Page 16 of Leap of Faith
“Dashed if I do!”
He made a proper bow to them, then stopped near Faith and whispered, “As you’ve seen and experienced with all in my acquaintance thus far, there is no one here to hurt you or your sisters. We are only thinking of your family and what is best for you. You may want to think on that instead of argue and gainsay every suggestion.”
He left before giving her the chance to reply, leaving her burning with shame for there was truth in his statement. Yet, to take all of their choices away from them as though he knew them—it was unfair, and she was losing control of the situation entirely.
Faith and Hope followed Lady Westwood to their chambers, feeling as though their world had been upended even more than Faith had when the solicitor had broken the news of a guardian to them. Never could she have imagined this.
How had life changed so much in less than a week? Never before had she even considered her sisters’ fate would be taken from her hands. She did not think it was at all what Lady Halbury would have wished for them, yet she felt powerless to stop it. She supposed a few months in London would not be so terrible, but what would she be left with to live on once her sisters were fired off? She knew it would be horribly expensive. But most of all, what she could not determine was why a Town Buck of the first stare would not want to be rid of the lot of them when he had the chance. Why ever would he wish to trouble himself with five females? Three of which he had yet to meet! Although to give proper due, it seemed as though he was going to fob that duty off to his mother.
Faith could not put her mind at ease at all about the situation she now found herself in. Never would she begrudge her sisters anything, including Seasons and good marriages. However, she did have the future to think of beyond. Resolution returned to anger and she finally drifted off to sleep, determined to put her foot down with the high-handed lord who was now their insufferable guardian!
* * *
There wasnothing unexpected in what the solicitor had to say to Dominic. He had combed through the will and, unfortunately, even though the intended guardian had probably been his father, as he shared his name, it was difficult to prove. Possibly, it could be revoked in the courts, but as Dominic had suspected, it would take longer than the remaining six months of Miss Whitford’s guardianship—and involve a great deal of bother—in Miss Whitford’s guardianship to see such a task done.
Dominic sat thoughtfully for a long time after the solicitor left, wondering why he felt the need to force Miss Whitford to remain in London for that time. Was it because he knew she thought to sacrifice herself on her sisters’ behalves, or because he was bored, and this would amuse him? Certainly, he enjoyed fencing and flirting with her.
True, it would also require him to bestir himself at events he normally avoided, but he would dance with each of his wards then escape. He need not spend more than an hour at such insipid doings.
He glanced at the ormolu clock on the mantel and rose. It was just about time for Satterlee to be returning from Bath. When the coach and four bearing his secretary appeared at his door, however, Dominic was more than surprised by the vision that alighted.
Three almost identical—except for height—visions in black crepe and black bonnets with bright blue eyes stepped into the street and could well have caused traffic to come to a halt had there been any to witness such an event. Once combined with their siblings, they would turn London on its ear. Certainly, there would be a storm the like of which London had ever seen. Beyond the shock that Lord Westwood was a guardian to five beauties.
A devilish grin crossed his face as he left his study to greet them. They were looking around and above them at his entrance hall.
“Ladies, allow me to introduce myself. I am Viscount Westwood.” He bowed.
“Our guardian?”
“Indeed. Would you like some refreshments before I take you to your sisters? I believe my chef has bestirred himself to prepare something for you.”
“That would be grand, sir!” the youngest said with an impish smile.
“You must be Joy.”
She bobbed a curtsy. “I am the easy one. Can you name the others?”
“Joy!” One of them whispered harshly with an elbow to her side.
“What? It was a perfectly valid question.”
Dominic tried to hide his amusement.
“But it is proper to be introduced, not ask a person to guess!”
“But he knew my name!” she persisted.
“I do believe you must be Grace, but I confess I would be guessing if I were to try to attempt to distinguish between all five of you at once.”
Grace bobbed a curtsy.
“Patience is the impatient one,” the little imp advised confidingly, “but she gets angry if anyone says so. She is anything but, according to Lady Halbury.”
“That is quite enough, Joy,” Patience intervened.
Dominic studied the girls and noted a slight difference in their mannerisms but keeping them correctly apportioned would be another thing altogether.
“Shall we have some of my chef’s cakes and tarts before we leave? I am certain you must be tired of being cooped up in the carriage!”
