Page 20 of The Lord's Compass
“Interesting,” the woman said, but before she could ask another question, one of the men from across the table leaned in.
“Say, wasn’t the lady alone in a cabin?” he asked, chewing with his mouth open, and Eric had to stop his grimace.
“She was,” he said, knowing that this was one truth they would be unable to hide. He wondered if Smith had been a friend of these men, for they seemed quite interested in Faith’s travel circumstances.
“Heard you say you were married,” the other man said. “If I had a wife like that?—”
“Well, as it happens,” Eric said, lifting the jug of ale in front of him and taking a big swig to give himself time to concoct a story, “my wife and I are newly reconciled.”
That caught the attention of the couple next to them as well, as everyone leaned in to hear the gossip he was about to impart.
“We were separated, you see,” he said dramatically. “Still married and working together, of course, but we were living different lives. My wife was unsure of me. Felt I was not the man she had believed I was.”
He sighed, shaking his head, knowing his storytelling was over the top, but it seemed to be working – for now.
“But now?” Patricia asked breathlessly.
“Last night there was an incident,” he said. “I was concerned for my wife, yes, to such an extent that I realized just how much I love her and what a fool I have been. I have asked her to reconcile with me, and she has, thank heavens, agreed.” He reached for Faith’s left hand and picked it up, bringing it to his lips and kissing it, looking her deeply in the eyes, surprised when he saw laughter there. “I am a lucky man.”
“Oh, how romantic,” Patricia said with a sigh. “You are both ever so fortunate.”
“That I am,” he said, winking at Faith. “That I am.”
“So she is staying in your cabin?”
Eric turned back toward the men, dropping Faith’s hand.
“You are awfully interested in my wife’s whereabouts,” he said, unable to help the ire in his tone. “Are you wondering for yourselves or your friend?”
“Our friend?” the one man said, although his lie – or omission – was far too obvious.
“Mr. Smith,” Eric said, growling out the words.
“Don’t know him,” the one man said.
“Nope, not at all,” the other lied, and Eric leaned in, lowering his voice so that just the two of them could hear him.
“Wherever he is hiding on this ship, perhaps you could give him a message for me.”
“Very well.”
“Stay away from my wife.”
“Or else what?” the one man asked, lifting a brow. The two may not be noble, but they obviously had enough money to afford private cabins, which meant that they could, potentially, be a threat in the future.
“He does not want to discover ‘what else.’ Nor do you.”
“Oh, we would never?—”
“Unless the lady wanted it,” the other man said, obviously cheekier than his friend.
“The lady does not want,” Faith said through gritted teeth, and the man lifted both hands in front of him as though to ward off her ire.
“Understood,” he said.
Eric turned toward her. “There is only one man who spends any time alone with you,” he said, his arm brushing against hers and he reached by her for the teapot. “And that man is me.”
CHAPTER7
