sleep.”
Aaron stifled a groan. He would not give in and thus needed to put his foot down. No matter how Miss Louisa’s blue eyes begged him.
“That truly is the best place for him,” he said. “Now, I must go. Until tomorrow.” He bowed and walked away.
An hour later after returning to Hearsely Estate, Aaron sat hunched over a ledger in his study. Concentrating on his work was proving nearly impossible. His mind kept drifting to Miss Louisa.
Why did her father not show the same affection he had for her sisters? Typically, the youngest child received the most attention, but that was not the case with her family. What made her so different that the man who should love her the most would have such disregard for her?
Her relationship with her father, however, was not his only concern. What sort of future lay ahead for an unworthy knight and a lovely young lady about to leave school? And what would become of their courtship once a decision was made about the theater? Had he made a mistake in asking her to court when he had not even considered marriage?
What began as a way to curtail any deceptive behavior had become something far different from what he would have expected, something far better. In the short time they had spent together, Aaron had changed. He was not a different person, not completely, but he had seen small alterations, all of them good. He was now considering that women should be allowed certain privileges they currently did not have. With certain limitations, of course. There was no need to turn the world on its ear for the sake of allowing women to go through life willy-nilly.
Yet allowing them to read whatever they chose would not bring too much chaos to the status quo. Even if they chose books on the sciences or business, he saw no reason they could not be allowed to read them. But no matter how much of a hold Miss Louisa had taken on him, he could not in good conscience be swayed in all matters. After all, men needed to retain some sense of dignity in this life.
A tiny whimper made him glance down where Patch rested on a small blanket beside his desk. Upon arriving, he had gone to hand the pup to the stable boy, but an image of Miss Louisa came to mind. With a sigh, he carried the dog inside the house with him. “Don’t tell Miss Louisa that I’m allowing you to stay in the house,” he said, waving a finger at the puppy as if he would understand what it meant. “She’ll think I’m weak and will wish to take advantage.”
Patch gave a tiny bark but immediately returned his head to where it rested on his front paws. Yes, he would make a wonderful addition to the household.
It was just too bad the puppy’s future was as undetermined as that of Aaron.
ChapterTwenty-Eight
The weather was warm and not a single cloud marred the otherwise deep-blue sky as Louisa walked beside Ruth on their way to Chatsworth. Ruth intended to visit the newly opened pawnbroker.
“I used to frequent the London shops,” Ruth had said. “They will allow anyone to use anything as collateral for a loan, even clothes and teacups. And when someone is unable to pay off the loan, the proprietor sells the goods in his shop. It’s brilliant, really. He earns money while also helping others.”
Why Ruth would need a teacup or clothes that had been previously worn, Louisa could not fathom. Not that her friend had much, but she did not lack anything, either.
Accompanying Ruth to the village was always a quiet affair, allowing Louisa’s mind to wander. After all, her friend was not one for chatter, which meant the majority of their journey was typically done in silence.
Louisa and Sir Aaron had spent three days over the past week out and about selling tickets and collecting money for their individual causes. Some men grumbled they would not attend the play that was to take place in ten days, although they purchased tickets all the same.
Louisa continued to receive small donations, typically from women, yet Sir Aaron was seeing far more interest. Just two days earlier, they had called over to the home of Mr. Harold Green, who owned a string of apothecaries throughout southern England, making him a wealthy man indeed.
During their time at the man’s home, five boys ran past the drawing room, whooping and wailing as they waved wooden swords in their hands.
Their father ran a shaky hand through his thin, graying hair and said, “A gentlemen’s club would be a wonderful place where men can go for a bit of rest and relaxation. I’ve no idea how I have managed to survive as long as I have without such a place.”
“Let’s meet again,” Sir Aaron had said, much to Louisa’s annoyance. “Then we can discuss the particulars of my plan. I’d very much appreciate your input.”
It was not until they turned down the dark alleyway that Louisa realized where Ruth was taking her. Rake Street.
The true name was Drake Street, but it had been dubbed Rake Street by the residents of Chatsworth due to the gaming hell located there. As long as one had money he was willing to bet, anyone was welcome. It was one place where commoners could be found in the same room with those of the nobility. Even if they likely did not share the same table.
They stopped in front of a shop with three large golden balls hung above the door. On the door was a sign that read, “James Trout, Proprietor.” Through the window, Louisa could see two men with long beards and wrinkled clothes. They did not appear poor but rather… rough. That was the only word that came to her mind when trying to describe them.
“Ruth, wait,” Louisa said as she took hold of her friend’s arm. “Are you sure this is a good idea? The people inside look no better than those entering the gaming hell we just passed. Perhaps we should go somewhere else.”
“Oh, don’t worry about those two,” Ruth said. “If they try anything, I’ll just fight them.”
“That is what I’m afraid of,” Louisa whispered before following Ruth into the shop.