Choosing Love Over Honor [Agents of the Crown #2]

Chapter 5

Chaos, shouts, screams and laughter were all part and parcel of a day at the Foundling House, and Charlotte loved every bit of it. She had been with Elle ever since her sister-in-law set up the House, just a few months after her marriage to Fabian. Everything from finding her old companions in the East End to take up residence in the House, to hiring the governesses Marian and Fiona to watch the children, Charlotte was right there to do it, so it only made sense for her to oversee the running of the House when Elle was preparing to welcome her first child into the world.

She finished up checking on the schoolroom progress reports compiled by Miss Harris, the new schoolroom teacher to educate all the younger ones upon reaching the age of twelve. While it wasn't much of an education, Elle had wanted all the orphans and street urchins to at least learn to read and write, so they had a better chance at finding good jobs upon growing up. With ten children under their care now, not counting Terry and Freddie as the two seemed to be more errand boys working for the House then they were charges, Charlotte predicted that they would need to hire another teacher soon to deal with numbers and the like, but she'll discuss that with Elle once the duchess had given birth and recovered.

"Ah, Lady Charlotte, there you are. Would you like to go over the figures for the House for the last month with me now? From Her Grace's correspondence to me last, I surmised that you are to run the House until His Grace deems it safe for her to return?"

Turning upon her heels, Charlotte smiled when she was met with the handsome, smiling face of Fletcher Chase. He was the new steward Elle had hired just before her sentence to permanent bedrest, and from the past month he has been working here, Charlotte deduced that he was a very good hire indeed.

A second son of a barrister who had decided to askew the career paths his father and eldest brother had chosen, and instead trained to be a steward in charge of managing finances and looking out for the interests of the household staff hired by Elle. He had been soft spoken and gentle when the duchess had interviewed him, making him ideal for a house full of children who had likely suffered at the hands of the unforgiving upper class, or even their own family. And Fletcher had proven to be a great help, always in the house when he was done with his own chores and paperwork.

Charlotte nodded in agreement, and gestured for them to enter the library not too far from where they stood. The steward followed quickly, leaving the door slightly ajar behind them as they took a seat. He had always been respectful and gentlemanly, far beyond the loutly behaviour she's seen displayed by some of the peerage. Charlotte respected him, but at the same time wondered if there was more then the steward let on upon his gentle behaviour to her. Elle had hinted more then once that Mister Chase often asked upon the well-being on the youngest Rothesay sibling, curiosity that surpassed a normal acquaintance.

Taking the papers handed over to her, Charlotte's eyes skimmed the various figures and their corresponding actions, looking into the management of the place.

"How is Her Grace? She didn't look fine the last time she was here." Fletcher was obviously worried, and Charlotte wasn't surprised. The whole household had been worried, for Elle was a well-loved figure who genuinely cared for all under her care and roof.

"She'll be fine, so long as she stays in bed till the baby is ready to come along. The doctor predicts it to be any day now."

"I assume His Grace is excited?"

"Scared to death, more like." Charlotte laughed, flipping the page. "He is never two steps away from Elle, and is smothering her to pieces."

"The duke loves Her Grace, so I can't say I'm surprised." Fletcher responded with a light chuckle of his own. The love between her brother and his wife was no secret afterall. "What about you, Lady Charlotte?"