Page 33 of Leap of Faith
Lord Westwood’s secretary left immediately on that task. Faith would have gladly gone in his stead.
“Now for the clouds. Perhaps the entire floor should not be covered because there must be dancing.”
“What about having tables around the room decorated as clouds with fountains?” Jones suggested.
“Fountains! Yes! I had forgotten about fountains. I do think we should have a river as well, for even though Lady Ashbury did it several years ago, what would heaven be without a River of Life?”
Faith could see there would be no point in pleading with Lady Westwood not to be extravagant on their account. It did not seem as though this was much about them, after all.
“Now for flowers. What kind of flowers would they have in heaven? Lots and lots of them, I think.” She held one finger in the air. “We should have a Tree of Life to go with our River of Life! It must be very large and at the centre of the room, I think, and covered in fruit! Did you take note of that, Jones?”
Faith bit her lip to keep from laughing. Was it not the Tree of Life that caused Adam and Eve to sin and be cast out? Though perhaps, on second thought, that was a different tree from the Garden of Eden. As long as she did not insist on a serpent…Faith would have to object tothat.
Lady Westwood and her secretary were conversing about the logic of putting the tree in the centre of the room. Jones insisted it would inhibit the dancing.
“Has my mother completely lost her mind yet? When she realizes reality does not match her dreams, I fear there may be the devil to pay.”
How had he sneaked in behind her?
Faith felt laughter bubbling up inside.
“Don’t hold back on my account!” he said, his eyes brimming with mischief. “Ridiculous, is it not? But look how happy she is.”
Faith sighed loudly before she realized it.
“You do not care for any of it, do you?”
“If it makes her happy and sees my sisters well established, then I suppose it will have been worth it. I cannot like the extravagance on our accounts. You must know I can never repay you.”
“But what of you, Miss Whitford? Do you have no thoughts for yourself?”
“Why should I? They are my responsibility so, of course, I must think of them!”
“I thought we had established that I am now their guardian.”
She shook her head. “I have been more like a mother than a sister to them for more than ten years. Lady Halbury was kind enough to take us in, but we had already been on our own for some time while trying to return to England and they have always looked to me.”
“Poor Miss Whitford! My shoulders are big enough to bear some of this responsibility for you.”
“They are no burden. We may be your wards in name, but the rest…”
“Yes, I know! I forced you to London!” His eyes twinkled down at her.
“Well, yes, you did!” she rejoined.
“Would it not be easier for you to marry and allow a husband to help you?” he asked more gently.
“A guardian is more than enough to deal with for now.”
“Do you know how to dance?” He wisely changed the subject.
“You can dance, Miss Whitford?” It took Faith a moment to realize that the second question had been addressed to her by Lady Westwood, who had overheard Lord Westwood’s query.
“A little, ma’am.”
“You have been to assemblies?”
“No, but we were permitted to attend some private dinners where there was some dancing afterwards.”
