Chapter Seven

The car pulled up to the Roxton Estate and the driver opened the door for Marguerite, who carried Jude and pulled a sleepy Little John behind her. John carefully picked up Morgan again, but this time she stirred. "Where are we?"

"You're at my home in Avebury for the night. I don't want you going back to the orphanage tonight."

"I'm so sore," Morgan said, putting her arm over his shoulder.

"You had a lot of cuts my dear. Many more than you let on."

"I didn't want to worry anyone…not that I thought someone would care anyways."

"Well, my wife and I care very much. You shouldn't let someone hit you."

"I never let her hit me! Heavens, I've tried to prevent it, but when she locks you in a room with no where to run you really don't have a choice." Morgan's face turned hard, she was angry that Lord Roxton assumed she had just let herself be beaten. That was far from the truth.

"Morgan, I wasn't meaning to imply that you let the Headmistress beat you." Morgan didn't reply. John sighed and carried her into the house. This little girl was full of fire, and fortunately he knew how to deal with that and he knew his wife was an expert with fire. "Marguerite is going to give you a night gown to wear. Tomorrow we'll go into town and get you a proper dress. Can't have you running around in your skivvies now can we?"

"No, sir. And I'm sorry that I back talked you. I just don't like it when people assume things that aren't true. People have made assumptions about me my entire life."

"Well, I won't assume anything about you then."

"Thank you, sir." Morgan dropped some of her shield she had just thrown up. "I'll probably go to another orphanage in London when you drop me off tomorrow. I don't have any material things so it's not hard for me to leave."

"What one?"

"I don't care, just as long as it's better than the one I've been living at. Maybe then I'll find someone who wants a daughter who's mature." John didn't say anything. He really did not want Morgan to go back to the orphanage, but he knew that bringing this girl into this family was ultimately a decision he would make with his wife.

Marguerite put her sons to bed and went to one of the guest's rooms to ready it for Morgan. She grabbed one of her nightgowns and put it on the bed and then turned down the covers. Jessie Challenger had already given Morgan a sponge bath, so the girl who had been rather grimy was clean. John carried Morgan in. "I'll get her changed, John. Would you go make sure the boys are tucked in? Jude was asking for you."

"Yes dear, I will." He set Morgan down on the bed and went out of the room. Marguerite took off the girl's dirty clothes and put the fresh nightgown over her head.

"This is beautiful Lady Roxton. Are you sure you don't mind me wearing it?"

"Well you can't sleep in those clothes, Morgan. They're too restricting. Now, lay down for me."

"Yes, ma'am." Morgan laid down on the pillows. They were the softest she had ever felt in her entire life. "Your home is lovely, Lady Roxton. A palace…"

"Thank you. Are you comfortable?"

"Very much so. I've never been in a bed like this. Mostly I just sleep on a cot or the floor. I'm afraid this may spoil any other orphanage I go to."

"Hopefully you never have to go back to one."

"Hopefully, but I probably will. It would be my luck that I miss the family that's supposed to adopt me. But in six years I'll be 18 and I can make my own way in the world."

"It's hard, Morgan."

"I know it is, but it's better than the alternative, isn't it?"

"Yes, I suppose. I was in your position once, I lived alone on the streets for along time."

"Really? And now you are a Lady in a wonderful home and you have a happy family. I only hope one day I am so lucky."

"I think you will be, Morgan. You are a smart girl. How many languages do you speak?"

"A better question would be how many languages can I understand. I don't usually get to speak to the people I hear talking, but I can understand French, Spanish, Italian, German, and Latin."

"Fascinating," Marguerite said, the gears in her mind turning. "Don't you think it's odd that you have this ability?"

"Kind of. I mean, no one else I know has it."

"You do know someone who has it, Morgan. I can understand languages too."