“Oh?”
“Yes. It seems we were both rather unfair to one another based of unfounded preconceptions,” he stated slowly. When Graham didn’t answer, he looked at him, only to find his friend staring at him with an odd sort of expression. Instantly, Logan’s guard rose. “But perhaps I was too quick to assume that our hostility for one another was in the past.”
Graham’s brows knit together, and he looked down. After a moment, he spoke.
“Well, that would explain why she was so quick to defend you yesterday.”
Logan paused in his activity.
“Defend me? How so?”
“Hmm?” Graham said, looking up. Then he shook his head. “Oh, it was nothing really.”
He would have to ask plainly, he thought. Taking a deep breath, he returned his gaze to the south shore.
“What happened?”
His question, practically an admission of interest, hung in the air between them for some moments before Graham answered.
“It was a small instance. Lady Belle’s former secretary, Rose, came to visit yesterday.”
“Did she?” Logan asked. “She and your cousin Jared have barely shown themselves ever since they got married.”
“Aye, no doubt Rose has kept him to herself all these months. She’d been in love with him for an age,” Graham said with a grin. “Well, she stopped by and learned about Faith’s stay at Harris House. She made a comment about how difficult it must have been to be in your company for so long. Grace spoke, going on about your hospitability, when Faith suddenly interrupted.”
“What did she say?”
“Only that yours was as good a house to get sick in as any.”
Logan’s shoulders dropped, annoyed that he would be so interested in such an irreverent comment. That was hardly a compliment, yet Graham was smirking.
“A testament, to be sure,” Logan said sarcastically after a moment.
“She also said that Harris House was the finest home she’d ever been to.”
Logan instantly regretted the burst of ego that bloomed within his chest. She liked his house, did she? It was a small,throwaway piece of information, but something about it made him swell with pride.
“Is that so? A blaring tribute from one like Miss Sharpe.”
“I certainly thought so.”
Despite the conversation changing then to talks of business and weather, Logan found himself wholly engrossed in the idea that Faith had enjoyed her time at Harris House despite being sick. And despite having learned that her nearly nude portrait now occupied space there. He wished she could visit again but quickly pushed the thought from his mind, knowing it was unlikely.
Faith would likely never return to Harris House knowing thatOdalisque Reclinedwas there and he couldn’t blame her. It must have been shocking for her to learn that such a revealing painting was in the hands of her former sparring partner. If he were honest, he would admit that it had been difficult reconciling that the woman in that painting was his Faith.
No. Not his Faith. Good God, what was wrong with him? He didn’t want any claim to her, yet the words had popped into his head so suddenly and effortlessly. Surely he had lost his mind. Faith was not his, nor did he even want her to be.
Still, by the time he left Graham and Logan and Jaco started their journey home, all he could think about was her, in his house once more, staring at his vast collection of art as they argued about the meaning of each one. And what they might do after such arguments played out in his mind, followed by a slew of erotic images.
He bit his tongue, trying to shake such intrusive thoughts. Yes, it was best to steer clear of Faith. From now until at least the end of time.
Chapter Eight
“I’m thinking aboutreturning to London,” Faith announced one evening, nearly a week after returning home from Harris House.
The entire family was sat in the parlor, each in the middle of something as they all turned to gape at her. Graham had been helping Grace find a book on medieval medicines while Hope was embroidering some sort of quilt. Aunt Belle sat at her desk, tending to her correspondence, her manservant Andrews faithfully standing behind her as he always did.
It seemed everyone was surprised by Faith’s sudden proclamation, but she had been toying with the idea of leaving for days. Since learning that Logan was now the owner ofOdalisque Reclined, she had been plotting an escape from Scotland. The shame that festered within her heart, particularly after kissing him, was enough to make her want to run away and never return. If only she could be sure Logan would never reveal the painting to anyone. Of course, Faith doubted he’d be so generous and wouldn’t believe him even if he gave her his word. Not after Donovan had so easily broken his promise.
