Chapter 15

Chapter 15

As the carriage rattled along the cobblestones, Daniel could not help but smile at Isabella. "Thank you for inviting me to come to the orphanage with you tonight. It has been a while since I was last here."

Isabella blushed and smiled. "I like to visit as often as I can."

"Eileen spoke highly of you in her letter to me. You must have been a great worker there."

"Thank you…that is very kind."

The carriage came to a gentle halt in front of the orphanage, and before Daniel could even step down, the front door burst open, and a chorus of excited voices filled the air.

" Isabella! Isabella is here!"

The children's cries were filled with joy as they rushed forward, their faces alight with happiness.

Isabella's face lit up as she stepped down from the carriage, and the children surrounded her, tugging at her skirts and reaching up for hugs. Daniel watched with a smile, his heart warming at the sight. Isabella knelt down, embracing the children and listening intently as they chattered away, each one vying for her attention.

" Isabella, look at the drawing I made!"

" Isabella, we have been practicing the song you taught us!"

" Isabella, can you tell us a story tonight?"

Daniel stepped down from the carriage, and though the children's attention was primarily on Isabella, a few of them glanced his way, curiosity mingling with their excitement.

"Lord Duncaster!" a little boy exclaimed, his face lighting up. "You are back too!"

"You remember me?" Daniel asked, crouching down to their level.

The children nodded eagerly.

"You read us that story about the brave knight last time!" a girl with curly hair said.

"And you brought us sweets," another child chimed in.

Daniel laughed warmly. "I am glad you remember. It is good to see all of you again."

The children's eyes shone with excitement as they crowded around Daniel, their shyness melting away as they asked questions and showed off their various treasures—a flower, a drawing, a well-loved toy. Daniel listened attentively, responding with genuine interest and warmth.

Eileen Monroe, the head of the orphanage, appeared in the doorway, her face beaming with gratitude.

"Welcome back, Lord Duncaster. And Isabella, it is always a pleasure to see you, my dear."

"Thank you, Mrs. Monroe," Daniel replied, standing and offering a respectful nod. "I am glad to be back."

He instantly knew that Isabella had a lot of respect and love for Eileen, judging by the way that she embraced her, almost as if this were her mother.

"You will be pleased to know, Isabella, that Sarah has actually come to see the children this evening as well. What a wonderful coincidence."

"I did not know Sarah came here." Isabella gasped.

Eileen grinned. "It seems as though you have inspired her. Since coming to visit you while you were here, she has grown quite attached to the children herself."

Isabella's eyes lit up with joy. "That is wonderful to hear. I have missed her terribly."

Eileen ushered them inside, and Daniel followed, taking in the warm, inviting atmosphere of the orphanage. The interior was modest but well-kept, with cheerful drawings adorning the walls and the comforting scent of a home cooked meal lingering in the air.

"Isabella!" Sarah exclaimed, setting a book aside and rising to her feet. The two friends embraced warmly, their happiness palpable.

"Sarah, I did not know you would be here tonight," Isabella said, her voice filled with emotion. "It is so good to see you. What luck that we have the same nights off."

"Something that would never have happened while we worked at Lady Marie's together."

Isabella took a step back. "Sarah, this is Lord Duncaster. He has come to visit the orphanage with me."

"Please, call me Daniel," he interjected with a friendly smile, extending his hand.

Sarah shook his hand warmly as her brows rose. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Daniel. Isabella has spoken very highly of you."

Before he could ask any questions about this, the children asked for him to read them a story, which of course he could not refuse.

Daniel found himself seated on a comfortable arm chair, a group of eager children gathered around him on the floor. He took a well-worn book from a nearby shelf, its cover faded from years of love and use. The children settled in, their eyes wide with anticipation.

"All right, let us see what adventures we can find in here," Daniel said, opening the book to a story about a brave knight and his loyal horse.

As he read, his voice animated and full of emotion, the children were captivated. They gasped at the knight's daring feats and giggled at the clever tricks of his horse. Isabella and Sarah exchanged smiles, their hearts warmed by the sight of the children so engrossed in the tale.

