Faith And Her Devoted Duke

by Lynda Hurst

  “Faith wants to meet with me here at my home, but she doesn’t say why. What do you know about this?” Devlin narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

  Faust shrugged both shoulders. “I was only instructed to deliver the message, Your Grace. She will reveal all if you agree to the appointed time.”

  Devlin mulled over his options as he re-scanned Faith’s carefully crafted script. With his father’s letter still clutched in his hands, Devlin rather thought that there was no better time than the present to have everything hashed out between them. Considering the new information that had been revealed today, Faith was owed the knowledge that her mother had not abandoned her completely.

  Snapping his head up, Devlin announced to Faust, “I will meet with her, Faust, but on my terms.”

  “Your Grace?” Faust raised a brow, not understanding. “My lady has appointments all day tomorrow and requested your time with her for today.”

  “I find I cannot accommodate her with a visit here at Prestonridge Manor. Instead, I will provide you a ride in my personal carriage back to your mistress.”

  “Then I will tell my lady she will have to arrange another time then,” Faust bowed and prepared to exit the room.

  “No, Faust, we will meet today. I will be accompanying you on the ride there.”

  6

  Observing the picturesque cottage from within his parked carriage, Devlin was surprised to see Atwell Cottage neat and orderly. Faust had jumped down from the driver’s long seat and entered the house to inform his mistress of a visitor.

  Stepping down, Devlin turned this way and that, marveling that the house had new paint and abundantly colorful but organized flower beds bordering Faith’s home. Well-kept, indeed, he thought. Whether in reference to Faith’s status as someone’s mistress or to her home, he hadn’t decided which.

  While waiting for Faust to reappear, Devlin continued his silent reflection at her doorstep. There was every possibility that all of this simple elegance surrounding Faith’s home was bought and paid for by the currency of Faith’s own womanly charms. Disgust arose in him, at himself for driving the events that led Faith here and at Faith for allowing herself to be bought.

  The door re-opened, not by Faust as he expected, but by Faith herself. Shock rolled through him as he scrutinized every bit of her. She was dressed simply in a light green day gown, her familiar red hair tied up in a simple knot with wayward strands floating about her face. Her face was flushed, presumably from racing to greet him at the door.

  “Devlin?” Faith tentatively asked. It had been six years, and she almost didn’t recognize him. He had filled out to a more impressive size since his youth, his chest broader, his shoulders larger. Comparing his face now against what she remembered, she found it contained more angular planes and corners that spoke of strength and stubbornness. And she loved that the boy she had once adored had turned out into a well-made, upstanding edition of himself.

  “Yes, Faith, it’s me.” Dumbfounded at the sight of her, that was all he could manage. She took his breath away with her fragile beauty, clearly unlike her mother in that regard. Her petite, willowy form lent to her elfin looks, but it was that stubborn set to her chin and jaw that opposed one’s initial presumption that she was delicate.

  “Come in,” she said finally, breaking the spell she held over him. Embarrassed that he was staring overlong, he ducked his head as he followed her into her parlor. Seating herself in what was obviously her favorite chair, fluffy and resplendent with cushions and frills, she motioned for him to sit across from her at the chair opposite. He chose to stand instead and looked about the room. Decorated in soft creams and light accent colors and simple furniture, it was a decidedly feminine room, suitable for its current owner.

  Faith cleared her throat daintily, having given herself a few seconds to calm her nerves brought on by Devlin’s imposing presence in her tiny parlor. To her, it seemed like his big frame swallowed up her personal allotment of air in the room as he had no such trouble breathing normally. With a buoyant smile, she declared, “Thank you for coming to see me so promptly, Devlin. There’s something I needed to speak to you about that couldn’t be said suitably in a letter.”

  As she spoke, Devlin hadn’t looked her in the eye, but on her last word, he rounded on her with a look of barely repressed ferocity. With utter calm belying his expression, he spoke in a low voice, “Faith, after all of these years, I find you here, living alone with a bloody valet, and no husband in sight. Who is paying for this cottage? How are you able to live here with no other assistance? How are you affording your meals?”

  Astonished, Faith could not form words, not after Devlin had just insinuated that she was a kept woman. Her character had just been maligned by his ignorant conclusions, her temper had immediately rose to the fore, and she leaped from her chair to face him fully.

  Thrown off balance, she still reeled from the shock of his wild assumption. He continued on as if she didn’t understand his viewpoint, and she clenched her fists tighter, the more he spoke. “You are the daughter of an earl! No matter how degenerate your father was, you are still a member of the peerage, and should have a care for your reputation,” he admonished.

  Frowning harder, she barely managed to rein in her temper before saying in a voice dripping with derision, “Oh? Is it so unbelievable to think I might have managed to live here without outside help? Because I’m a woman, I need a man to help me get by? You, sir, are crossing the line to presume such about me without even having to inquire about my welfare these past six years!” Sickened by the sight of him, she flounced to the opposite side of the room to put as much distance between them as possible. But she still needed his help and could not quite ask him to leave her house for insulting her.

