“Jorgen told you, didn’t he? Do you know what will happen to my little brothers?”
“No.”
“I cannot let them be mistreated or turned into the streets to starve. Besides, Agnes was kind to us. She fed us and gave us clothes. I have to do what she says, for my brothers’ sakes.” She was near tears again.
“What if Jorgen and I can help your brothers? Perhaps we can find another place for them to stay.”
“Do you think so?”
“I do. But, Kathryn, no matter what happens, you should not ever go back to The Red House or to that woman, Agnes. Anyone who asks you to do what she did is not a good person. Please. You must stay away from her and not feel any loyalty to her.”
“But . . . I do feel loyalty to her.” Kathryn’s chin quivered and tears flooded her eyes again. “Maybe I should not, but I do. She took us in off the street and even took care of my littlest brother when he was sick, when no one else offered to help us.”
“Those were all good things, but if she did them only to trap you into working for her, then she does not deserve your loyalty, Kathryn. Truly, you should believe me.”
Two tears tracked down the girl’s pale cheeks. “It does not matter about me. My brothers are the ones who matter. They are innocent, but I have done bad things, things you cannot imagine. What if I am not worth all this trouble? What if I was born bad and will always be bad? I should just do what Agnes wants me to.”
“You must know that is not true.” How could anyone think that way? “You are still practically a child. You should not be made to work—”
“I am not a child.” Kathryn turned blazing eyes on Odette.
“No, no, you are very mature. But what I am trying to tell you is that you could have a good life. You do not have to throw yourself away at The Red House. Your life could be better than that. Don’t you feel a hope inside you for something better?”
It had been that hope for something better that had kept Odette from sinking into the same despair Kathryn obviously was feeling. Odette had believed that someday she would feel power over her circumstances. She would be able to get away from the people who had taken her in but did not care about her. There would come a time when she could take care of herself and would no longer have to forage for food in people’s trash heaps—or depend on people who mistreated her—to survive.
If Odette had felt more grateful to the people who had taken her in, perhaps she would understand how Kathryn was feeling about Agnes. But she had only wanted to get away from them and their mistreatment.
“You want to show your gratitude for what Agnes did for your brothers, but this is not the way to do that. Someday, when you are able to, you can give Agnes money, if you feel you need to repay her.”
Kathryn was not looking at her. She was fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. “Why did Jorgen ask you to come and talk to me?”
“He was afraid you would leave, and . . . I suppose because I know a lot of orphans. I teach lessons two days every week outside the city gate to any child who wants to come.”
She glanced up at Odette. “Do you teach them to read?”
“I do.”
“I have always wanted to learn to read.”
“If you stay here with Jorgen’s mother, you can learn. It would be my pleasure to teach you.”
“I will still need to make sure my brothers are well.” She sank back into the chair and sighed. “But I think I might stay.”
Jorgen and his mother came in carrying a pitcher and some pottery cups. The way Kathryn looked at him, with adoration and attentiveness, made Odette feel uneasy again. Was she afraid Jorgen might take advantage of the girl? No, that wasn’t it. Was she afraid he might fall in love with her and marry her? Perhaps, a little. Or did she suspect the girl would try to put to use what she had learned in her two days at The Red House in order to seduce Jorgen?
The heat in her cheeks and the roiling of her stomach told her—that was it.
Jorgen glanced at Odette, at the expression on her face as she sat with Kathryn, and he knew what he had to do.
As his mother poured the milk for them, Jorgen motioned to Odette. “Can I speak with you?”
Odette stood and allowed him to open the door for her as they walked outside.
Jorgen rubbed the back of his neck before facing Odette. “Do you know somewhere Kathryn could stay?” How could he explain his reasoning? “I could not allow her to stay in that terrible place, but our house is small, and I think it is uncomfortable for her . . . and for me.”