When the story ended, the children clapped and cheered, their faces glowing with joy. Daniel closed the book with a satisfied smile.

"Thank you, Lord Duncaster!" the children chorused, their voices a harmonious blend of gratitude.

"Call me Daniel," he reminded them gently, his heart swelling at their enthusiasm. "It was my pleasure."

As the children dispersed to continue their activities with Sarah and Isabella, Eileen approached Daniel, her face reflecting the contentment that filled the room.

"Thank you, Daniel," she said warmly. "Your visits mean so much to the children."

"It is an honor to be here," Daniel replied sincerely. "These moments are just as precious to me. I know it was my parents who started this ritual, but I would like it to become so much more than a yearly thing. I would like to visit far more often."

Eileen smiled. "Well, then I suppose I have something else to thank you for."

"Something else?"

"I wanted to thank you personally for hiring Isabella. It means the world to me."

"Oh," Daniel replied with a smile. "Well thank you for the recommendation. She has been a wonderful addition to my house hold. I can only assume that her work was good here too."

"She has done more than worked here. She has always been a help. Even when she lived here."

Daniel's eyes widened in shock. She had never mentioned growing up in the orphanage. She had been through much more than he even knew.

"When her parents passed away, she stayed with us and became a part of our family," Eileen continued, not sensing what Daniel was thinking at all. "She is the one orphan who stuck around and truly became a daughter to me."

Daniel was taken aback, a new wave of admiration for Isabella washing over him. He had always known her to be kind and dedicated, but this revelation added a depth to her character that he had not fully appreciated before.

Eileen, seeing the thoughtful look on Daniel's face, smiled gently. "She does not often speak of her past, but it is a testament to her strength and resilience. She has been a blessing to all of us here."

Daniel nodded slowly, absorbing this new perspective. "I had no idea," he admitted. "She has never mentioned it."

"That is Isabella for you," Eileen said warmly. "She does not dwell on the hardships she has faced. Instead, she focuses on making the world a better place for those around her."

Daniel's eyes followed Isabella as she interacted with the children, her laughter ringing out and her eyes shining with genuine joy. He felt a swell of pride and protectiveness toward her, realizing just how remarkable she truly was.

***

You are cordially invited to a Masquerade Ball at the Grand Palace.

Daniel could not stop reading and re reading the invitation for yet another event of the Season as it sat on his desk the following morning.

Only this felt different.

The date was a few weeks away. He had been contemplating attending, both for the sake of maintaining social connections and for a rare evening of leisure. But as his eyes lingered on the invitation, his thoughts wandered to Isabella.

The prospect of the masquerade held a peculiar allure. Masks would conceal identities, making it possible for everyone to interact without the constraints of their social roles. For one night, the rigid lines between lord and maid could blur, revealing a shared humanity beyond their usual positions.

Daniel's mind was consumed by the thought of asking Isabella to accompany him. The idea had been percolating for days, ever since he had noticed the way his feelings for her had grown, turning from mere admiration into something deeper and more personal. A masquerade, he thought, would be the perfect opportunity for them to spend time together outside the confines of the manor's routine, without the barriers of their usual roles.

He imagined her in a beautiful gown, her identity concealed behind a delicate mask, and it stirred a sense of longing within him. The thought of sharing such an intimate and carefree evening with her was both exhilarating and daunting.

It would be the perfect chance for her to live out her dream for a moment.

The perfect chance for them to get a little closer.

He might have risen from his seat and asked her, if he hadn't already had something heavy weighing on his mind. Something he had not shared with anyone, let alone Isabella. But after seeing her with the children the night before at the orphanage, he could not take it from his mind.

The real reason he had not settled down was not only because he could not find a woman who interested him, but because he did not want to disappoint anyone, leaving them without an heir. Because Daniel could not have children of his own.

But should that stop them from having one night of fun? One night together? Was that not thinking too far into a future that could never really be theirs?

Determination surged through Daniel as he finally rose to his feet.

This might be Isabella's only chance to go to a ball and he would not let that slip by.