Reverend Winston sat at the head of the trestle table and waited for the inmates of the workhouse settled down. He noticed the beadle paying attention to the newest mother. It had been a very difficult delivery of triplet boys. He looked to the beadle and he could imagine the profit three climbing boys could bring him. Plus the enjoyment he would get from the new mother. He swore he would get another job someday soon.

All the women and their weaned children had settled. He stood up and began grace. “Lord, we thank you for your bounteous charity , we ask your protection against those who would offer us harm, we thank you for the warmth of this house and its protections. In Jesus name we pray,amen.”

He nodded to the harridan who passed out the food and watched as the oatmeal was passed out in the very small amounts. He sighed when the little boys were given their achingly small portions to ensure that they would grow up small.

When all the meal was passed out, he signaled to begin eating. Everyone, including him ate ravenously and the food vanished quickly.

After the meal was over he oversaw the young boys at their tasks. The beadle came up with a letter. “What business do you have with the Rambam bank? Why are the sending you a letter?

Winston said reasonably “Why don’t you give it to me so I may read it and find out?”

The beadle said with exasperation “I have read it already. It just says you are to go there and meet someone at 2:00 today. So what business do you have with them?”

Winston counted to 10, and counted again. “I can’t find out unless you give me leave to meet with them and enquire. I don’t owe them anything, so perhaps someone has sent me some money. Though who it could be… I have no idea.”

The beadle dithered a bit and finally came to a conclusion. “Oh, very well. But come right back and let me know. And when you come back, prepare the Coneston chit for meeting me in my office when she finishes her chores. Make sure she bathes.” With that he left. Winston stood with hands in fists and counted to 50. Then he grabbed his hat and walked to the Rambam bank.

The Rambam bank was just outside the city of London across from the Aldgate. It wasn’t as imposing as the big city banks and it looked like it dealt with smaller clients. Winston went inside and gave his letter to a messenger just inside. Within moments an imposing tall man wearing a skullcap came out smiling. “Welcome! I have what might be good news for you. But we must go to my apartment first. We must discuss it with my wife. After you!“

They walked away from the city. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Aaron DeSilva. I am to assist you in a complicated ecclesiastical matter. You know Reverend Harkness?”

Winston laughed. “Peachy! I would say so! We were best friends in college. He got a vicarage in County Cumberland. Lucky!”

DeSilva smiled. “He has become the Earl of Kirkby. He isn’t so lucky. He inherited a ton of debts and everything remaining is entailed. And he has to give up his living as the vicar.”

“That would infuriate him. He very much wanted to be a vicar “

DeSilva nodded “Just so. The living is in the gift of Barron Alston. Who is four years old.”

They stopped and talked in front of a door. “So who is acting as the owner of the living?”

”I am”

Winston looked shocked. “How did that happen?”

”Now that is a complicated tale. For starters the countess of Kirkby is my wife’s sister. And the former Barron Alsaton is their grandfather. The dowager Baroness is his second wife. Who married at 16.”

Winston looked shocked. “He never told me!”

DeSilva nodded. “Both my wife and her sister are humiliated by his marriage. I would thank you to be ignorant of it”

”Of course!”

“So that is why the current Barron is four. And because the dowager is so young she needs to have all her actions supervised by trustees. The old Barron appointed me as one of her trustees. So I will be conducting this interview to make sure you are the right man for the job. The countess Kirkby recommended you, but I need to be sure.” He kissed his fingers and tapped the doorjamb and went inside.

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They were met by an angry young woman who spoke to them in rapid Hebrew. DeSilva spoke soothingly and went into a side room. “My wife will be delayed a bit. She is feeding our son. Would you like some wine?”

Winston nodded and DeSilva spoke rapidly to the woman. She grimaced and left. “My sister has received some news which annoyed her.”

”I took Hebrew in college, but never that fast or that dialect. And her vocabulary! Is it common for women to use the verb translated as ‘to know’ in casual conversation? I understand she is angry at me. But why?”

