“Bessie says that when you’s well Mrs. Banks’ll go back to the Big House and we’ll have nothing to eat.”
“That is not true,” the Earl said firmly.
“I’ll not have a big hole in my tummy again?”
There was an anxious expression in the blue eyes.
“I promise you that will not happen,” the Earl said as firmly as he could.
Wendy’s whole face lit up as if there was a light inside her.
“You promise? ’You weally promise?”
“I – promise!” he said.
She bent forward and kissed him on the cheek.
“Thank you, thank you! And Emma thanks you too!”
She glanced towards the door.
“I must go,” she said, “’cos if Bessie finds me here she’ll be angry and tell Livia.”
“Then – hurry,” the Earl said, “but come and see me – again soon.”
“I will,” Wendy answered.
She walked out of the door and the Earl he
