Orphan Train Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 4 Read online

Sophie protested no further. She had no wish to hurry him on his way. She had never enjoyed such a moment of bliss as she listened to him discretely explain who the various people were as they passed them. He entertained her with amusing anecdotes about the people she had only heard tell of prior. She would have enjoyed walking on his arm even if they had walked for miles. But even though the room had seemed vast when she had first stepped foot into it, and even though he had gone the longest way around possible, long before she was ready for it to be over, they arrived at her table. She introduced him politely to her friends and colleagues. Mr. Brace had cast her a quizzical glance but didn’t comment until Mr. Rexford was far enough away, after Sophie had taken her seat next to him.

  “How does it happen that Renton Rexford the Third was escorting you to our table, Sophie, my dear?”

  Shaking her head and shrugging lightly, she tried to answer. “I have no idea, Mr. Brace. It seemed to happen quite by accident.”

  He looked torn between worry for her and glee, which caused Sophie to wrinkle her nose at him. Mr. Brace laughed. “Be very careful, my dear girl, but maybe you can encourage them to open their purse strings a little bit further.”

  Grinning but shaking her head, Sophie turned her attention to the rest of the table. Everyone looked so nice. Nothing like their usual, serviceable clothing. Even their facial expressions looked different. Mrs. Parker, usually so prim and anxious, with about ten things too many to accomplish in any given moment, looked relaxed for the first time in Sophie’s memory.

  “Have you been to one of Mrs. Rexford’s gatherings before?” Sophie asked, hoping to divert attention away from her arrival on Mr. Rexford’s escort.

  “Yes, once before. You are in for a treat, Sophie. The food will far surpass anything you have ever tasted. Definitely far better than anything we can ever produce from our kitchens.”

  “Maybe we could ask Mrs. Rexford to give us some tips.”

  Mrs. Parker laughed but shook her head at Sophie. “You are such a dreamer, my dear.”

  Sophie blinked in surprise, wondering why she would react in that way. Before she could question Mrs. Parker, though, someone began ringing a bell. Looking all the way down to the end of the room and seeing a man preparing to make some announcements, Sophie realized that their table was the furthest away from any action. They most likely wouldn’t be able to hear much of what was about to be said. She didn’t allow it to bother her though. If she couldn’t hear, no one could expect her to pay attention, she thought with an impish feeling. All the better to be able to take the time to gaze about at the beautiful room.

  As she thought about that first encounter, Sophie remembered that she had looked around at the stunning architecture and chandeliers as well as the well dressed people nearby. But again and again, her eyes were drawn to the handsome man standing beside his mother, looking serious, and delicious, and approachable. Sophie giggled at the thought, even though she knew she shouldn’t even be thinking about the man. But despite who he was and how good looking he was, he really was an approachable person. It was one of the things she liked best about him.

  With a shake of her head, she pushed the thoughts away. It mattered very little. There was nothing to be done about it. He would have to accept her disinterest. And if he didn’t, it mattered even less, since she would be getting on the train in a little over a week and would then be gone for at least a month.

  Maybe she ought to take Katie and Melanie up on their offer to stay with them in Bucklin, Missouri after they escort the shipment of orphans to their new lives. No one could argue that she didn’t need a fresh start. But what little a life she had was here in New York City. She didn’t know if she was brave enough to start over from scratch like those two were planning. She had already done that more than once in her short life. It had been forced upon her before. Sophie didn’t think she would voluntarily choose to uproot and start over even if it held a certain appeal.

  Living at the Foundling Hospital wasn’t the most prosperous life available, that was for certain, but it was the life she had and knew, and well, loved. It was as though she had scores of younger siblings. And she felt as though she were making a difference in their little lives, helping them to adjust to their new circumstances, whether they were newly orphaned or just newly off the street.

