“I-I have to – I have to run away – so please – please let me work for you – but no one – no one must ever know where I am.”
“I have already given you my promise,” the Earl said, “but I suppose you would not like to tell me why you are running away from your stepfather?”
Ivana shook her head.
“I don’t want to – speak of it to anyone – but I have to hide and – if you will not employ me – I must go back to Mrs. Hill – but she told me she had – nothing at all suitable for me on her books.”
There was silence.
Then, because she was desperate, Ivana carried on,
“Please – please help me – if you knew Papa, you would know that he would tell me I was doing the ‒ right thing in asking you for your help, my Lord.”
The Earl smiled.
“You are making it difficult, Miss Sherard, for me to refuse y
