Chapter 14

14

2023

Jonas strode down the museum hallway and looked into Janelle's office. He didn't find her working at her desk, so he walked next door and knocked.

"Come in," Janelle called.

Unease tightened his stomach as he opened the door and stepped inside. He'd been putting off this conversation, but he couldn't wait any longer.

Janelle looked up and greeted him with a smile. "Hi. I didn't expect to see you this morning. I thought you had an appointment."

He nodded, feeling the weight of his concern. "I did, but I postponed it. I need to talk to you."

Her smile dimmed. "Is something wrong?"

"I want to discuss some information we found when we were researching the history of the Foundling Hospital."

"Of course. Please, sit down."

He took a seat. "The other night, Howie and I were looking online, and we found excerpts from an old newspaper article that stated an eight-year-old girl disappeared from the Foundling Hospital. Later, it was discovered she'd been sold to work in a brothel."

Janelle's eyes widened. "What? Where did you read that?"

"It was part of a series published in the Pall Mall Gazette in 1885 to expose the abduction and trafficking of girls and young women in Victorian London."

"Trafficking of girls ... from the Foundling Hospital?"

"Yes ... I take it you're not aware of it?"

She started to answer, then frowned and bit her lip. "A few months ago, there was an archivist here from Canada. I overheard her talking to Amanda about an incident in the late 1800s when a young girl disappeared."

"How did Amanda explain it?"

"She said the girl ran away, and she was later found and returned to her family."

Jonas studied her a moment more. "That's all?"

"Yes. She didn't say anything about her being sold or taken to a brothel. That's dreadful. How could anyone on our staff do such a terrible thing?"

"We're not talking about the current staff. This happened more than one hundred years ago. Still, I'd like to know if those responsible for selling the girls were held accountable and brought to justice."

She stared at him.

"So you've never heard anything else about this?" He couldn't keep the doubt out of his voice.

Hurt flashed across her face. "No, I promise you, I haven't."

He eased back. She was obviously telling the truth and deeply disturbed by what he'd told her.

Janelle shook her head. "The Foundling Hospital has always been a refuge for vulnerable children. How could this be true?"

A pang of regret shot through him. What if he was wrong about this? "There is a possibility it might not have happened as it was reported, but we won't know until we do some more research."

"Maybe the Gazette was one of those newspapers that published sensational stories that were more fiction than fact."

"That's what Howie said too." He tapped on his phone and opened his email. "I'll send you the link so you can read the excerpts yourself."

Her laptop dinged. She opened the message, and her gaze darted across the screen. Emotion flickered in her eyes, and her expression grew more intense. "This is ... unbelievable."

He slipped his phone in his pocket. "It doesn't seem to fit with the rest of the Foundling Hospital's history."

She looked up and met his gaze. "It's my responsibility to understand our history and portray it honestly. If this is true, I can't sweep it under the rug."

"We won't know until we do some more research."

She sent him a questioning look. "You want to help me?"

"I'm curious to know the rest of the story. It might impact the film."

She gave a thoughtful nod. "Someone at the London Metropolitan Archives might be able to help us find more information." She reached for her phone. "Let me talk to them and see if we can arrange to meet with one of the archivists who is familiar with our records."

"Could you ask if they have copies of the Pall Mall Gazette from 1885? I'd like to read the rest of that article and the others in the series."

She nodded. "I'll ask."

He watched her as she scrolled through her contacts and tapped in the number. Determination glinted in her blue eyes. She was obviously taking his concerns seriously. That was a relief. What would she do if they discovered the Gazette article was based on facts, and the Foundling Hospital did have such a dark chapter in its past?

Janelle leaned closer to the computer, scanning the words of the second Pall Mall Gazette article. She pulled in a breath through clenched teeth. How could this have happened? She'd thought such horrors only occurred in contemporary times, but it seemed evil people had been carrying out those same schemes in the Victorian era.

"We'll be closing in ten minutes." Martha Fitzgerald, a sixty-something archivist at the London Metropolitan Archives, stepped up beside Jonas. "Can I help you with anything else before you go?"

Jonas glanced at his watch. "I didn't realize the time."

They'd spent the last two hours looking at 1885 Foundling Hospital records and then reading the first two articles in the series The Maiden Tribute to Modern Babylon .

