She hesitated only a moment. “Meriwether,” she returned. “And you are?”
“Cain Wyndham, Viscount Markel,” he happily supplied.
She nearly missed a step. It wasn’t often that a member of the peerage appeared in their quiet little hamlet. She yearned to find out how he had managed to end up in Meriden, but since her father had always warned her not to pry into the business of others, especially that of a noble, she remained silent.
He winked at her. “So where are we off to?”
Dove knew, in that instant, that this man was trouble, as his easy mannerisms announced that he was a rake of the first order, but she told herself that he would soon tire of his quest and find his way back to London. However, that didn’t mean she couldn’t make the most of his journey and let him observe how common people spent their days. It certainly wasn’t dancing in a ballroom or riding in Hyde Park like the aristocracy.
“We’re headed to the local dispensary to visit the sick and infirm.”
She noted that this time he was the one who made a misstep. “The… um… what?”
“You might consider it as something of a hospital, Lord Markel, although it is nothing so grand as St. Bartholomew.”
“I know what a dispensary is,” he returned dryly. “But, why must we go there?”
“Because the church is responsible for most of the charitable funding, so I’ve made a point to try to attend to those less fortunate.” She paused to allow that to sink in. “That is why you said you are here, is it not? To save your soul? Part of that process is to put others’ needs before your own.”
“Well, yes, I suppose…” He grimaced slightly. “But I didn’t imagine that it would be quite so… involved.”
She couldn’t stop a laugh from bubbling forth. “Do you think Jesus thought of dirtying his hands when he washed his disciples’ feet?” She looked at him and saw that he was attempting to decipher her words. “You’ll find that kindness goes a long way, my lord,” she added softly.
He rubbed his jaw in apparent thought and then said, “You are rather insightful, Miss Meriwether, for one so young.”
She bristled slightly. She certainly didn’t want to appear as a child in his eyes. “I’m one and twenty, my lord, but I have been a vicar’s daughter my entire life. I’ve merely learned to care for those who require my help since I was very young.”
He snorted. “And your mother doesn’t take objection to her daughter visiting sick rooms rather than setting up her own nursery?”
A pang of longing shot through Dove’s heart. “My mother died several years ago.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” he said quietly, his countenance more solemn than before. “Do you have no siblings, then?”
She shook her head. “No.”
He nodded. “How unfortunate. I daresay I could not imagine life without my younger brother or sister around to bedevil me.” His lips turned upward in the corners, as if recalling some fond memory. “Although it has been some time since I have seen either of them, we were close when we were younger. At one point we were all quite troublesome when it came to one particular governess. But—” He held up a hand. “In all fairness, she wasn’t the most pleasant woman to be around. Entirely too strict.”
She laughed again. “I can certainly imagine what the poor lady had to endure, especially if your siblings are anything like you, my lord.”
He narrowed his gaze and muttered, “I’m not sure if I should be complimented or insulted by that remark.”
“I assure you it was not meant in a disparaging way.”
“That’s a relief.” He gave a mock sigh. “I was starting to worry that I’d lost my ability to converse with a lady with even a modicum of charm.”
Dove did not reply, but in the short time she had known him, there was no danger of him failing in that regard, for he had quite impressed her already.
Chapter Two
Cain wasn’t sure what he’d been expecting when he arrived at Meriden, but it certainly hadn’t been this intriguing, young woman. True, she had beauty, but it was her wit and compassion that intrigued him above all else. Most of the ladies he knew of her age were only interested in the latest fashions, and yet, as he entered the modest hospital at Miss Meriwether’s side, he had to admit that she truly seemed to… care about others.
He attempted to find some sort of fault in her mannerisms as she stopped and visited with each of the patients, some longer than others depending on their illness, but it didn’t take long before he realized there was little about the lady that wasn’t genuine. It was as if he had finally inhaled his first breath of fresh, clean air. Perhaps his search for salvation wouldn’t be so terrible after all.
Once their visit was concluded and they were back outside, she glanced at him and the light hit her eyes just right, turning them a sparkling sapphire. “That wasn’t so bad, was it, my lord?”
He blinked, thinking that she had somehow read his mind, but then he realized she was referring to their visit. “Not at all.” He cleared his throat. “I should like to go back again.”
Her eyebrows rose as she started walking. “Really?”