  She had been one of Mr. Brace’s earliest achievements, he was often telling her. When he opened the Foundling Hospital, she was the first girl he had admitted. And she had stuck. Making herself as helpful as possible had ensured security for herself. Now that she was nineteen, she was trying to convince herself she didn’t have to be quite so insecure about her future, but in some ways it felt less secure than ever. Mr. Brace would never turn out one of the children. But since she was no longer a child, she was fearful that he might no longer have a place for her. His suggestions of arranging an apprenticeship for her were probably well intended, and she ought to take him up on it, but she truly just wanted to stay safely tucked up in the attics of the Foundling Hospital. Is that really too much to ask?

  Her restless musings had kept her company all the way back, and she was surprised to find herself already home. She looked up at the imposing building, attempting to be unbiased as she gazed at it. She wondered if others would think it ugly and stark. But she couldn’t; she was completely biased. She loved this place with her whole heart. It was the most stable home she could remember ever having. Her mother’s stories of their prestigious background were most likely fairy tales, since she couldn’t remember anything before they found themselves destitute and alone on the meaner side of the city before her mother got sick. Her poor, sweet mother. Mama had never ceased promising that Papa would return for them, but when she died, all her stories went with her. Sophie didn’t have time for fairy tales. She would rather accomplish something practical and have food in her belly and a warm, dry place to sleep, thank you very much.

  ‘Stop dawdling, girl,’ she could almost hear Cook bellowing at her. Sophie needed to get her prize down to the kitchen so it could be dealt with before the next meal. She hurried around to the back of the building to enter there before running up to her room to wash her face and hands.

  “Were you accosted on your way back?” Cook demanded as he eyed the half full sack.

  Sophie smiled at his obvious attempt to make light. “No, the bakery overestimated their generosity, I think. This was all there was when I got there.”

  “Humph. We should have gone last night. He probably sold off some of his stale stock as fresh to some poor, unsuspecting customer.”

  Sophie wanted to shrug but merely nodded in agreement.

  “Well, never mind, we’ll just cut them in half,” Cook declared.

  Sophie laughed. “That’s what I figured.”

  “What are you doing still standing here? Go get washed up. I’m going to need you to do the slicing. You’re the only one who will make sure there’s no fighting.”

  Sophie laughed again. “Yes, I’ll be sure to make the cuts even.” She hurried to the door, calling over her shoulder as she went. “I’ll be as quick as a bunny.”

  The grumpy overseer of the kitchens barely cracked a smile at her as she rushed away. Sophie didn’t care. The man was her family. She had known him since she had arrived at the age of ten. She actually loved his gruff grumpiness. It never wavered. It gave her a sense of security. She never had to wonder what mood he would be in. His growl was almost comforting. It was home.

  With a grin, Sophie ran up the stairs to her room. Within moments she had washed her face and hands and was back in the kitchen with an apron on, a sharp knife in her hand, and a pile of sliced doughnuts growing beside her.

  Chapter Two

  R enton stared at the urchin holding the door. “What do you mean she’s too busy to come to the door? Did you tell her my name?”

  When the child nodded vigorously, Renton asked suspiciously, “Are you sure?”

  “I’m surer than sure, sir. Mr. Renton Rexfor
d the Third, you said, sir, and that’s what I said. But she said she can’t come to the door.” The child shrugged. “Nothing I can do about that, mister.”

  There was nothing Renton could do either. It was most peculiar. This was the third day in a row that Sophie had brushed him off. The first day, he had at least seen her as she was rushing off to do some sort of errand, but for the last two days, when he had knocked at the door, she had refused to see him. He knew she was always kept busy with her work here at the orphanage, but it wasn’t like her to refuse to so much as greet him. She’s never been this busy before, he grumbled to himself, while he wondered if she had lost interest in him and was being too kind to tell him so. Not that it’s really a kindness to keep me dangling on a string, he grumbled some more. No, he thought, she is far too forthright for that. She would have the honesty to tell him if she didn’t want him calling on her anymore, he was sure of it.

