“Stranded!” Aurora stood. “You mean we are just going to leave Faith at some strange location and hope the Duke of Breckenridge is a gentleman? We can’t just take it on goodwill that he will stay and protect her. He might take her virtue and leave her with no protection. What do we know about him beyond our suspicion that he is a spy?”
Shaking her head, Poppy sat on the edge of her seat. “I don’t think so. He is a reasonable man. He was very cordial to Rhys and me when we went to see him after our spying incident was discovered. He wasn’t happy with us, but he let us in and spoke to us. He was kind, and I dare say, even friendly.”
Rhys nodded. “I’m not sure I would have been so gracious in his shoes.”
“But does that mean he won’t take advantage of a woman alone in the country?” Aurora wrapped her arms around her middle.
“He does not strike me as a man who would want a woman who was not willing.” Rhys’s cheeks and neck pinked.
Faith couldn’t blame him for being embarrassed when speaking about such a subject with four women. She was certain her own face was berry red. “I’m willing to take the chance. He may have secrets, he may even be working for the government, but I don’t believe him a monster, Aurora.”
Mercy drew a breath and pulled herself to her full seated height. “Then that’s settled. We go on with the madness of finding a country house where we can strand Faith and His Grace for a set period of time. The rest will be up to you, Faith.”
A foreboding knot settled in the pit of Faith’s stomach. “I think it is the only way to satisfy my sense of right and wrong with regard to Nicholas.”
Aurora sat and leaned back against the cushion. “If you are sure, you have my full support, Faith. Should I call for more tea or have we had enough for today?”
“I can’t drink another cup.” Poppy curled into Rhys’s side.
“We should be getting home.” Rhys smiled at his wife.
Faith said, “One last thing, and it’s regarding Mr. Arafa.”
“What about him?” Rhys narrowed his gaze.
Nicholas said something about his being lonely here in England. I thought perhaps when we entertain here at West Lane, we might be inclined to invite him. I like him, and Poppy and Rhys have become good friends with him.
“I have no objections.” Aurora smiled. “You three have spoken so much about him and I’ve only met him once. I would like to get to know him better.”
Poppy frowned. “I was disgusted with the others at the dinner party.”
Rhys patted her knee. “They are typical hypocrites. They come to his home to wheedle information or money from him, but the color of his skin offends them so much they won’t eat his food. It was abominable.”
“And you know none of them would dare invite him into their homes.” Faith wished she could have slapped Mary Yates and her parents silly.
Aurora sighed. “I can’t promise that people within our circle won’t behave the same. I can only be sure of those in this room being kind to Mr. Arafa.”
“Perhaps that will be enough.” Faith hoped it would be.
Chapter 3
Three weeks later
Parvus Castle
Shropshire County, England
By the time Nick arrived at Parvus Castle the light waned in the west. He’d ridden steadily, stopping only at dark, for more than three days after receiving Geb’s note of an urgent matter. Geb might have finally gotten him the names and locations of the French spies he’d been researching the past year.
At the front drive, a young boy took Nick’s horse to be cared for. There were rarely many servants at the small castle, which was used mainly as a hunting lodge or to get away from life for a while.
Knowing there was no butler, Nick didn’t bother to knock. Besides, he was tired and badly in need of a warm fire and a good draught of brandy. He banged open the front door. “Geb!”
Brushing off the snow from his coat, he tossed the wet outerwear on a bench by the door and stomped the mud from his boots.
A shuffle of movement came from the salon.
A white ball of barking fur loped into the foyer and jumped on Nick’s legs.
“Who are you?” he asked in a softer voice. “Has Geb gone and gotten himself a puppy?” Nick knelt to scratch behind the pup’s ear.
Nick stood, and the puppy continued his happy yipping and followed along as they drew closer to the salon.
“Geb?” Nicholas turned into the salon and froze.
Nick blinked several times as if doing so might erase the vision of Faith sitting in Geb’s hunting lodge. She was as lovely as the first time he’d seen her, though less formally attired in a pale green day dress. Several brown curls had escaped and hung around her heart-shaped face.
Gathering his wits, he stepped inside, careful not to stomp on the puppy, who continued his elation. Nick searched for Geb in the large salon before turning back to Faith. “Where is Geb?”
“Mr. Arafa is not here.” Her voice was soft and melodious, while she was wide-eyed and clasping her hands so tightly, her knuckles had turned white.
Was she afraid of him?
“What are you doing here, Lady Faith?” Nick loomed over her.
She craned her neck and looked at him. “Mr. Arafa has loaned me the use of this castle for a fortnight.”
A level of anger that only Faith could conjure built inside Nick. “Geb sent me a message. He said it was urgent I meet him here immediately.”
Standing, she forced him to step back. Though it didn’t keep her from having to look up to him. She might be bold, but she was petite. “I’m sorry we were forced to deceive you, Your Grace. It was necessary for you and I to have some time together where you cannot ignore me.”
“Are you saying you talked Geb Arafa into deceiving me as well?” Nick continued to blink. He was certain at some point his friend would pop out from behind some door, tell him it was all a bad joke, and explain why Faith was at Parvus.
“It was necessary and he was very kind to comply.” She pursed her lips and pulled her clasped hands to just under her ample breasts.
His gaze fell to her splendid décolletage before he could help himself.
Turning away, he stormed to the window. None of this was possible and yet, here she was with no sign of her friends or his. A steady snow had fallen for the past twenty minutes and the ground was coated already. “I can’t even imagine how you have coerced my dear friend to go along with your schemes. It is clear that you have powers of persuasion that I have underestimated.”
He expected her to appear smug when he turned, but her slumped shoulders and bowed head didn’t look pleased with herself. She looked contrite and ashamed. “I wish there had been another way. I tried to speak to you at Mr. Arafa’s dinner party, but you wouldn’t give me a chance. Besides, I want more than to apologize for spying on you.”
What he should have done was leave immediately. Curiosity kept him rooted to the floor near the large window. “What do you want now?” It came out harsher than he intended, but he wasn’t sorry. This infernal woman had duped him for the last time. He would go back to London and tell her mother the engagement was off. Let her reputation be damned.
The puppy sat between them and swiveled his gaze back and forth. His black eyes were curious in his puffy white fur. A few black spots on his floppy triangular