Janelle had been surprised to see the initial article covered six pages. What she'd read had stirred her disgust and anger, and she could only imagine how it must have shocked readers in the Victorian era, when morality and propriety were highly held virtues. Had Queen Victoria and members of her court read the series? If so, how had they responded when they learned what was happening only a few miles from the palace?

Janelle turned to Martha. "Can you tell us if the Gazette was a respected periodical? I know some newspapers liked to embellish their stories. Should we believe what they reported?"

Martha thought for a moment. "I believe the Gazette was a reputable and influential newspaper. It was one of the first to use investigative journalism techniques to confront the social issues of the day. Their coverage helped change the course of society and law."

Janelle released a deep breath. So much for the idea they had fabricated the story to boost circulation. With such lengthy articles and impassioned reporting, she'd suspected the information was most likely accurate.

She looked up at Martha. "The article said the young women and girls mentioned were given fictitious names. Is there any way to find out who they were and learn more about them?"

Jonas turned in his chair. "We'd like to confirm if any of them were taken from the Foundling Hospital."

Janelle cringed, wishing he hadn't given that bit of information. Protecting the reputation of the Foundling Hospital and museum was important, but she supposed they had to be honest if they were going to find the answers they were seeking.

Martha's brow creased. "I can speak to one of my colleagues. Charles Knowles is familiar with the Foundling Hospital records. Perhaps he can find what you're looking for."

"We appreciate your help. Thank you." Janelle reached in her handbag and took out her card. "That has my contact information at the museum. You or Mr. Knowles can phone, text, or email me there."

Martha nodded. "Charles loves a good mystery. This is just the type of inquiry he enjoys. It may take some time, but I'll ask him to get back to you with whatever he learns."

Jonas took out his card. "I'd like to be informed as well. We're eager to learn more about the connection between the Foundling Hospital and this series in the Gazette ."

Janelle swallowed, hoping she'd made the right choice bringing Jonas and telling the archivist why they were seeking the information.

Martha nodded. "Of course. I'll let him know you'd both like that information."

Jonas turned to Martha. "We know there were at least four articles in this series, maybe more. But I only see the first two listed in your system. Is there some way to access the others?"

"I can check on that as well."

"Thanks. Is it possible for us to download these two articles?"

"Yes. You can copy the link, then sign in and access or download them whenever you'd like."

Janelle rose and thanked Martha while Jonas took a photo of the link with his phone. Then he stood and turned to Janelle. "Ready to go?"

She nodded and picked up her handbag. A slight headache throbbed at her temple, and she rubbed her forehead.

He studied her for a moment. "Are you all right?"

She sighed. "I've got a headache."

He sent her a compassionate glance. "Sorry. I know those articles weren't easy reading."

"No, they weren't. At least they didn't mention the Foundling Hospital in the first two articles, but reading all that was going on and knowing some of our girls might have been taken breaks my heart."

He slipped his arm around her shoulders and gave her a gentle squeeze. "I admire you for being willing to look into it."

She nodded, but she couldn't stop the painful wave of disappointment rising from her heart. "I've always believed the Foundling Hospital saved children's lives. I've been proud of our history and what we've accomplished. But if it's true that members of our staff sold young girls into such horrible situations ... what does that say about the museum and my work there? Am I promoting an organization that victimized children?" She shuddered and crossed her arms.

"Hey, that was a long time ago. Let's hope the people responsible were arrested and jailed."

"I hope you're right. But I won't stop looking until I know all the facts."

"Are you going to speak to Amanda?"

A thread of worry tugged at her heart. Did her boss know the full story? If she did, had she purposely hidden the facts from that visiting curator? She shifted her gaze back to Jonas. "I'd like to read the rest of those articles before I talk to Amanda."

He turned toward her. "Even if it's true, that doesn't negate the good that was done for thousands of other children—in the past or the present."

She nodded, hoping Jonas was right. She shouldn't expect the Foundling Hospital history to be spotless with no hint of selfishness or sin. They lived in a broken world, and God had given people free will. They could choose to follow Him and live a life guided by His principles of love and justice, or they could chase after their own sinful and selfish desires.

Still, she couldn't help wondering how many girls had been hurt by the irresponsible actions of Foundling Hospital staff and how widespread the impact might be. She must find out what had happened to those girls.