”No, well behaved women don’t use that verb”. He laughed. “But we will discuss it later “

Just then a statuesque woman came in the room with a baby over her shoulder pulling on her wig as she tapped his back. “So this is reverend Winston. Have you discussed the position?”

DeSilva shook his head. “We were waiting for you dear. This is my wife Beatrice.“

Winston bowed “charmed”

Beatrice looked at Winston sternly. “Gossip always gets it wrong, so I am sure the truth about Mrs. Avery isn’t half as interesting as the telling. We need to hear your side of the story “

Winston turned pink with embarrassment. “Unfortunately it is a lot worse. I was third year in college when I became infatuated with a widow. I am afraid I anticipated our marriage and the noise of her condition got about. And then it seems that Mr. Avery wasn’t dead after all. They hoped to screw some money out of my uncle who was paying for my education. He wouldn’t pay a half farthing and he came close to not paying for my finishing my education. He did that, but he hasn’t talked to me since “

Beatrice looked sternly “And the child?”

Winston looked forlorn “She is at my workhouse. She gets double rations.”

Beatrice looked to her husband, who nodded. She continued “You don’t dally with your charges, male or female Are you so much a saint?”

“There is a widow who is actually a widow I visit sometimes. I am not her only friend. As for my charges, seeing them in their dingy uniforms and their emaciated state is like a bath in ice”

Beatrice and DeSilva had an extensive silent consultation with their eyes. Beatrice continued. “You will continue to leave your charges alone when they are better fed and clothed?”

Winston looked like a flower which had been given a splash of water. “Of course!”

Beatrice stared at him. “See that you do. Does my sister know of this?”

“I don’t know. Peachy likes gossip and this story is too good to pass up. But Mr. DeSilva says she recommended me…”

She laughed. “She knows! This was a test of your honesty. If we gave you the living, could you be ready to go tonight?”

”If you helped with my daughter, I could be ready in ten minutes!”

She stood up. “I believe we are satisfied. My husband will tell you the arrangement we have made. I feel you will be an excellent clergyman. Now I have to change a diaper. You will stay for supper “. She marched out with her husband’s adoring glance.

Winston looked bemused. “That was the most unusual interview!”

“It covered the most important points for us. You are taking care of your daughter in the best manner that you can, and that you won’t abuse the people in your care. And that you answered all our questions honestly. Questions about orthodoxy are questions her sister’s husband can deal with.”

DeSilva went over to the desk and came back with a stack of papers. “Now we go to questions of ways and means. I have seen your workhouse and its wretched state. This evening you will point out the 15 that you can rescue. You can’t help the 10% most deserving. My purse can only go so far”

“We had a set of twins and a set of triplets this week…”

“Very well, this five can go as well. But only because they are so small. You will go on a canal boat up to County Cumberland. You will be taken the last 10 miles by wagon. There is a tithe barn that has been added and converted to the local workhouse . As for expenses on the way, they will be handed by my assistant and his wife, my sister. My sister will also be chaperone and chief cook. I expect that the beadle will be in the way with his hand out. I have arranged for a shipment of untaxed port to come his way, as well as an excise man.”

Winston laughed. “If I weren’t going on a canal boat I would pay good money to see him dealing with that!”

DeSilva smiled. “Well, the excise man will let him off with a small bribe to one of the bank employees and the port will be vinegar, so there will be more coming yet. You will get the 20…”

“Does my daughter count as one of the 20?”

”She does. There is only so much room on a canal boat “

Winston said sadly “I can’t get anything past you “

“No, you can’t. There is only so much space. You will get them onto the wagons provided and they will take you to the canal. Here are all the toll receipts, the route instructions and so forth. I wish you a pleasant journey.”

DeSilva’s sister put her head in and said “Dinner is served.” In a grumpy tone of voice.

Winston asked “Why are they coming again?”

”When they reach your destination they will be there to serve the Earl of Kirkby as financial advisors and general sharp pencils. He has always been less than competent in money matters. I will have to get him to shore. But not at risk to myself. He will have to become wiser. And now to dinner. To aid digestion we won’t discuss these matters anymore . And the moment you are done, you have to get to your workhouse and move your charges