quite heartless. Faith could suffer at his hands. Do you understand?”
Vaughn nodded. “Don’t worry, old fellow. I do.”
Edward grimaced. “Not so much of the old, if you don’t mind.”
“I haven’t had a chance to tell you about the property I’ve found,” Vaughn said as they strolled after Honor along the lake’s shore.
“Such abundant birdlife!” Honor called from the middle of a remarkable stone bridge spanning the lake. “This is the perfect spot from which to view them. Do come and look, you two. We don’t have much time. The walk has given me an appetite. I shouldn’t like to miss luncheon.”
Chapter Six
Wearing a gown of white gauze embroidered with blue silk leaves, Faith entered the ballroom alongside her parents. After the Master of Ceremonies introduced the orchestra, Lady Crewe called a cotillion.
Several young men crossed the room to Faith, Mr. Sefton arriving first. She politely accepted his request and rose, leaving her mother smiling her approval.
Earlier, Faith’s father had taken her aside. He considered Sefton, a baron’s heir, to be a cut above many. Both plump in the pocket and personable. “He’s dancing attendance on you. Set your cap at him, Faith, and he will be yours.”
To be fair, Mr. Sefton was younger than Lord Gillingham. Moreover, his chin didn’t recede into his neck, as did Lord Fitzgibbon’s. Sincere hazel eyes met hers as they joined the dancers on the floor.
Vaughn and his partner formed part of their set. Vaughn danced with Lady Rosamond Montrose. Faith and Vaughn came together during the dance. Despite his polite smile, the brief touch of their hands made her heart leap. Returning to Mr. Sefton, she smiled and steeled herself to meet Vaughn again as the dance progressed to its conclusion.
The music ended, and the dancers promenaded from the floor. Taking her arm, Mr. Sefton inquired after her sisters. He nodded thoughtfully at her reply and spoke of his sister Mary, skilled with a needle. The conversation continued as they left the floor and centered on his coin collection. All Faith need do in reply was utter an occasional murmur of astonishment, while her thoughts returned to Vaughn. His appearance hadn’t escaped her notice. In dark evening clothes and crisp white cravat, he was without doubt the most handsome man in the room. Lady Rosamond looked pretty in primrose yellow, which suited her chestnut hair. As Faith, escorted by Sefton, crossed the floor to her mother, she stole another glance at the couple. Rosamond was talking animatedly. Vaughn’s head was lowered as if not to miss a word. A blaze of irrational jealousy caught Faith in its grip.
“…not to mention my Roman coins. I uncovered them in a Yorkshire field,” Mr. Sefton continued.
“What tremendous luck,” she said in ringing approval. “Many who hunt for ancient artifacts have little success beyond a piece of broken pottery.”
He patted her hand resting on his arm. “I look forward to showing them to you.”
“Did you enjoy the ball?” Honor stuck her head round the bedroom door as Faith climbed beneath the covers.
“It was wonderful, the music superb.” Faith fought to inject enthusiasm into her voice. The night had been long and rather tedious. She looked forward to going home.
Honor came to perch on the bed. “You danced more than once with Mr. Sefton. Has he captured your interest?”
“Not captured precisely,” Faith said carefully. “He seems close to his sister, which is nice. He is to join us on our trip to take the waters.”
“Do you find him attractive?”
“I suppose I do.”
Honor reached over and smoothed the frown lines gathering on Faith’s brow. “Don’t worry so much. Things have a way of resolving themselves.”
“Do they? I wish I could believe it.” Faith sighed. “I feel like everything is slipping away, gathering momentum, and whether I like it or not, I’ll find myself married to someone I don’t
Vaughn nodded. “Don’t worry, old fellow. I do.”
Edward grimaced. “Not so much of the old, if you don’t mind.”
“I haven’t had a chance to tell you about the property I’ve found,” Vaughn said as they strolled after Honor along the lake’s shore.
“Such abundant birdlife!” Honor called from the middle of a remarkable stone bridge spanning the lake. “This is the perfect spot from which to view them. Do come and look, you two. We don’t have much time. The walk has given me an appetite. I shouldn’t like to miss luncheon.”
Chapter Six
Wearing a gown of white gauze embroidered with blue silk leaves, Faith entered the ballroom alongside her parents. After the Master of Ceremonies introduced the orchestra, Lady Crewe called a cotillion.
Several young men crossed the room to Faith, Mr. Sefton arriving first. She politely accepted his request and rose, leaving her mother smiling her approval.
Earlier, Faith’s father had taken her aside. He considered Sefton, a baron’s heir, to be a cut above many. Both plump in the pocket and personable. “He’s dancing attendance on you. Set your cap at him, Faith, and he will be yours.”
To be fair, Mr. Sefton was younger than Lord Gillingham. Moreover, his chin didn’t recede into his neck, as did Lord Fitzgibbon’s. Sincere hazel eyes met hers as they joined the dancers on the floor.
Vaughn and his partner formed part of their set. Vaughn danced with Lady Rosamond Montrose. Faith and Vaughn came together during the dance. Despite his polite smile, the brief touch of their hands made her heart leap. Returning to Mr. Sefton, she smiled and steeled herself to meet Vaughn again as the dance progressed to its conclusion.
The music ended, and the dancers promenaded from the floor. Taking her arm, Mr. Sefton inquired after her sisters. He nodded thoughtfully at her reply and spoke of his sister Mary, skilled with a needle. The conversation continued as they left the floor and centered on his coin collection. All Faith need do in reply was utter an occasional murmur of astonishment, while her thoughts returned to Vaughn. His appearance hadn’t escaped her notice. In dark evening clothes and crisp white cravat, he was without doubt the most handsome man in the room. Lady Rosamond looked pretty in primrose yellow, which suited her chestnut hair. As Faith, escorted by Sefton, crossed the floor to her mother, she stole another glance at the couple. Rosamond was talking animatedly. Vaughn’s head was lowered as if not to miss a word. A blaze of irrational jealousy caught Faith in its grip.
“…not to mention my Roman coins. I uncovered them in a Yorkshire field,” Mr. Sefton continued.
“What tremendous luck,” she said in ringing approval. “Many who hunt for ancient artifacts have little success beyond a piece of broken pottery.”
He patted her hand resting on his arm. “I look forward to showing them to you.”
“Did you enjoy the ball?” Honor stuck her head round the bedroom door as Faith climbed beneath the covers.
“It was wonderful, the music superb.” Faith fought to inject enthusiasm into her voice. The night had been long and rather tedious. She looked forward to going home.
Honor came to perch on the bed. “You danced more than once with Mr. Sefton. Has he captured your interest?”
“Not captured precisely,” Faith said carefully. “He seems close to his sister, which is nice. He is to join us on our trip to take the waters.”
“Do you find him attractive?”
“I suppose I do.”
Honor reached over and smoothed the frown lines gathering on Faith’s brow. “Don’t worry so much. Things have a way of resolving themselves.”
“Do they? I wish I could believe it.” Faith sighed. “I feel like everything is slipping away, gathering momentum, and whether I like it or not, I’ll find myself married to someone I don’t
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