“It’s nothing,” he finally dismissed. The pain he had hidden from himself had returned yesterday, but today he was angry and not good company for anyone.
“It’snotnothing,” Faye argued. “Does this have anything to do with Miss Vail?”
James’ eyes snapped to her. “What do you know of Miss Vail?”
“You did run away and hide as soon as she arrived.” Faye snorted. “I know that you were courting her last spring, and I had hoped that you’d finally put that silly notion of not marrying until you were nine and thirty behind you.”
“I may not marry even then,” he grumbled and took a drink of his brandy. “And, I didn’t run away.” He’d only been trying to escape a ghost.
“Well, that’s not how it looked to me.” She smirked. “Now come along. I’d like to be back before the afternoon entertainments begin.”
James studied her and then pulled himself from the sofa, setting the brandy aside.
Faye eyed it. “For one who is not bothered by the presence of Miss Vail, you are drinking spirits rather early in the day, aren’t you?”
James narrowed his eyes on her. “If you are going to persist in speaking of Miss Vail, you can find someone else to accompany you into the village.”
“Oh, very well. Be miserable. It matters little to me.”
“Be certain to stop by the apothecary,” Lady Isolda said as she appeared beside the waiting carriage.
Blast it all. Now he had two meddlesome women to deal with.
“Why do you need to visit Bocka Morrow?” James asked as they settled into the carriage.
“I wish to visit the apothecary,” Faye answered.
James reached for the door to the carriage. Were Faye and Lady Isolda working together to upend his life? “Why?”
“They carry the most delightful, fragrant soaps. The ones I purchased at Christmas are gone and I wish for more.”
He let his hand drop back to the seat. It was an innocent enough reason and James did recall his sister going on and on about thosedelightful little soaps. “As long as that is all.”
She blinked at him, her face masked in innocence. “What else would there be?”
His sister was up to something though he doubted Faye was working in concert with a ghost. Just the same, he’d remain wary.
“Did you know thatThe Hourglassis rumored to be owned by a witch?” Faye announced as the carriage pulled onto the road.
“What isThe Hourglass?” Though he was quite certain he didn’t care.
“Theapothecary,” Faye answered, as if he should have known.
James narrowed his eyes on his sister. “Tell me that we arenotvisiting because of a witch.”
She blinked again.
“What are you planning, Faye?”
“I simply wish to purchase soap. Though you might wish for something else.”
“What could I possibly want from a witch?” He certainly didn’t need her assistance. Besides, a ghost had already inserted herself into his life, and that was more than enough for any gentleman.
“A love spell.” Faye grinned. “Then you could win Miss Vail’s heart.”
James massaged his forehead to relieve the growing tension. Maybe he was surrounded by bedlamites after all. “I’m not going to trick Miss Vail into loving me.”
Not so long ago he had been certain of Diana’s love. She’d not uttered the words, but it was evidenced in their conversations, dances, stolen kisses, a shared passion… He’d been confident that if he’d asked for her hand that Diana would have accepted.