  Standing on the sidewalk, staring up at the unimpressive, large building, Renton wrinkled his nose. Perhaps he ought to volunteer there in order to lift some of the burden from her slim shoulders. Surely if they had more help, Sophie wouldn’t be too busy for him. With a nod, he set off for his parents’ house. His mother would know who he needed to talk to. She was always involved in some form of fundraising for the various charities that were her pet projects. He knew the Foundling Hospital was one of them. That was how he had met Sophie in the first place.

  Thus decided, his steps were lighter, and he whistled a merry tune as he turned toward his mother’s house with long, purposeful strides. Glancing at his timepiece, he wagered he would be able to catch her having her tea before she left for her calls.

  As he walked toward his mother’s house, Renton thought about the last time he had spent time with Sophie. They had been “conveniently” running into each other at least once or twice a week ever since the fundraiser four months ago. Each time he got to spend time with her, he would make sure to ascertain what her schedule was for the upcoming days and make sure he was on the same street or attending the same event. She had been participating in some of the fundraising efforts for the orphanage so that had made it even easier to be with her. It had been just such an event, organized by his mother, at which he had seen her the week before.

  She had looked stunning, as usual, as she scurried around doing his mother’s bidding, finishing up the myriad last minute details that his mother always left undone. Renton had been amazed at Sophie’s patience with his mother’s constant dictates. When he had commented about it to Sophie, all she had done was smile serenely. “I’m willing to do just about anything for the orphanage, Renton, surely you realize that. Fetching a few things for your mother is really nothing for me to object to. She does so much good for the children. I can only be grateful to her.”

  Renton couldn’t really argue with her reasoning but finally, halfway through the evening, he had insisted she had done enough. “My mother has actual paid staff, Sophie. They can look after things for the rest of the evening. Come dance with me. You are looking far too pretty to be wasting your time back here in the kitchens.”

  The way she had blushed and stammered and then spent the rest of the evening by his side had made Renton think she was just as happy in his company as he was in hers, but the way she was now avoiding him was making him wonder if he had somehow offended her. His chest felt tight at the thought. Meeting her this winter had been the best thing that ever happened to him. He had to get to the bottom of her changed behavior.

  He tried to think over every detail of that last evening. They had discussed some of Wordsworth’s poems as well as Alexandre Dumas’ latest book. Renton always enjoyed listening to her enthusiastic descriptions of her favorite bits when they’d both read something. He would rather hear her describe the book than read it himself. Her interesting way of elaborating on it was far better than what his own imagination could conjure. They’d also had a rather heated discussion about the Baltimore Female College that had just opened a few years ago in order to educate teachers. It was not that he didn’t think she was capable of doing the studies, far from it, he just didn’t want her going away for such a long time. He thought he had made that clear. But maybe after she thought about it afterward she had decided he was too wrongheaded for her to deal with.

  Renton shook his head. Sophie would have the courage to tell him to his face if she thought he was wrong; he was sure of it. But what could it be? She had seemed so happy that night. There was no indication of anything that would lead her to severing contact with him. Maybe he was reading too much into her refusal to see him that morning. Maybe she really was just too busy to come to the door.

  The walk from the orphanage to his mother’s house was further than he had anticipated, but the time passed quickly as he thought more about that night. The only time he had seen Sophie’s smile dim was as she had taken leave of his mother. Renton had been caught up in a conversation with a business associate so he had not accompanied Sophie as she went to speak with her hostess. He found it hard to believe his mother would have reprimanded Sophie for not continuing to run about for her all evening. Sophie had already done so much before Renton had whisked her away to the dance floor. But Renton knew his mother didn’t always consider people to be her equal. She could be a little snobby at times, thinking those of less means were also of less worth. But no, his mother surely wouldn’t have said anything untoward to Sophie. Sophie was such a darling, no one could have anything less than kind to say to her.

