Chapter 42 - Forty Two
The weekend arrived with a heavy sense of dread for some and anticipation for others. The grand Ellington carriage looked entirely out of place as it came to a stop in front of a simple, clean, but undeniably humble building on the outskirts of the city. As Augusta stepped down onto the dusty road, the driver and footman worked together to carefully place Baron Henry into a wheelchair.
They looked up at the faded wooden sign hanging above the door: "The Needy Orphanage."
Henry turned to his wife, his face a mask of confusion. "Are we in the right place, Augusta?" he asked, his voice weak. "Why would the Duchess want to meet us here?"
They looked around, seeing small groups of children playing in the yard, their laughter bright and cheerful despite their simple, mended clothes. Orphanage staff watched over them with kind, attentive eyes. It was a place of care, but it was a world away from the drawing rooms where such introductions were meant to happen.
Augusta’s lip curled in a subtle sneer. She scanned the yard and saw two elegantly dressed women walking towards them from the main building. "Here they come," she said, her voice tight. She placed her hands on Henry’s wheelchair handles and began to push him forward.
The Duchess and the Dowager Duchess, Eric’s grandmother, walked towards them with graceful, unhurried steps. The Dowager Duchess, a woman with kind demeanor and an air of authority, greeted them first.
"Oh, you’ve made it," she said with a warm smile. "We are so glad you could come."
Augusta and Henry both inclined their heads in a respectful bow. "Your Grace," they said in unison.
Lyra, Eric’s mother, spoke next. "Thank you for coming all this way," she said, her gaze polite but assessing.