Arriving at the inn he saw a wagon parked out front. He had no idea whom it belonged to, nor did he care.
Inside, Kingston was seated at a table with the cadaverous-looking Will Case. The urge to horsewhip them both rose within him.
Kingston looked up with surprise. “What brings you here, Grey?”
“I’ve come for Faith’s things.”
Kingston visibly froze. “What things? Where is she?”
“From the story she told me, I’m certain you don’t care.”
Case snapped. “If you know where she is, I demand you take us to her.”
“I’ll take you to hell first.” He turned his attention back to Kingston. “Where’s her room?”
Kingston eyed him for a long moment. “Is she at your home?”
“Again, I ask why you care. You demanded she leave here, and she did, almost at the cost of her life. When I found her lying in the road she was near death!” The force of his fury seemed to blow Kingston back. “And let this be a warning to you. Never put your hands on her in anger again. Now, direct me to her room.”
Kingston countered smugly, “She deserved what she got for being disobedient and disrespectful.”
Nicholas flashed across the room like lightning, hoisted Kingston up by the lapels, and slammed him into the closest wall. “You outweigh her by nearly a hundred pounds! How dare you hurt her!” He slammed him again.
Kingston whimpered.
“Now where’s her room!” Nicholas demanded in a cold, wintry voice.
Kingston pointed. “Back of the house.”
Nicholas tossed him aside, not caring that he landed on the floor in a heap.
Fury ruling, he entered her room and lit a lamp so that he could see. As he looked around the quiet interior, his anger momentarily ebbed. His eyes touched her bed that was made up so neatly, and the threadbare patchwork quilt on top. He viewed the polished mahogany armoire and the red shutters on the window he’d watched her sneak through the night that now seemed ages ago.
Removing the slips from the two thin pillows on her bed, he filled them with the frayed stockings and mended underwear he found in the armoire drawers. He wrapped the larger items like her few skirts and blouses in the familiar gray cloak she should have been wearing during the storm. The memories of the way she’d looked when he found her so close to death rose again and his emotions did the same. Forcing away the disturbing images, he walked to her writing desk. She had specifically asked that the contents be retrieved, so he made sure the ink pots were closed tightly before placing everything he found inside the desk drawers into one of the pillow slips. As beautiful and unique as she was, the fact that her personal items didn’t even fill up two pillow slips tightened his jaw.
Hefting her things into his arms, he doused the light and walked back to the front of the house. He found Kingston eyeing him angrily over a raised musket. Case had an axe.
The ludicrous scene caused Nick to chuckle softly. He slowly placed Faith’s items on a table beside him, and when he turned back to the men across the room he had two silver French pistols, one in each hand. He saw Kingston’s eyes go wide before they quickly settled on him once more.
Nick said casually, “Muskets are notoriously inaccurate. Even soldiers have difficulties hitting their targets. Did you prime it correctly? Did you pack the load well enough? Will the bore pull to the left or to the right? Will it blow up in your face?”
Kingston’s eyes widened again and the gun shook in his nervous hands.
“Pray you don’t miss, because these,” and he raised the pistols, “are very accurate. The first shot will be for you, and the other for your friend.”
Kingston and Case shared a quick look of panic.
“Put the gun down, sir, before I have to kill you both, and while I may be pleased with that outcome, Faith may not.”
Kingston grudgingly drew the gun down.
“Very smart,” Nick said. “And yes, Faith is at my home. If either of you set foot on my land I will shoot you without a thought.”
He picked up Faith’s things and made his exit without a backwards glance.
Kingston came running out. “You can’t do that! Damn you! Primus took Adeline from me. I’ll not let you make Faith your whore, too!”
Nick stopped. “What did you say?”
Kingston charged him, but Nick being younger and the better fighter had no trouble besting the innkeeper. His rage high, Nick stood over the man on the ground, and the cold air was thick with the streams of their breaths.
“I curse you!” Kingston stormed, wiping blood from his split lip. “May you and that whore of a daughter both rot in hell!”
Case came out and helped Kingston to his feet. Nicholas ignored them as he tied Faith’s things to his saddle and mounted.
“This isn’t the end, Grey!” Kingston promised, and continued to hurl threats and curses as Nick rode away.
His fury full-blown, Nick thought back on Kingston’s surprising revelation. Could his claim be true? Had his mother, Adeline, really been Stuart Kingston’s intended at some point in her life? If so, how had she ended up married to Primus? And could this be the reason for their acrimonious feud? He had no answers, so he put the riddle away for the moment and made his way home to Faith.
