believe Mr. Robertson could tell a lie with a straight face. It would be completely beyond him.”
“But they simply moved in and took over. What kind of person does that?”
“One who doesn’t have any other option.” Rowena gazed around at the marble verandah, the palms swaying in the evening breeze, the moon shining up above. “If I’d stumbled on this place, I’d have snatched it up in an instant.”
“You would not have.”
“You’re wrong about that, Faithful. Oh, and by the way, Mr. Robertson told me we don’t have to leave tomorrow. He won’t let Mr. Hubbard kick us out, and he claims Mr. Hubbard was just grumbling and barking, which apparently is his usual habit.”
“It certainly is,” Faith agreed.
“We can stay as long as we like.”
“That’s a relief. I guess.”
“Now then, you’ll have to excuse me.”
“Why?”
“I have to check on the girls and say goodnight. Then I’m off to enjoy a game of chess with Mr. Robertson.”
“You hate chess,” Faith reminded her.
“I hated it when I was forced to play with deaf, grouchy Sister Lucretia. I’m betting, with Mr. Robertson, I’ll like it very much.”
She hurried off, and Faith called, “Rowena!”
Her tone was scolding, and Rowena whipped around. “What, Faith?”
“You shouldn’t spend time alone with him.”
“Well, that’s the difference between you and me. I never obey the rules and you don’t know how to break them. We’re a long way from home, so maybe you should start.”
“Just because we’re on our own and away from what’s familiar, it doesn’t provide license for us to abandon our morals.”
“Speak for yourself. I’m ready to have some fun for a change.”
She sauntered off, and Faith might have called to her again, but she didn’t.
She wasn’t Rowena’s mother. She wasn’t her guardian or her chaperone. With how their convent was structured, all nuns were equal in status except for a few of the older women at the top.
She was Rowena’s friend though, and Rowena was prone to wild conduct. It was why her parents had locked her away. Shouldn’t Faith try to keep her on the straight and narrow? As she’d mentioned, they were a long way from Scotland, and there were too many chances to misbehave.
When Mother Superior had still been alive and traveling with them, Rowena had been meek and biddable. But Mother was deceased, Faith was in charge, and she supposed disaster would strike before she ever saw it coming.
She sighed and strolled out to the end of the verandah to lean on the balustrade. The sky was clear, the stars a brilliant swath of white across the heavens.
Far out on the horizon, she noticed a lantern on a passing ship. She wondered where it was going, if there were passengers on board heading to England. Would she ever see her home country again? She was beginning to suspect she might not, but she wasn’t yet ready to succumb to despair.
Footsteps sounded behind her, and she glanced over to find Mr. Hubbard was approaching. To her disgust, her pulse raced.
He was more handsome than ever, his hair brushing his shoulders, his blue eyes sparkling like diamonds. He was barefoot, dressed in his flowing trousers, but as a small nod to her prudish sensibilities, he’d donned a vest. It didn’t cover much though and was open at the front, exposing too much chest.
He was smoking a cheroot, drinking an alcoholic beverage, and he strutted right up to her, standing much too close, a hip balanced on the rail.
“It’s a magnificent spot, isn’t it?” he said.
“Yes, quite magnificent.”
She was unnerved by his proximity, and she moved away, anxious to put some space between them, but he moved too, so she couldn’t impose the distance she’d intended to establish. She moved again, and he did too, so she gave up trying.
It appeared he was testing her, deliberately working to fluster her, but with all she’d been through the past few months, it would take more than a man
“But they simply moved in and took over. What kind of person does that?”
“One who doesn’t have any other option.” Rowena gazed around at the marble verandah, the palms swaying in the evening breeze, the moon shining up above. “If I’d stumbled on this place, I’d have snatched it up in an instant.”
“You would not have.”
“You’re wrong about that, Faithful. Oh, and by the way, Mr. Robertson told me we don’t have to leave tomorrow. He won’t let Mr. Hubbard kick us out, and he claims Mr. Hubbard was just grumbling and barking, which apparently is his usual habit.”
“It certainly is,” Faith agreed.
“We can stay as long as we like.”
“That’s a relief. I guess.”
“Now then, you’ll have to excuse me.”
“Why?”
“I have to check on the girls and say goodnight. Then I’m off to enjoy a game of chess with Mr. Robertson.”
“You hate chess,” Faith reminded her.
“I hated it when I was forced to play with deaf, grouchy Sister Lucretia. I’m betting, with Mr. Robertson, I’ll like it very much.”
She hurried off, and Faith called, “Rowena!”
Her tone was scolding, and Rowena whipped around. “What, Faith?”
“You shouldn’t spend time alone with him.”
“Well, that’s the difference between you and me. I never obey the rules and you don’t know how to break them. We’re a long way from home, so maybe you should start.”
“Just because we’re on our own and away from what’s familiar, it doesn’t provide license for us to abandon our morals.”
“Speak for yourself. I’m ready to have some fun for a change.”
She sauntered off, and Faith might have called to her again, but she didn’t.
She wasn’t Rowena’s mother. She wasn’t her guardian or her chaperone. With how their convent was structured, all nuns were equal in status except for a few of the older women at the top.
She was Rowena’s friend though, and Rowena was prone to wild conduct. It was why her parents had locked her away. Shouldn’t Faith try to keep her on the straight and narrow? As she’d mentioned, they were a long way from Scotland, and there were too many chances to misbehave.
When Mother Superior had still been alive and traveling with them, Rowena had been meek and biddable. But Mother was deceased, Faith was in charge, and she supposed disaster would strike before she ever saw it coming.
She sighed and strolled out to the end of the verandah to lean on the balustrade. The sky was clear, the stars a brilliant swath of white across the heavens.
Far out on the horizon, she noticed a lantern on a passing ship. She wondered where it was going, if there were passengers on board heading to England. Would she ever see her home country again? She was beginning to suspect she might not, but she wasn’t yet ready to succumb to despair.
Footsteps sounded behind her, and she glanced over to find Mr. Hubbard was approaching. To her disgust, her pulse raced.
He was more handsome than ever, his hair brushing his shoulders, his blue eyes sparkling like diamonds. He was barefoot, dressed in his flowing trousers, but as a small nod to her prudish sensibilities, he’d donned a vest. It didn’t cover much though and was open at the front, exposing too much chest.
He was smoking a cheroot, drinking an alcoholic beverage, and he strutted right up to her, standing much too close, a hip balanced on the rail.
“It’s a magnificent spot, isn’t it?” he said.
“Yes, quite magnificent.”
She was unnerved by his proximity, and she moved away, anxious to put some space between them, but he moved too, so she couldn’t impose the distance she’d intended to establish. She moved again, and he did too, so she gave up trying.
It appeared he was testing her, deliberately working to fluster her, but with all she’d been through the past few months, it would take more than a man
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