Page 40 (1/2)

Mrs March, in a burgundy dress with evenfor her downstairs, her shoulders back and her face rigid with disapproval “Miss Greentree,” she said “Did you invite this street urchin into Mr Tremaine’s home?”

“Her name is Rosie, Mrs March, and she’s not a street urchin”

“She certainly isn’t the sort of child I a in my house”

“But this isn’t your house, is it, Mrs March?”

Her expression faltered, the frigid wall slipped, and for a e Aher eh the skin on either side of her mouth whitened

“The master trustsmy orders obeyed” She looked up, and her eyes had a shine to theht have been spite, or triumph, as she played her final card “Your uncle will take my side, Miss Greentree, you can be certain of that”

Francesca kneith a hollow, sick feeling, that she was right Uncle Williaood name, wouldn’t abide someone like Rosie in his house Especially when it was explained to him that his niece had virtually kidnapped her from outside a child brothel It would be yet another fault to lay at Amy’s door, and Francesca knew she couldn’t allow hershe hadn’t done, as she would to protect her daughter

Francesca had no choice She’d have to ba

ck down if she was to save Rosie and A, wasn’t it? Mrs March could crow all she liked, as long as Rosie was safe

“I’ll have to tell hi, pleased with herself,the most of her power “The master will have to know He’ll insist on it”

“Mrs March, please wait…” Francesca su smile “There’s no need to mention this to my uncle I understand your concern coo elsewhere”

Mrs March hesitated “I don’t like to keep secrets from the master”

“Yes, but on this occasion I’ood You kno upset he gets, Mrs March”

Her cold eyes gleamed with malice “I kno upset he would be with you, Miss Greentree, for bringing a guttersnipe into his house”

“Yes, you’re right,” Francesca said levelly, while her blood cary with you, too My uncle will think you have failed in your duty by allowing the child into his house in the first place”