Wrapped in the thick quilts Faith watched the glow of the fire while the silence of the house echoed around her. The warmth in the room felt good. Physically she still wasn’t up to snuff, but her mind was clearer and she felt stronger, probably due to the stew. She wondered how Nicholas was faring with her father. She just hoped they hadn’t had a fight because there was no way her father would come out on top. Not that she wanted him to after what he’d done and said, but he was still her father, and her heart ached at his selfishness, so she put thoughts of him away and turned them towards herself. What am I going to do? Being penniless and homeless left her very few options. She knew she could count on Blythe to take her in, but Blythe wouldn’t be coming home until after the birth of her grandchild, and there was no way of knowing how long that might be. Of course, she could ask Ingram and Charity to take her in, and they would, but she didn’t want to impose on them. Their home was small, and like most people in the area they were bringing in just enough income to get by. Having to house and feed another adult would place them under a serious strain and she loved them both too much to add to their burden.
So where did that leave her? She had no other family, so there was no option of seeking shelter with anyone of that nature. She supposed she could make the round of taverns and inns in Boston and the cities nearby to see if someone would hire her. She could wait tables or pour ale; she’d been doing that most of her life. She could also hire herself out to someone’s kitchen or do day work as a housekeeper. Where would I live? Some of the tavern owners allowed their women employees to lease rooms on the premises, but many of the women offered themselves as prostitutes to supplement their wages, and the owners often took a cut. She didn’t see herself doing that, however. She sighed sadly. All because she refused to marry a man she couldn’t abide and because her father— She moved her thoughts away from him again.
The clock on the fireplace mantel showed it to be nearly midnight. Because she had no clear recollection of how long Nicholas had been gone, she wasn’t sure if she should be worrying over his absence or not. She was still uncertain about what day it actually was. He’d said she’d been ill for four days. Was this the night of the fourth day or the fifth? She decided not to worry about that since she had so many other pressing things to occupy her mind.
She looked around at what she could see of the well-appointed bedroom. She’d never been in Primus’s home before. She’d never been in a man’s bedroom before, either; ever. Her presence was going to cause a lot of tongue wagging if word got out, but if her father’s anger held, she was certain he’d have no trouble painting her as having deserved his banishment for not surrendering to his demands. She strongly believed her bread making would hav
e been profitable, given the chance, and she vowed to make a go of it once she got back on her feet. There were doubts, of course, but she didn’t plan to let that scare her off. All she needed was a plan of action and funds, and eventually life would be good again.
A short while later she heard footsteps on the stairs. Nicholas had returned. She took in a deep breath to steady herself. He entered the room quietly, and upon seeing her and the quilts cozied up in the chair by the fire, walked over to her.
“I thought you’d be sleeping.”
“I’ve been awake for a little while.”
“I have your things.”
“Was he difficult?”
“Of course.”
Silence rose for a few moments.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Better. I’m still a bit weak but I’m hoping it will pass quickly. Is he still angry?”
“Yes.”
“So am I,” she declared with a small blaze in her eyes.
He gave her a smile. “I have your things downstairs. I remembered your desk items, too.”
“Thank you.” To the layman’s eye, the paper and inks looked very ordinary, so she had no worries of him tying them to her spying activities. Another facet of her life that might be changed.
“What are you thinking?” he asked, and took a seat on the arm of the chair.
“How my life is going to be altered. I need to find work.”
“Let’s get you up on your feet again first.”
“I can’t stay here with you.”
“At the moment you’re in no condition to do anything else, but let’s suppose in a few days that you are. Where will you go?”
She shrugged. “If I can hire in at one of the taverns, I may be able to work and live there.”
When he didn’t offer a response she turned back to the fire. “Or I could do day work, or housekeep, or do laundry in someone’s home. Maybe the people I work for would let me lease a room. I don’t know. I’ve never had to contemplate any of this before.”
He still didn’t respond so she looked up at him. “Have you nothing to say? Suggestions? Anything to offer?”
He showed his amusement. He shrugged his shoulders. “I have a solution. You stay here.”
Faith almost laughed. “In what capacity?”
“My housekeeper.”
“Your housekeeper,” she echoed doubtfully.
“I’m looking for one. Blythe didn’t know of anyone and I haven’t found anyone in the area on my own, so the job is open.”
Faith held his eyes. “I thought you were looking for a wife.”
“Truthfully that was more Blythe’s idea.”
She studied him in an attempt to glean the seriousness of his offer. “Even if I was addled enough to say yes, I’m still in need of a room.”
“I’ve three here that you may choose from.”
“You’re serious, aren’t you?”
“I am. If you think about it, it is the perfect solution.”
“I can’t live here alone with you.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s just not done. Have you any idea of the scandal that would cause?”
“I thought you told me you weren’t a fleeing woman.”
She quieted. Thoughts of that day returned and she was again under the birch trees being set on fire by nothing more than the sound of his voice, the look in his eyes, and the gentle touch of his fingers on her chin. She blinked to pull herself back to the present. “I’m not. Some people have thought me scandalous for varying reasons, but never for salacious behavior.”
“Who says it has to be that?”
“Because you’re involved, Nicholas.”
He laughed. “Then I’ll promise to keep my attraction under control.”
“And you lie. You’ve already admitted that you do to get your way.”