  Upon arrival at his parents’ home, Renton had been right in his assessment of his mother’s whereabouts. He asked for her when the door was opened by one of her maids.

  “She’s just having her tea, sir. I’m sure she’ll be glad to see you. Would you like me to take your coat?”

  “Thank you,” he answered, distracted by the fact that he couldn’t remember her name.

  She smiled politely and led him to his mother’s parlour. “Your son is here to see you, ma’am.”

  “Renton, darling, what a wonderful surprise. Bring a fresh pot and another cup, Maisie,” she called out as the maid was leaving. Maisie didn’t bother answering, she just dipped a small curtsy and hurried away to do Mrs. Rexford’s bidding.

  “Good morning, Mother. How are you today? I’m glad I found you at home.”

  “I’m even better than I was now that you have arrived,” his mother answered coyly and he strove not to roll his eyes.

  There was an awkward silence wherein his mother must have realized she had gone a little far. She quickly asked, “To what do I owe the pleasure of having you arrive unannounced and unsummoned?”

  Now Renton really did roll is eyes. But his mother was right, he pretty much never visited anymore without a summons. After his disrespectful eye roll, his face creased into a grin. It wasn’t possible to remain serious with his mother.

  “I need some information, and I am certain you are the best one to ask.”

  “Really?” Her eyes sparkled at his words. “How can I help you?”

  “I want to volunteer at the Foundling Hospital. With whom should I speak in order to make the arrangements?”

  He would have laughed at the shocked look on her face if he wasn’t so serious about needing access to the Hospital, and therefore access to Sophie.

  “I don’t understand your question, my son,” she began carefully. “Do you wish to make a donation?”

  “No, I am certain our family donates quite enough. I would like to actually do some work there. Surely they accept volunteer help.” He was becoming frustrated with her lack of understanding.

  “But why? We help with donations. We don’t actually go there.”

  Renton had always suspected this was her attitude but was surprised to hear her actually express it. “Now I have to confess that I don’t understand. Why wouldn’t you want to go there? Are you not always talking about how much you help the less fortunate in the city?”

  “Well of course we help. We just don’t
do it in person. That is for others to do, Renton. Surely you are too busy and too important to go down there. It is so very dirty and vulgar.”

  “Mother, I am shocked by your reaction. Haven’t you ever wanted to see for yourself what you’re involved in with your charities?”

  His mother let out a tinkling laugh that Renton had the sinking suspicion was less than sincere. “Not at all, my son. Our family has been very fortunate, so we share that with others. That doesn’t mean we need to get personal about it.”

  Renton blinked. While he had occasionally suspected his mother was shallow in her interests, he had never realized she was so very insincere in her charitable works. “Well, I want to get personal about it,” Renton insisted.

  “This is about that girl, isn’t it?” his mother demanded shrewdly. “She told you what I said, didn’t she?”

  Feeling all the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, Renton demanded, “What girl? Sophie? What did you say to her?”

  He saw a flash of discomfort cross her face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she tried to prevaricate.

  Renton sighed. “You said, and I quote, ‘she told you what I said, didn’t she’. Was the she you are referring to Sophie? What did you say to her?”

  “I don’t care for your tone, Renton Rexford. I am your mother.”

  “Yes, you are my mother, but I am a grown man. You cannot control my life any longer, Mother. Now, respectfully, tell me what you said to her.”

  His mother narrowed her eyes at him while looking down her nose as haughtily as she could manage. “I think it is time for you to leave, Son. I have things to attend to.”

  Renton sighed again. Clearly, he wasn’t going to get anywhere with her in this mood. But he now really knew enough. It was obvious she had said something off putting to Sophie, which was why she would no longer walk with him comfortably. He needed to get himself inside the Foundling Hospital. If he could make Sophie see him as a real companion rather than his mother’s son, he had a much better chance of getting somewhere with her. Or at least he hoped so. His stomach clenched at the thought of losing her affections. He had to do something.