Janelle turned her office chair toward the window as she listened to Amanda's update from the hospital. The twins were eighteen days old and still in the NICU, with multiple issues arising every day.

"Chloe gained two ounces, but Sophia is not gaining." Anxiety filled Amanda's voice. "She's tiny ... and I'm just so worried about her."

"I'm sorry, Amanda. That must feel like you're riding a roller coaster the way their condition changes from day to day."

"It actually changes from hour to hour." She released a weary sigh.

Concern tightened Janelle's shoulders, and she shifted the phone to her other ear. This was not the time to ask Amanda what she knew about the girls who had been taken from the Foundling Hospital in 1885. Once the twins improved and she and Jonas had more information, she'd speak to Amanda and let her know what they'd found.

Janelle pulled in a deep breath. "How are you feeling? I hope you're still able to get some rest."

"I spend most of every day at the hospital, watching over one baby and then the other. There are only a few things they let me do to help care for them. Still, I want to be there as much as possible. When we go home at night, we grab something to eat and then fall into bed, but it's hard to sleep. I keep thinking about the girls and wondering what's happening at the hospital. I hate being separated from them. The next morning, we shower, dress, grab breakfast, and head back to the NICU."

"How's Wesley holding up?"

"He's been my rock. I don't know how I could go through something like this without him. You should see him hovering over the girls. He talks to them and sings. It makes my heart melt."

Janelle smiled. It was hard to imagine Wesley, a studious editor for a scientific journal, singing to his premature twin daughters, but knowing that he did warmed her heart.

Amanda yawned. "How is everything there?"

"Here?" Janelle shifted in her chair, debating her answer. The museum was open, and the programs were up and running. She wouldn't mention Iris was upset with Claudine for not telling her about an extra tour that had been added at the last minute yesterday, leaving her without enough volunteers to cover the welcome desk. Or that Michael had requested more time off to help his mother move, which put them behind schedule on setting up the next exhibit. Those were matters Janelle could handle.

She forced confidence into her voice. "Everything is rolling along."

"Have you heard anything from the man who's making the film for the gala?"

Janelle paused, considering her answer. "Yes, he's been at the museum several times. I showed him how to access our historical records. He's been looking through those and photographing some of the artifacts. He has some solid ideas for the contemporary portion of the film, but he's still searching for the best way to weave in our history."

"Has he started filming?"

"He and his assistant filmed a couple of the children's art classes."

"I hope they got permission from the parents and guardians."

"Yes, I made sure they did."

"Good." Amanda was quiet for a few seconds. "This project is a big investment. It had better pay off."

"I think it will."

"I hope so. If we don't see an increase in donations by the end of the year, we may have to consider cutting some staff positions and programs."

Janelle's stomach plunged. That was the last thing she wanted to do. "I don't think it will come to that. Jonas showed me some of the other films he's made. They all look very impressive."

"Oh ... It's Jonas, is it?"

Janelle could hear the lift in Amanda's voice, and her cheeks warmed.

"Is there something you want to tell me about ... Jonas? I know he's single. Has he asked you out?"

"Amanda!"

"What? I told you how things progressed when Wesley and I were dating."

Janelle thought for a moment. "Well ... we've shared a couple dinners after working on historical research for the film, but I wouldn't say we've gone on a date."

"Sharing dinners sounds very close to dating. Keep me in the loop. That's just what I need to take my mind off what's happening in the NICU."

Janelle shook her head. "You must be desperate for a distraction if you think my sorry love life is going to keep your mind occupied."

Amanda paused. "Don't let what happened with that dreadful guy Marcus discourage you." She softened her voice. "The right man will come your way in time. Maybe he already has. You just need to be patient and keep an open mind."

Heat flooded Janelle's face. She'd enjoyed the time she'd spent with Jonas, but she'd held back, not wanting to misjudge his actions and make another mistake. Was he truly interested in her, or did he only consider her someone to share dinner with so he didn't have to eat alone?

He had slipped his arm around her shoulders after they read those dreadful articles at the London Metropolitan Archives, and he'd prayed for her when they'd shared Chinese food at the park. Those seemed to be the actions of a caring friend. Was that all she wanted, or was she ready to risk her heart once more?

Maybe it was time she let go of the past and looked to the future with an open mind ... and an open heart.