Page 71 of The Lord's Compass
“Yes, there were women,” he said, coming to kneel in front of her. “But there was only one woman who ever stood out. When I was with the rest of them it was only because I was trying to fill the hole you had left.”
Faith’s heart began to beat faster, warming as her stomach churned and her mind swam with possibilities. Was it time that she forgot the past and looked forward to the future? Should she continue to guard her heart? Or was it already too late?
“Eric—”
“Lord Ferrington! Lady Ferrington!”
They both turned, surprised to find the carriage awaiting them as close as the road would allow. The driver was standing, calling out to them.
“The painting!” was all they heard, and they exchanged a look before racing to the carriage.
“What about the painting?” Eric asked. They hadn’t told the driver it was a map, of course, and had debated leaving it behind, but nor did they want to bring it with them into a crowded tavern. They had decided to ask Eric’s valet and driver to guard it for them.
“It is gone.”
“Gone?” Eric said in disbelief. “How?”
“I left for but a moment,” his valet said from where he sat atop with the driver, panic on his face. “When I returned, it was missing. Someone must have come from behind the driver to capture it.”
Eric’s hands came to his head as he began to pace back and forth. “What do we do?” he said, looking to Faith. “Ashford will be devastated. We cannot return to Castleton empty-handed.”
“Castleton,” Faith murmured before her eyes flew up to meet Eric’s. “That’s it – Castleton. We have to continue.”
“But how can we without?—”
“If someone wanted to use the map, where would they go?” she asked. “They have to be headed toward Castleton. And if they were daring enough to risk stealing the map in the middle of the day from our carriage, what else might they be bold enough to do?”
“Let’s go,” he said, immediately agreeing.
He helped Faith into the carriage before giving the driver instructions to make for Castleton as fast as they were able.
“Your meals are wrapped inside for you,” the valet said, but neither Faith nor Eric was hungry.
Faith wasn’t sure if she was glad that their conversation had been interrupted or if it would have been better had they finished it.
She had realized the truth as she had spoken to Eric. The past was part of it, but before now, she had always had the option to leave. She could have been hurt, yes, but she hadn’t been tied to whatever had brought her down.
Now? She was vulnerable because of their marriage. It meant that Eric could do as he pleased, and this time, there was nowhere for her to run.
He no longer had the thrill of the chase, but he did have all of the power.
This, however, was not the time to decide what to do next. Now, they had to decide just how they were going to get the map back.
“The compass,” Faith said, suddenly remembering it. “Did they get the compass too?”
Eric smiled wryly as he shook his head, reaching into his jacket before pulling the compass out from a pocket.
“Right here,” he said. “I figured that not only should I keep it safe, but it might help for me to have something to point me in the right direction.”
Faith couldn’t help but snicker at that. Nothing could help guide this man. Not when it came to directions.
While Faith knew they didn’t have far to go, the rest of the carriage ride was interminable, both of them sitting on the edge of their seats, watching out the window.
Suddenly the carriage slowed, and Faith craned her neck to see if they were close to Castleton, but no estate loomed in the distance, nor were there any signs of the massive gardens that surrounded it.
“My lord, there is a carriage stopped ahead,” came the driver’s voice, and Eric was out of the carriage before it even finished rolling to a stop.
“Do you see anyone?” he asked, his voice slightly muffled from outside, and Faith followed him out, picking her steps more carefully so she didn’t trip over her skirts.
