Page 60 of The Lord's Compass
As much as she had tried to deny it.
“Father,” she said, attempting to halt this argument before it began. “We are grateful to be here together today. This is an advantageous match for all of us. You were not so keen on Lord Whitehall at the beginning, and now look how much you approve of him and enjoy his company.”
She gestured to the viscount, who grunted in response. Faith had to prevent herself from rolling her eyes as once again she wondered how her sister put up with him.
Eric leaned in toward her, placing a warm, strong hand on her thigh. There were layers of fabric between them and yet Faith could have sworn that his hand was against her bare skin, searing it with its heat.
“Perhaps the ladies should retire,” Lord Embury said to his wife, who nodded.
“Very well,” she said with a sigh, before leading the ladies out of the dining room and into the drawing room. It was odd to do so in the middle of the day, made even more so when Faith was wondering what she was supposed to do with Eric once they had time alone together. Faith wondered just when, exactly, would that be?
Ever since they had arrived at Newfield Manor, they had not spent a great deal of time together, as they were never allowed to be alone, and there was nothing she particularly wanted to speak to him about in front of her parents. She had wondered if she should have sent him on to Castleton with the compass and the map so that Gideon could begin his search, but she was concerned that he wouldn’t have returned in time for the wedding.
And what if he had never returned at all, but instead took the opportunity to escape from marriage to her? Even though she was not particularly excited about being married, the thought of his rejection of her was nearly worse.
“Percy,” she said, coming to her friend’s side and lacing her arm through hers, “I must talk to you.”
“Is this about the treasure?” Percy said excitedly. “I have been receiving letters from Cassandra, so I do hope that one of us can go and update her first. Whoever does should ensure she has the map and the compass so that Cassandra and her brother can start trying to find the treasure on their land. Can you believe it? After all these years, it looks like the treasure is at Castleton itself? Not only that but through this entire hunt, we were so close and yet it took us so far.”
“Itishard to believe,” Faith agreed. “I hope to travel to see them shortly after the wedding. We are to return to Rowley House soon and then we will continue to Castleton shortly after. Cassandra is to have the baby any day, so we will wait until a time when she can travel to Castleton herself to meet us there, as I know she would not want us – or her brother – searching for the treasure without her.”
“Except that I am sure if Lord Ashford knew we were so close, he would insist that we come with the clue.”
“I shall talk to Eric about it,” Faith said, pausing when she saw both Hope and Percy staring at her.
“What is it?”
Her friend and her sister exchanged a look.
“It is just…” Hope began, “I have never heard you say that you are going to seek out anyone’s opinion besides your own.”
“That is not true.”
They both looked at her skeptically until the gentlemen walked in, taking seats around the room. While they were welcomed by the women, none of them appeared very content.
The conversation was so stilted, so filled with tension, that Faith finally decided she had to put a stop to it.
“I feel slightly unwell,” she said, standing from the sofa. Eric immediately stood with her, causing her to feel guilty by the amount of concern that filled his face. “I believe I must go upstairs. Thank you all for coming – especially all of you for travelling such a way. I am so glad that you were able to be here with us.”
With that, she swept out of the room.
She hoped that Eric wouldn’t follow her but would allow her to go alone. She needed both time and space to clear her head.
She ran upstairs, calling her maid to help her change into a riding skirt and bonnet as fast as she was able.
If anyone discovered her, they would not understand where she was going or why she had chosen to leave the wedding party – and her husband – behind.
But here she was, walking into the forest on the day that she should have been celebrating. She found the targets where they had been left and notched an arrow into her bow before letting it fly, landing it perfectly within the arch. Every arrow. Every shot. Her practice was paying off. If only she could join any war effort herself, she knew she could do a great deal to help the army.
She heard him come up behind her before she saw him. As quiet as he tried to be, the tread of his step and the heaviness of his breath gave him away.
“I thought I’d find you out here,” he said, keeping his distance behind her as she lifted the bow and pulled it back at eye level.
“Why did you need me?” she asked.
“Must I have a reason for wanting to see my wife?”
“That will take some getting used to,” she said, releasing the bow and allowing the arrow to fly in a graceful arc before it notched itself into the target with athwack.
