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

Chapter 7

Within an hour or so, Emery had quickly been adopted by a few of the boys within the Foundling House. He was about their age, and coming from the streets, his stories were fascinating to the few who had been staying in the House for over a year. Charlotte had walked him around the house with Fiona, and then left him under the care of the governess before she headed for her own private study, after asking Marian to ask Fletcher to meet her there. She had to get some of the accounts sorted with the addition of a new charge, and Fletcher would be the best person to help her.

A sharp rap on her door signaled his arrival, and she smiled as the handsome steward walked in, ready with his files and folders which he placed on her working desk. She shared the office with Elle in truth, but lately ever since Elle had progressed in her pregnancy, Charlotte found herself running the show mostly.

"Would Emery's addition prove much of a problem, Mister Chase?" she asked briskly, picking up the folder and perching on the table to peruse it.

Fletcher shook his head, coming closer to point at a few figures on the paper. "Not by much. We've always accounted for extra, especially since young Gideon and Alex started their growth spurt and eats enough to feed a family of four. Emery is young still, so we're good."

"How about the trip to the zoo in a month's time? Can he go with them at such short notice?"

"I'll work it out with Fiona and Marian, but if I join the trip, we should have enough eyes to watch out for all of them." he replied.

Happily, Charlotte nodded and gave a grin at him that showed her obvious relief. "I wouldn't know what I would do without you, Mister Chase." The polite steward smiled, and took a step back, much to Charlotte's surprise. "What's the matter?"

Surprise flashed in his face. "Oh, I thought with Mister Chadwick around, I should-"

"Why?" she cut in, frowning with distaste at the memory of Lionel's past rudeness. "Please, ignore him Mister Chase. Disregard his words. Know that your help around the Foundling House is very much appreciated."

She didn't miss the slight flush that erupted on his cheeks at her praise. Charlotte had her suspicions on what Fletcher Chase felt for her, but was she wrong in attempting to extricate herself from her own feelings for the one man who didn't want her anyway? Besides, she had an easy-going friendship with the steward, and neither was she want for a favorable or money-making match. Fabian would provide for her enough for her to be comfortable, and it wasn't as if Fletcher's family was impoverished.

With those thoughts in her mind, she moved forward and gently lay a hand on his arm, smiling when he looked at the contact in surprise. "Come, escort me to lunch, it should be ready about now."

---

He had occupied himself getting to know the few children who had curiously came up to him, once he had freshened himself up in a room Charlotte had instructed him to be brought to. After hours in a carriage, the quick bath was appreciated, and in no time at all once he stepped out of the room, curious eyes followed his way to the main dining hall, where the governess had informed the noon meal would be laid out.

Throwing a look over his shoulder, he smiled when he saw the dusty faced of Emery with two other boys above him, peering curiously at him.

"Emery, do you want to introduce your new friends to me?"

The boys all but stumbled over each other to get to him first, standing in a line before him with their hands behind. Lionel had to hide his chuckle at how seemingly innocent they could be, yet the scuffs on their pants and dirt that streaked their arms proved that they were probably rough housing with each other not too long ago.