  Devlin threw up his hands, and replied, “What is one to think when you have this house to yourself with no other income forthcoming? Your father hadn’t left you a shilling, and yet I see you’re living quite comfortably here. And you have been seen in a public street in town, cavorting with a strange man just the other day!”

  Eyes widening, Faith could not let that last go by without a comment. “Where did you dig up that bit of information? Did it not occur to you that appearances can be deceiving? That the man I was meeting yesterday was someone in my employ?” It was Devlin’s turn to raise a brow at that. “Yes, Devlin. I have ample means to spend my money as I see fit. And I chose to pay a man, several men in fact, to help me discover my mother’s whereabouts.”

  Devlin threw her a dubious look, still unbelieving. Stubborn to the core, he still clung to the idea that she was not entirely innocent and that the strange man his sister had seen with Faith could still possibly be Faith’s lover. He soured inwardly at the thought of the sweet girl he had once known with any man, deeming the whole male population unworthy of her.

  He insisted doggedly, “You still don’t understand how your actions may look to others, Faith. Your standing in society is still very much under scrutiny despite your determination to hide from it!”

  Faith gasped in outrage. “You think so little of me then? You doubtless think I’m just like my mother; I knew what the gossipmongers said about her.” Hurt that her childhood hero would admit he thought so poorly of her, she turned away to hide the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks. And he had never bothered to find out her side of the story before drawing up outrageous conclusions that put her in a bad light. But why would he, considering they had not spoken to each other in six years?

  Watching her hunched shoulders, Devlin felt rotten for treating her thus, knowing he spoke rashly. He kept silent, not knowing what to say for a few heartbeats, when Faith finally spoke. “I do not cavort with strange men. I make my own way without having to resort to depending on anyone, least of all, a man.” Fully turning to him now with angry tears, she hissed, “And I will not let people like you put me down for surviving this far with no one’s help. I did what I could, with my own talents and ingenuity, to see that we wouldn
’t starve. You must have known that my brother and I were on our own once you turned my family out of our home.” She stared through him, hoping her heightened feelings would penetrate through his thick skull.

  Guilt hit him full-force at the reminder of what he had done to her for it was ultimately he who had brought her to this point due to a short-lived bout of crazed anger on his part. He hadn’t cared to find out Faith’s side of things before drawing what he thought was the most obvious conclusion in her case. Unlike Faith, most women of the nobility depended on the men in their lives to look out for their financial welfare. To be fair, it was unheard of in his experience for an earl’s daughter to live independently, short of being a wealthy heiress or a widow. He had hurt her, and he found it upset him deeply that he was the cause.

  “I’m sorry, Faith,” he said sincerely. “For hurting you and your family back then. And for just now. I came here to confront you about the indecorous way I thought you had been living and to set you to rights. I see now, that’s not the case. I’ve been an ass, and I apologize.” He produced a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to her.

  She took it and dried her tears neatly. “Thank you,” she said, after delicately mopping up her face. “For your apology and your handkerchief. I’ll return it once it’s cleaned and pressed.” But he could see that Faith was putting on a brave front by holding herself rigidly, her face suddenly impassive when just moments before she had received him warmly and openly.

  He shrugged. “No, keep it. I have many others waiting for me at home.” She nodded in reply, balled the soiled handkerchief, and stuffed it into her dress pocket.

  “Let’s begin anew,” he said, by way of extending a figurative olive branch. Straightening to his full height, he swept her a courtly bow. “My lady, it is my deepest honor to be invited here today. I am forever your humble servant.” He looked up at her then with a teasing glint sparkling in his eye, hoping his theatrics would at least produce a smile.

  Wide-eyed, Faith had never been teased like this, but she knew it was her cue to play along. Dropping into the deepest curtsy she could manage in her day gown, she replied, “And it is with great joy that I savor your company today, Your Grace.”

  Unbending from the bow he performed for her sake, he guffawed in amusement at their miniature play of overdone courtly manners. “Now that our pleasantries are out of the way, let’s get down to the heart of this appointment, shall we?” Devlin said, after having calmed down. With the both of them in visibly relaxed postures and having Faith join him in delighted laughter pleased Devlin, especially seeing that Faith had enjoyed their active participation in such silliness. The effortless manner in which they playacted opposed the many years passed since they last were natural and at ease which other, and the two of them fell back into their informal stances.

  Once more, Faith waved Devlin to a seat and proceeded to seat herself just as Faust entered the parlor with a tea service and biscuits. Priding himself in his astuteness, Faust did not fail to notice Faith’s tear-stained cheeks and understood immediately that the duke was the cause. In tune with Faust’s current emotional state, Faith shook her head to show him she was fine before he could blister the duke’s ears with a dressing-down for upsetting his mistress. To prevent an unpleasant confrontation between Devlin and her valet, Faith instructed, “Faust, if you please, would you see to tonight’s menu? I have invited the duke to take supper with us.” Devlin’s brows raised in surprise for she had not invited him, but he understood her diversion tactics.