He paused and said nonchalantly, “There is that.”
Faith shook her head and turned her eyes back to the fire.
Nicholas was enjoying her and couldn’t wait for her to be fully recovered. This last bit of conversation had him all but convinced that he’d miss out on something very special if he let her leave, and no matter the end result of the attraction between them, his offer of employment continued to be the perfect solution.
“Not to mention, my father would undoubtedly come here and shoot you if he knew I was openly living here with you.”
“He’s already made an attempt.”
Surprise flashed into her face. “When?”
“Tonight, when I was retrieving your things.”
She stared speechless.
“I assumed you didn’t want him dead so I convinced him to rethink his plan. Case was there, too. I threatened to shoot them both.”
“This is getting far more serious by the moment.”
He smiled at the wonder in her voice. “Did you know my mother was once your father’s sweetheart?”
Once again, she was caught off guard. “No. Where did you hear that?”
“From your father. He was very angry with me for wanting to take your belongings, mainly because I wasn’t a bit polite.”
“He makes being polite difficult most times.”
“This evening he was even more so.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No apologies needed. I accomplished the task.”
Faith decided that if he were less handsome, he might be easier to deal with. “So what did he say?”
“Something to the effect that my father had taken Adeline from him, and he wasn’t going to allow me to do the same with you.”
She mulled that over for a few moments before asking, “Do you think this is what caused their disagreement?”
“Possibly.”
“He’s never said anything about this to me. I wonder what happened?”
“So do I.”
Their eyes held, and for a moment as she felt a familiar heat rising, she looked away.
“You still haven’t replied to my offer.”
“I have. I appreciate your concern but my answer remains no.”
“So you have someplace to go when you recover?”
“No,” she replied, shaking her head.
He reached out and turned her face to his. “Faith, it doesn’t matter what people think of you. It only matters what you think of yourself. Do you honestly want to work in a tavern filled with drunk soldiers?”
“No.” She backed out of his hold. “If I could have my wish, my living would be baking bread.”
He cocked his head. “Really.”
“Yes, I tried to convince my father to give me a loan, but he said no. Our conversation about my making bread so I could help supplement our income is what started the argument that led to his order to leave.”
“I thought you said you were arguing about Case?”
“We were, but my proposal was what set everything in motion.”
“So explain this idea to me.”
She did, and when she was finished, she said to him earnestly, “If you truly wish to help me, then make me a loan so that I may go into business and I will return your funds with interest.”
He could see her determination. In truth, he wasn’t doing much with his money at the moment besides secretly buying guns for Hall’s small regiment of minutemen. He had more than enough to spare, and she was correct about everyone needing bread. It was a staple of life. Soldiers in particular were a ready group because there were never enough rations to satisfy everyone’s hunger. “And where do you propose to do the baking?”
“Since I can’t do it at the inn, the only other grate I know of large enough is Blythe’s, and she’s out of town. What size is the one here?”
“A bit larger than hers, I do believe.”
“Really? May I see it?”
“You turn down my offer for employment, but you might like to use my grate?”
She smiled at him for the first time. “Possibly.”
�
��Did I tell you the salary?”
“No.”
He did, and the amount made her mouth drop.
He asked, “Not enough?”
“Oh goodness, that is more than enough.” She searched his face. “And you’ll want nothing other than housekeeping?”
“And meals and laundry, and that is the truth, Faith. I wouldn’t lie to you about my intentions, nor have I ever forced myself on a woman, so that you’ll know.”
Faith found his offer astonishing. “With that amount I could easily get myself on my feet and be able to put money away as well.”
“Yes, you could.”
“But why would you make such a grand offer?”
“Because I want you to take it and because you need it.”
He was correct, her needs at the moment were great. “And no strings attached?”
“None. If you’re going to be thought scandalous you might as well be compensated for it.”
It was the most outrageous offer ever proposed to her; tempting, too. Extremely tempting.
“May I think on it?”
“Of course.”
Faith found this hard to believe. He was offering her a way to support herself both now and in the future. No one in her right mind would turn down such a boon. Granted there would be talk, probably a wagon full, but more than likely her father was already telling anyone who’d listen that he’d cast her out for being disrespectful and the talk had already begun. Faith didn’t wish to be the subject of gossip, but she didn’t wish to remain homeless and penniless forever either. In the end, the decision was an easy one to make. “I’ll take the job.”
“Good. Welcome to the household.”
There’d be no going back now and she felt better than she had since heading out into the ice storm. With hard work, she might be able to make enough to eventually leave Boston and start anew if the gossip became too much to bear. At the moment, however, her world had suddenly brightened and she was grateful. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure. I can stop beating the bushes for a housekeeper now.”
“I’ll start first thing in the morning.”
He shook his head. “You’ll start when your strength returns. Until then, you get to laze around and do nothing. I didn’t bring you back to life to have you relapse. I’d also like to enjoy a full night’s sleep sometime soon.”
Midnight Page 14