Carissa finally said into the awkward silence. Hartleigh's eyes were closed, but the rigid muscles in his jaw and the clenched fist told her he was not asleep. “I know of a home for wayward girls in the city. An unfortunate maid at Sir Gilliam's needed a place to birth her baby."Carissa's voice trembled still, to think of something like that happening in a household she ran. It would not happen again, by heaven. A footman had been dismissed, and most of the maids went home at night now."I want no doxy tending my daughter.""We have no choice. Neither did that maid, as a matter of fact. She was forced. Besides which, Sue's mother was obviously no better than she ought to be!""Sue's mother, Mrs. Kane, was a princess, by Jupiter.""Who abandoned her child into the care of a drunken rake.” She hurried on, cursing her wayward tongue. “The home might have a girl there with milk enough for two babes."Byrd had been awaiting directions, head swiveling between the two. “Lands, you're thinking to saddle us with another infant, missus?
