Page 7 of The Lord's Compass
“Perhaps.”
That was as good as she could do. She couldn’t bring herself to tell them how wrong they were, that she would never marry, would never find a man she preferred.
“I know what you are thinking,” Hope said, reading right through her façade. “But it will happen. I am certain of it.”
Faith just nodded.
“That was why I came over here,” Percy said. “You seem rather… glum.”
“Not at all,” Faith said, shaking her head. “I was simply observing the room. Nothing of which to be concerned.”
“Where did you go?” Hope asked.
“When?”
“A while ago,” Cassandra said as she joined them with her hands around her growing stomach, evidently having overheard the last bit of their conversation. She had insisted on attending the wedding, even though she expected the baby to come in just a couple of months. After this, she had promised her husband, Lord Covington, they would return home and stay there until well after the baby’s arrival. “You were gone for nearly an hour.”
“I was outside,” she said, not wanting to get into details.
“You needed time alone,” Hope said understandingly, always aware of what her sister required.
“I did.”
“But Lord Ferrington found you, didn’t he?” Percy asked with a small smile.
“Why would you think that?”
“I saw him enter the room slightly before you and he had that look on his face – the one which is a rather confusing mix of desperation, humor, and exasperation. He always wears it after a conversation with you.”
Faith’s mouth dropped open as Madeline walked up to them, completing their quintet.
“That cannot be true… can it?” she asked, and Madeline looked around at all of them.
“What are we talking about?” she asked.
“About how Faith drives Lord Ferrington mad when she rebukes his affections.”
“Ah yes,” Madeline agreed. “That you do. I do not know why he continues to want you so when you speak to him as you do.”
“He does not want me,” Faith muttered, disgruntled. “He only continues to needle me because I am the one woman who does not fall for his charms. I am not that rude to him… am I?”
Hope gave her a knowing look, fully aware of what happened between Faith and Lord Ferrington in the past, but Faith chose to ignore her. When she turned away it was only to capture Percy’s pitying gaze.
“What do we think of entrusting him with this journey to San Sebastian?” Faith asked instead.
“He seems up for the adventure, despite the political atmosphere,” Cassandra said with a shrug. “The rest of us have all solved clues in this treasure hunt. I suppose he can do the same.”
“But what is he supposed to do with a clue that is simply a piece of paper upon which is written the name of a city?” Faith asked, holding her hands out. “That is not much to go on.”
“You are right, it’s not,” Cassandra said slowly. “But as this all seems to be connected to our family, perhaps there will be clues in Spain near our family’s estate or from the necklace or the key. It all has to lead somewhere.”
“I am just not sure if he should go alone.”
“And just who should go with him?” Madeline asked, a twinkle in her eye, and Faith rolled her eyes and looked away from her.
“One of the men.”
“None of the others can leave at the moment,” Hope said gently. “He will be fine, Faith. There is nothing to worry about.”
