He held up the roll. “I am, Mother. Tell me of your day.”
“Nothing much to tell. I paid a call to—” She broke off as if a thought had occurred to her. “Oh, yes. Matron of the workhouse had a letter delivered to you. It’s in the foyer.”
“The Matron?” Surprised, he excused himself and quickly went into the foyer to retrieve the letter on a small silver tray. He returned to the table with it.
“The footman could have gotten that for you, dear,” she told him.
“I’m perfectly willing to do so myself,” he said absently, opening the letter. He read its contents.
Theodocia took a sip of her wine. “What does Mrs. Meacham say?”
“Nothing much. She writes to tell me that the new schoolmistress arrived.” He placed the letter to the side.
His mother frowned. “Schoolmistress? Was that the favor Enoch asked of you when you were in London?”
“The same.”
“Strange favor.”
“Not really. Enoch was friends with the young woman’s father. He’s friends with me. The father died and he sought to help her out.” He shrugged. It was as simple as that.
Their food was served, and Theodocia eyed her son. “What is this schoolmistress like?” She took a bite of the roast pork.
“Intelligent. Quick-witted.” And attractive. But he left that part out.
“Is she fair?” she asked suddenly.
Henry didn’t know what to say. Beautiful was closer to the mark.
“She’s very—” he said awkwardly.
Theodocia understood. “She’s very fair.”
Henry shrugged. “Why discuss the workhouse schoolmistress at all? We never have before.”
“You’ve never gone out of your way to help a young woman in London secure a position in Norwich. I’m curious, that’s all.” She gave him an innocent look.
Henry sighed. “If you must know, Mother, I felt sorry for her. She’s just lost her father, and she has a mother and young sister to look after. She needs to provide for them all. And she’s not from London. She’s front Kent.”
“The father left them nothing?” She frowned.
“Apparently not or she wouldn’t be looking for employment.”
Theodocia took another bite. “Perhaps I’ll invite her to tea. Welcome her to Norwich. If you’ve no objection.”
“If you like. I’ve no objection,” Henry said.
There was a silence between them for several minutes. The grandfather clock in the hall chimed the hour.
“I don’t imagine being handpicked by a board guardian would be easy for her. She might be the subject of jealousy,” Theodocia remarked.
Henry swallowed before answering. “Surely not. My handpicking her, as you say, might safeguard from abuse.”
“Possibly,” his mother said, tapping a nail against her glass. “But if she’s been singled out by you, and obviously you made the recommendation to approve her as schoolmistress, then that’s quite a bit.”
“I suppose so, Mother. As I said, I felt sorry for her. She seemed quite alone when I met her,” Henry recalled Audrey’s tear-stained face as she stood before him in Green Park that afternoon not so long ago. He had felt a tug of sympathy for her then and had wanted to help her
“You have a good heart, Henry. Much like your father in that regard.”