New World, New Love by Rosalind Laker

Author:Rosalind Laker [Laker, Rosalind]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance, Fiction, General, Historical
ISBN: 9781842835678
Google: 88BoPAAACAAJ
Amazon: B008JXCCHO
Barnesnoble: B008JXCCHO
Goodreads: 1406262
Publisher: Soundings
Published: 2002-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Eleven

Daniel had been out already in his search for Delphine when Louise came downstairs soon after eight o’clock, having been given an early breakfast in bed. The housekeeper had lent her a clock and she was ready to start on her mission. Daniel was in the dining room, marking a map of Boston spread out on the dining-room table, when he heard her footsteps come tapping down the stairs. As he went into the hall to greet her, she had just reached the lowest tread, her hand on the newel post.

‘Good morning, Louise! I hope you’re well rested.’ Then he saw that the servant following her was carrying her valise. ‘What’s this? You’re not leaving?’

Louise gave a nod. ‘You’ve been very kind and I can’t thank you enough, but Mrs Carter has told me of a small hotel where I can stay and my baggage is to be taken there now. I shall go later, but I want to start looking for Delphine without delay.’

‘But you can stay on here until she’s found!’ he protested.

‘You’ve been very hospitable, but I have made my arrangements.’

He knew by the slight setting of her chin that nothing would make her change her mind. Exasperated, he spoke more sharply than he had intended. ‘Then, before you go, come and look at a map I have of the city. It will help you to get your bearings.’

Louise followed him into the dining room and leaned over the map. ‘Where are we now?’ she asked.

‘This is Beacon Hill and here is my house.’ He indicated the spot. ‘The crosses I’ve made show where the homeless and destitute gather.’ His finger traced its way along a route. ‘Now, this street leads to the State House. Then State Street takes you past my office building, which is not far from the Long Wharf, where my cargoes of silk are shipped in. Now, over here is the Faneuil Hall, another landmark if you should miss your way. In all these areas there are always plenty of people, which makes it a profitable area in which to beg. As you see, I’ve marked out three other streets too. And on this corner,’ he added, indicating an inked cross near the wharfs, ‘there’s a charity soup kitchen. A handout of bread and hot soup takes place all the year round at nine o’clock every evening.’

‘I can scarcely believe yet that my sister, with her pride and fastidiousness, has been reduced to such hardship.’

Out of the corner of his eye, Daniel saw her hand clench on the table. Glancing up, he met with compassion the bleakness of her expression. ‘I’m sorry you have to face up to this situation, but from the description of the state Delphine was in, it’s most likely that she had already been reduced to these circumstances before she even reached Boston.’

‘I realize that. What frightens me so much is the thought of what might have happened to her on that journey, as well as what she may be enduring now.

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