He wished that duty and decency hadn’t been drummed into him since he was in nappies. Wished he could say what the hell and sweep her into his arms, drag her under the large bunch of mistletoe hanging from the chandelier over the dance floor and kiss her senseless in front of all these people. Suddenly he was slightly irritated with her for making him promise, because he couldn’t quite bring himself to steamroll over her feelings and take what he wanted as easily as he’d like to. That damn protective instinct of his kept him at bay.
That was why, when the music ended, he let her nod her thanks and slip from his arms, find another partner. Why he turned his back and did the same, refusing to watch her go.
But as he moved his feet to the rhythm of the music a thought started to pulse inside his head. Just for one night he wanted to ditch his blasted code of honour. He wished he could be wild and reckless and not care a bean about what the morning would bring. He’d hardly chosen a thing for himself in the last two years, always doing the right thing, always doing his duty, what was good for the family.
Tonight, for once, he wanted to choose something for himself. And he really wanted to choose Faith.
Faith had deliberately sought out the villagers of Hadsborough to talk to. She understood them, knew what they were about. And they were keen to chat about the restoration of the chapel and the stained glass window, keeping her busy, keeping her mind off where Marcus was and who he was with.
But after a couple of hours of being ‘on’, of having to smile and chat to one new person after another, Faith began to tire. In the back of her head she was still mulling over the puzzling Bible reference in the window, trying to work out if it meant something.
And when she wasn’t trying to figure that out, and make small talk with the next person who asked her about the window, there was Marcus. Every time she caught sight of him she experienced a sudden stab of breathlessness.
‘May I have another dance, my dear?’
She turned round to find Bertie beside her, smiling. He was in fine spirits this evening, and more energetic than she’d ever seen him.
‘Of course, Your Grace,’ she said, and offered him her hand.
Bertie shook his head as he took it and led her onto the dance floor. ‘Time was when I’d have put on a good show for a pretty thing like you,’ he said. ‘I was quite the Fred Astaire in my day, I’ll have you know.’ He sighed. ‘No more dips and turns for this old back any more, though. You’ll have to put up with my shuffling instead.’
Faith laughed as Bertie took her in a classic ballroom hold. ‘And very elegant shuffling it is, too.’
He smiled back at her. ‘You’ll have to get Marcus to give you another spin round the dance floor.’
She kept her expression neutral. ‘You wouldn’t be trying to matchmake, would you, Bertie?’
He shrugged. ‘The boy needs to have more fun.’
Faith didn’t say anything, just let him lead her round the dance floor. Slowly. She didn’t disagree with Bertie, but whatever was going on between her and his grandson definitely wasn’t fun. It felt more like torture.
The music changed, and Bertie bowed to her and took his leave. Faith tried to curtsey back, but she wobbled badly in her borrowed shoes. A warm hand at her elbow steadied her. She turned to find herself staring up into a pair of smoky blue eyes.
‘Hi,’ she said softly.
His lips curved upwards. ‘Hi.’
And just like that her last defence fell. She’d thought it was made of cast iron, but sadly it snapped like spun sugar. The band were playing a slow number and she ended up with her head on his shoulder, one arm looped around his neck.
Try not to notice, she told herself. Try not to notice how well your head fits in the space near his neck, or how your bodies slot together like jigsaw pieces. Or how your chests rise and fall together, even when you’re not trying to match rhythm.
To distract herself she started thinking about the verse in the cartoon—the one that could be the key to Bertie’s past. Why hide it if it wasn’t? Why would someone have gone to all that trouble if the verse had nothing to do with the story Bertie had heard about his mother? And did the numbers have significance? Or was it in the words of the verse themselves?
‘Proverbs Four-Eighteen?’ he whispered in her ear.
She lifted her head and looked him in the eye. ‘How did you know?’
He shook his head, a rueful expression on his face.
‘What do you think the verse means? Have you had any thoughts?’
He pressed his lips together, then said, ‘Plenty of thoughts. Not sure any of them lead anywhere.’
Faith breathed out a little. This was easier, safer. They needed to keep talking about the window.
Marcus frowned as he pulled up a memory. ‘My great uncle told me once that his brother was very fond of treasure hunts. He used to lay one out every Christmas in the grounds for the village children.’
Faith’s eyes grew wide. ‘So maybe the reference isn’t a message in itself but a clue to something else? Another verse? Another destination?’
‘We should look for key words,’ he said.
‘Path,’ she said, nodding to herself.
‘And shining light,’ they both said, at exactly the same time, then both looked away and back again in complete synchronisation.
‘Stop doing that,’ she said. ‘It’s freaking me out.’
A mischievous glint appeared in Marcus’s eye. ‘It’s not just me.’ Then his expression became thoughtful. ‘There are paths all over the estate, but we don’t even know if it refers to something literal or figurative. As for shining lights …’
She closed her eyes, attempted to visualise the parts of the grounds she had visited. Shining light …
Her lids flipped open. ‘How about that grandfather clock in the cellar? That has a sun on it.’
‘Maybe …’ He didn’t look convinced. ‘But if this is a clue leading to something else there should be something there to find—some more writing or another verse. Like a treasure trail. We had a good look at that clock and I didn’t see anything like that.’
They’d still been swaying to the music as they’d been talking, but suddenly Marcus went completely still.
‘Of course …’ he said on an out-breath. ‘I’ve been so stupid not have seen it!’
And then he went quiet again.
Faith punched him on the chest softly. ‘Marcus!’
He blinked and looked down at her. She gave him a look that said she might have to hurt him if he didn’t spill the beans.
He laughed loudly enough to make some of the other dancing couples close to them look their way, then stepped back, grabbed her hand and pulled her in the direction of the door.
‘I know where there are both paths and a shining light,’ he said, picking up speed.
Once they were out of the ballroom he guided her towards the front door.
‘Marcus! I have heels on.’
He gave her a blank look.
‘And it’s been snowing outside! I want to solve the mystery as much as you do, but I’d rather not get frostbitten toes doing it.’
He nodded and changed direction, heading for the small staircase that led to the kitchens. They ran right through and to the back door.
‘Here,’