So when Lord Delmore responded, “If you’re not going to, I just might follow her to London and see how matters progress,” Crispin couldn’t have been more astonished. He was also astonished at the lurch of dismay that lodged in his chest cavity and hardened into a feeling he was quite loath to identify. For he really had been on his guard not to let the beautiful and engaging Miss Faith Montague get under his defences.
Perhaps Crispin’s expression betrayed him for immediately Lord Delmore said, “Naturally, you have the superior suit, Crispin. You and Miss Montague make a good match, to my mind, and if I were standing here as your father, I’d be encouraging you to consider the merits of aligning yourself with a young woman with a lively intelligence and sharp wit, not to mention a good solid backbone. They’re few and far between in my experience. Lord, don’t I know it having been married more than thirty years and rearing a daughter frighteningly similar to my wife, God rest her soul.”
“You think I should make her an offer?” Crispin was incredulous.
“You won’t, of course.” Lord Delmore stared at the hearthrug, his expression wistful. “She’d make you a good wife, but if you loved her like she deserves, then you’d disregard your father’s strictures entirely. But I know you, Crispin. Ever the dutiful son and you couldn’t be happy if you’d displeased your pater, as I see it.” He hesitated, raised his head and said very seriously, “Give it another few days, my boy, and if you haven’t fallen head over heels, then I hope you’ll agree that all’s fair in love and all that. In which case, if Miss Montague is indeed prepared to marry without love on her side, then I’m sure I could make a good case for her considering me a good prospect.”
Faith? Lady Delmore? Living as neighbour to Crispin’s aunt and uncle? He tried not to grimace. To keep a cool head. What Lord Delmore said about Crispin’s reverence for his father’s word made him sound more like a kowtowing schoolboy than a young man of integrity who was of one mind when his pater spoke only common sense regarding Crispin’s need to prioritise his career over his marital concerns.
“I’m sure she’d consider you very favourably,” he said carefully, hating the way the words sounded yet knowing he could never make the young lady a similar offer. And wasn’t it just as well he’d kept his distance and not allowed free rein to the feelings inside him that might have escalated beyond his control?
“You think so?” Now it was Lord Delmore who sounded like the schoolboy.
Crispin nodded and smiled weakly.
“Not so clever, Faith.” Lady Vernon sucked on her gums as she took a turn about the gravel path that surrounded the house. Her head was lowered and her sharp nose, in silhouette, looked like a miniature scythe. Faith knew Lady Vernon would not hesitate to stab her in the back if it profited the old woman. In truth, her own desperation was rising for Lady Vernon was right. Yet again, Faith had failed to strike the right note.
Yesterday’s episode by the lake had elicited Lord Delmore’s chivalry, but left Mr Westaway unmoved. He’d barely registered what had occurred though he’d been all solicitude in the drawing room, later. However, he’d deferred all evening to Lord Delmore, who’d paid Faith all manner of compliments and engaged her in light conversation. His attention had been enough to convince both Faith and Lady Vernon that the older man was interested.
“And don’t think you can set yourself up with a peer and not have to account to the rest of us,” Lady Vernon now muttered, echoing Faith’s innermost thoughts. For what if Lord Delmore did surprisingly pursue her and offer her the respectability that would secure her future, and ensure she didn’t ever land up in a gutter selling herself for a few pennies? She knew of enough girls who shared that fate, and she’d always considered she was clever enough for it not to happen to her.
No, Faith had believed she could secure her heart in a completely ironclad box so that the decisions she made to safeguard her future were entirely quarantined from any fanciful notions of romance. Love was not going to make a fool out of her.
So why was her disappointment that Mr Westaway seemed happy enough to let Lord Delmore pay court to her so acute? She was piqued from a distinctly personal point of view that had nothing to do with the greatest conundrum that must be faced—unless she carried out Mrs Gedge’s orders she’d be out on her ear. Lady Vernon would see to that at the very least.
“I’m not going to encourage Lord Delmore, if that’s what you’re concerned about,” she muttered, head bent against the brisk breeze, feeling on the back of her neck a spattering of raindrops from the branches of a monkey puzzle tree they passed under during their walk.
“Because you’re in love with Mr Westaway?” the older woman asked. “It’s been fascinating to watch, and I can’t make up my mind whether you actually are a better actress than I’d given you credit for, or whether you’ve allowed yourself to be moonstruck by impossibilities.”
“What does it matter?” Faith raised her head. “You’ll get your cut, Lady Vernon.”
“I will.” There was a distinct smugness to her satisfaction, which made Faith wonder if Lady Vernon in fact had more belief in Faith’s eventual success than Faith had. After a pause, the old woman said, “Tomorrow is the day you’ll win him. I know what needs doing.”
“Do you, Lady Vernon?”
She nodded.
Faith wasn’t sure what to think. Lady Vernon had proved in the past that she could provide the impetus to get Mr Westaway to act in a more tender manner towards Faith. Even if he did withdraw immediately afterwards.
Lady Vernon had stopped and regarded Faith carefully.
“For such a well-tutored professional, you really don’t know what to do when you’re in love, do you?”
“I’m not in love.”
“No?” Lady Vernon’s look was ugly in its assessment. She shrugged. “Well, that’s neither here nor there, is it, when you won’t be able to claim him. But tomorrow he will realise he loves you and he has to have you. After that, there’s no going back. Not for him, anyway. As for you, well, my girl, you have no choice but to do what you were engaged to do.”
Faith turned to face the house and caught a glimpse of a face looking down at her from through the diamond-paned windows on the second story. Mr Westaway’s bedchamber? Was that where she’d find herself tomorrow night?
She wanted to be there.
And because she wanted to be there, so much…with him...she realised that perhaps the only way to avoid disaster was to scupper Lady Vernon’s plans.
Because, now she suspected there was more to this than simply making Mr Westaway fall in love with her only to break his heart.
No, there was something far deeper at play than she’d given credence to, and unless she pulled the pin on this charade right now, she’d be the one paying the penalty for the rest of her life.
She was sure of it.