Lakewood knew Parrish was more than happy with the arrangement and fully vocal about his support for women at the college. He wondered how supportive he’d be of allowing Faith Kenner to continue her studies if he knew the truth of her background. Perhaps it was an argument for another day, however. The clock on Parrish’s desk began to peal the hour, and Lakewood knew he was late for another appointment.
“We’ll discuss this another time. I am already late.” He gathered his hat and coat. “I don’t want these lectures happening on school property. I doubt any of our other major donors will either. Give it a lot of thought, Josiah.”
Faith knew if she didn’t hurry she would be late to the restaurant and the meeting with her classmates. Speaking with her advisor had taken much longer than she’d anticipated, and now she would have to run several blocks or hail a cab if she was to get there in time.
“We meet again, Miss Kenner.” Samuel Lakewood tipped his hat as he held the door of the building open for Faith.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Lakewood.” She frowned. “You seem to be a very busy man.”
He nodded. “Indeed, I am. Are you headed home?”
“No, actually I’m meeting up with some of my fellow students.”
He smiled, and Faith thought him a very handsome older man. He always seemed so interested in benefitting others that she sometimes found it difficult to believe Nancy and Seth’s warnings that he was dangerous.
“Might I drop you somewhere?” he asked.
“We’re meeting at Brickerson’s little restaurant. Do you know it? The students like to patronize it because he has a son attending the university in Salem.”
“How nice. I’m not familiar with it, but if you give me the address, I would be happy to drop you off.”
“Thank you. I’m happy to accept.” Faith allowed Lakewood to hail his carriage driver before giving him the address.
“That’s at least a mile away. Were you seriously going to walk in this cold?” he asked.
Faith laughed and pulled her collar closer. “I do what I must, Mr. Lakewood. Besides, after a day of lectures, it would have given me time to clear my mind.”
“Don’t you enjoy the lectures?”
“Of course. They are wonderful. I have always loved learning, and now I’m in a position to compare and contrast things I’ve learned over the years. It’s amazing.”
The carriage came to a halt in front of them, and the driver jumped down to open the door for his master.
“After you,” Lakewood said, taking hold of Faith’s satchel. “Here, let me.”
She gave him the satchel as the driver assisted her into the carriage. Lakewood climbed in after her and took his seat. He placed the satchel beside him and shook his head. “That is quite heavy.”
“We have a lot of required reading and discussions that can take place at almost any time without warning.” She smiledand leaned back against the plush leather. “One must always be ready.”
“Yes, that’s true, and in the spirit of that, I wanted to ask you about something I overheard.”
Faith cocked her head, which made the back of her felt hat snag on the seat. She reached up to straighten it and smiled. “What is it?”
“I heard something rather troubling about you and your friends—that you’re planning to hold a fundraiser of sorts to bring in money for the Indians.”
“Why would that be troubling to you?”
“I suppose it’s not so much troubling as distasteful. This college has always set itself above politics.”
“Since when is doing good for our fellow man a political matter? I could have just as easily organized something at church.”
“Yes, but you didn’t. You’ve made it a part of the college.”
“Only because so many people there feel the same way.” She knew little of Lakewood’s true political feelings except for what Nancy had mentioned about his prejudices and support of Gerome Berkshire. “It seems to me that a great many people in town raise money to lobby for laws and arrangements to rid the state of people of color and even to cause them harm.”
His gaze became icy. “Really, Miss Kenner, it isn’t your affair, and you would do well to stay out of it. There are usually consequences for putting your nose into someone else’s business.”
Faith wasn’t about to be frightened. “If you’re hoping to intimidate me, Mr. Lakewood, I would think by now you would know me better. I have lived among the Indians and know how grave their situation can be. I know that men like you do not want to see them benefitted in any way and that you would just as soon they die off so you won’t be further troubled by them.You want the money the government gives them, you want their land, and you want their lives.”