  “Very well,” Faust said, stiffly. On his way out, he had given her a look that said he’d be there in seconds flat if the duke were to try anything. Faith, amused and grateful, gave him an affectionate smile, one which Devlin readily noticed.

  Lifting a sardonic brow, Devlin indicated, “Your servant seems to be quite protective of you.”

  Aware of Devlin’s train of thought, Faith said in exasperation, “You can stop right there. If you say another word that offends me greatly, you will find yourself tossed out on your ear.”

  “Oh-ho!” Devlin exclaimed. “Kitten has claws and thinks she’s a lion, does she? Consider me tight-lipped then. I only wanted to say that you were, and are, fortunate to have someone so loyal.”

  Devlin seemed to enjoy making a habit of raising her hackles in annoyance more times than she should allow. Relaxing once again, she replied, “Yes, Faust is very dear to both Ethan and me. He had been a member of the Revelstoke kitchen staff before he came to look after us as our valet, cook, and butler all rolled into one.”

  “Your valet, Faith? I find it hard to believe he serves you in that capacity.”

  Faith looked at him as if he was obtuse. “I could only afford and trust one person in my employ, and that person is Faust. Since Faust is a male, it would be silly to call him my lady’s maid, now, wouldn’t it?”

  “That’s absurd,” remarked Devlin. “And you have grown some cheek in you, I see. But still, a personal manservant for a lady? Everything I’m learning about you so far keeps presenting me with odd surprises. You surprise me, Faith.”

  “Glad I could be of entertainment value to you,” retorted Faith, dryly, “but we digress. May we discuss the reason I’ve asked for an audience with you now?” Teasing done, Devlin was very interested in Faith’s motivation for seeking him out. But before she started, he thought it imperative to bring up his reason for seeing her first.

  “Faith, before you divulge what that reason is, I need you to know something important. I received a letter just this morning from my father’s attorney, one that concerns the both of us. Unfortunately, this letter, meant for you from your mother, arrived six years late, and was meant to be delivered not long after both your mother and my father disappeared.” He offered the letter for her to read. While she quickly read its contents, Devlin continued, “I know it’s lateness doesn’t help you now, but I am deeply sorry that it couldn’t help you six years ago when it should have.”

  Having finished the letter, Faith looked up at him, tears once again revisiting her green eyes. In a watery voice, she explained, “She wanted Ethan and me, Devlin. She loved me after all, but I didn’t know.” She released a hiccupping sob, and went on, “All along, I thought she abandoned us, but she didn’t. She was going to take us with her once she secured a divorce and married your father.” At this point, she broke down completely and Devlin, eager to comfort her, wrapped her in the strong circle of his arms while she sobbed out her pain.

  7

  Once Faith’s sobs subsided to merely sniffles, Devlin pulled out of the embrace reluctantly, but set her from him for fear of not being strong enough to let her go. He felt bereft of her weight and warmth in his arms but knew that the longer he held her there, the stronger the urge he’d have to fight to keep her there. But he couldn’t allow himself to feel that way, not when he was to be her legal guardian according to his father’s letter.

  His handkerchief made a second appearance by Faith’s own hand and was speedily put to good use by drying her tears and then daintily blowing her nose. Once her ministrations were done, Faith finally looked up at him and smiled weakly. “I apologize for breaking down as I did. You didn’t need to see me at my weakest.”

  Devlin brushed off her apology. “Think nothing of it, Faith. You received quite a shock, I’m sure, from your own mother’s words, I imagine. If you didn’t react the way you did, I would think you weren’t quite human.”

  Faith chuckled. “You’re very generous to say so.” She sobered abruptly and rounded fully on Devlin with all trace of lightness gone from her face. Somberly, she asked, “How did my mother’s letter come to be in your possession?”

  “It was accompanied by a letter addressed to me in care of Whitaker, my father’s attorney. Yours was folded up neatly within the pages of my letter, but as I said earlier, it hadn’t been unearthed until now.”

  Faith then asked cautiously, “What did yours say, if I’m allowed to ask?”

 
Recalling the surprising bits of information, he said, “In my letter, my father related that he was in love with your mother but couldn’t marry her while she was still married to your father. He intended to assist her with a divorce, but couldn’t until your mother could secure custody of at least you and Ethan.”

  Faith sighed. “Mother said as much in her letter to me, but she also revealed why she supposedly abandoned us all these years. She explained that if it weren’t for my father’s demands, she would have been free to live her life with us by her side. Apparently, my father’s one condition that she be allowed to live a separate life in London with his financial backing was that she had to leave her own children behind. In fact, if she had taken just one of us with her, he would have left her reputation in tatters with a divorce, penniless and still without her children.”

  Devlin pondered this. “So, he held you over her head to ensure that she’d come home now and then? No love lost there and all that. I wonder why he didn’t just divorce her if he hated her so much.”