No one would talk much in society if they knew how often they misunderstood others. -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Her baby stopped crying and she panicked when she realized his breath was slowing down. As soon as the carriage stopped in front of the Duke of Suffolk's house she jumped out and ran in.

"Miss! wait!" the butler came rushing to her.

"I need to see the doctor right now," she said gasping," the baby needs a doctor now."

"Follow me!"

She ran behind the butler without thinking. 

"Doctor, " she said gasping as soon as she entered the parlour," p-please, p-please s-save h-him."

Everyone jumped to their feet at once. Doctor Smith rushed to her taking the baby in his arms.

After Duke of Suffolk ushered the doctor to the second landing she realized that she is drenched from head to toe forming a pool of rainwater around her.

"Dear child, you are drenched, Caro ring for servants to bring blankets, "Lady Faith said.

"Do come near the fire, and have a sip of brandy dear," Lady Ida said.

She realized she doesn't know anyone else except Mrs Smith, not even lady Suffolk. Lord and Lady Suffolk have given generous donations to the orphanage. It was only because of them that they still kept the orphanage running. Lord Suffolk even visited the orphanage once or twice but she was not allowed to be seen by the guest.

Understanding dawn over her, they have heard about her but never seen her. If they knew who she was they would have never offered her such decency. She noticed Mrs Smith scrutinizing her. It seems the lady hasn't identified her yet because of her drenched state.

 "Thank you, my lady, but I am fine right here," she said. It won't be good if they realize who she is and throw her out without her baby.

She almost laughed when everyone looked dumbfounded at her statement.

"You will catch a cold," a young lady said concerned.

"Who are you?" Mrs. Smith asked at the same time.

Fear sparked in her. She would be asked to leave as soon as her identity is revealed. For a moment she considered to not tell her real name but then she will be tagged as a deceiver too. And Mrs Smith was already suspicious. 

"Henrietta Murphy, my lady," She said trying to sound courageous in spite of the disgust creeping inside of her for carrying the name of Britain's most infamous prostitute.

It cleared doubts among some whereas confused others even more.

"What are you waiting for? Do bring the blankets at once. She is freezing," Lord Kentshire ordered the servants standing frozen at the door after hearing the name of Henrietta Murphy.

"Now come near the fire, child! " Lady Ida said forcing glass of brandy in her hand.

She didn't even realize how she was made to sit down in front of a fire wrapped in blankets forced to sip the brandy. The liquid burned her throat but she gulped down and soon she felt warm from inside.

"Do not worry! The doctor will take care of your child, " Oliver said his obsidian eyes capturing all her attention," What is his name?" 

"Evan!" She said without thinking.

"Where is his father?" William asked.  She noticed he had the same eyes and similar traits to the one sitting in front of her but scarier.

"I do not know," She answered mechanically cold sipping in her bones, her teeth chattering.

She knew what they were thinking. And yet she didn't try to clear the misconception, no matter what she does she is judged everywhere she goes. Everyone thinks that she must be the same as her mother, a whore!

But little did they know about her! 

*****

Like every day Hannah woke up to the sound of a rooster crowing in the early morning. She loved the morning as it allowed her to be free from everything and be her own person without the scrutinizing eyes of the world.

It was still dark in the morning but her work cannot wait. It is the only thing that is keeping the roof on her head and food in her belly. She collected eggs for breakfast and started on her chores for the day. Children sleep till late but today a couple was coming to adopt a child and she will have to clean the office and make sure everything is presentable along with the children.

The rest of her day went off, as usual, completing chores and looking after the children. She came to know that the couple decided to adopt, Ellie, six months old baby that arrived only a month ago in the orphanage. People who adopt usually rename the child but that doesn't mean they should be kept nameless. Some children are never adopted like her and can remain nameless forever. She wished she was nameless, life would have been a little bit easier for her.

The evening came with the downpour and all of her tasks were delayed. Children were afraid of the rain so she had to put aside all her work till Mrs Brown come to be in her place and she can complete all the remaining chores.

Her life appeared to be the same, dull every day but she was very grateful because the other path she will have to follow if she ever found herself without work will be worse than giving up her life.

She started toward the kitchen walking on the familiar cold stone below her feet when she heard a distinct sound of a baby crying somewhere near the door. She half ran to find the door closed and the cry coming from outside. Someone left another child on their doorsteps in this rain. She opened the door hastily to find a child almost drowned in the pool of water formed in his basket. She hastily picked up the child and ran to Mrs Brown.

"Mrs Brown, Mrs Brown," Hannah yelled running through the hallway.

Mrs Brown came toward Hannah with another child in tow.

" What happened, Hannah? Are you alright?"

"Someone left a baby in the rain, look at him," Hannah said passing the baby to Mrs Brown.

"He is burning up. Cruel people! How can they leave such an angel to die in rain?" Mrs Brown said indignantly, "we need to call for a doctor at once."

"We will lose a lot of time if we send for him, instead I will take him to Mr Smith myself," Hannah said walking to the storeroom, "Ferdinand brought the supplies today so we still have his carriage. I will wake him up."

"I will wrap him in warm blankets, meet me at the front door with Ferdinand."

Hannah barged into the storeroom and dragged Ferdinand with her to take out the carriage.

The orphanage was on the one end of the town whereas the house of the only doctor in the town Dr Smith was in the middle near the church. The cart was half open in the back which made the rain hit Hannah and soaked her.

When they reached the doctor's house they were informed that the family has gone to the Duke's house for dinner and hasn't arrived yet. They started toward the lone manor standing at the other end of the town surrounded by acres and acres of the plantation owned by the Duke.

*****

As she stood there, everyone judging her for the sins she didn't commit the handsome man sitting in front of her watching her without judgment in his eyes but compassion made her heartbeat differently. His obsidian eyes made her uncomfortable. They were like a bottomless dark abyss that she can't seem to come out of.

 "She is not married, my lord," Miss. Smith said with disgust in her voice answering William's question.  

She knew this was the moment everyone around her will turn in to petty judgemental humans. But as she looked up her eyes couldn't see anything other than sympathy in his dark eyes and it flared the anger in her. 

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