Page 35

Spoon at her mouth, Faith paused. “Twins? I wasn’t aware.”

There was much about her faux betrothed’s family she did not know.

“Indeed,” Martin Kellinggrave said with a peculiar inflection in his tenor. He lifted his spoon. “My father was born a mere two minutes after Uncle Harland.” A cynical smile skewed his mouth. “In Seneca’s words, ‘Fate rules the affairs of mankind with no recognizable order.’”

Did envy make his words a trifle starchy?

As fifth in line, he was as likely to inherit the duchy as she was to come into a fortune.

Nonexistent.

“Personally, Mr. Kellinggrave, I don’t believe in fate. I’d rather put my faith in God.”

Faith returned Mrs. Peagilly’s friendly smile.

There was an ally. Faith felt certain of it.

Did she know the whole truth?

Charlotte or Willard might’ve confided in her, but the more people who knew about the farcical betrothal, the greater chance of exposure.

“Interesting.” Sitting back, Martin Kellinggrave scrutinized Faith until she nearly squirmed in her seat.

The man really was insolent.

Did she have a speck of soup on her lip?

“So, my scientific cousin is marrying a religious zealot?” Martin slanted Constantine a considering, almost suspicious look. “I wouldn’t have thought the two were compatible.”

“Zealot?” A smile of sincere amusement curved Faith’s mouth. “No.”

“No?” he fairly mocked, and to Faith’s horror, she longed to slap the smirk off his face.

Instead, she tortured the poor serviette again. The laundress would never get the wrinkles out.

She owed Martin no explanation. Still… “Science and faith are not mutually exclusive.”

A footman removed her bowl, and she seized the opportunity to turn her attention to Constantine.

Martin Kellinggrave was not someone she wanted to further her acquaintance with.

Constantine gave his cousin a cursory glance before flashing her a blinding smile.

“Walk with me in the gardens this evening, darling.” Humor darkened his eyes to the color of a forest at twilight. “With the Chinese lanterns lit, it’s quite romantic.”

He was taking this courting business to heart, wasn’t he?

Well, two could play this game.

She laid her hand atop his, where he had rested it upon the table.

“How can I refuse such a tempting invitation, sweetheart?”