“Iris, you’re not a prostitute anymore,” Faith said softly, feeling a new sympathy and understanding for all her aunts. Her previous annoyance fell by the wayside.
“Then who am I?”
“Anyone you want to be.”
Iris scoffed. “Not when you’ve lived my life. You know what you are every time a man ogles you.”
“Maybe you should ask Patrick what he sees when he looks at you. If you’re not afraid of his answer,” she added as she left the room.
Chapter Twenty-two
*
ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON Faith was watering herbs with Iris when Aster rushed into the greenhouse. “The sheriff left this for you,” she said, handing Faith a large cloth-wrapped bundle.
Faith’s heart skipped, and she set her watering can aside. This had to be her new dress for the lawn party Duke was taking her to this evening. He had invited her during the Fourth of July parade, but she’d declined because she didn’t own an appropriate dress. When he offered to purchase her a gown, Aster had poked her in the ribs and told her to accept the man’s offer.
So she had. But he’d insisted on choosing the dress for her, which terrified her. Would he know that a day dress wouldn’t be suitable for the party? Or that a ball gown would be too fancy?
Iris set her watering can in a flat of horehound, and crowded in to watch the unveiling.
Faith’s hands shook as she unpinned the silk wrapper and lifted out the dress she would wear. The bodice and skirt were made of light-brown french silk layered over a froth of creamy lace. Duke had included a silk parasol, and a brown hat trimmed with poppies, and had wrapped the gifts in a gorgeous matching shawl. The dress suited her coloring, and was perfectly appropriate for a lawn party, making her wonder if he’d chosen the outfit on his own. Even the size looked perfect.
“You better try the shoes,” Iris said. “You can’t dance on sore feet.”
Faith handed the skirt to Aster, and let Iris help her on with one shoe. It fit perfectly. “Duke must have slipped into our house and taken my measurements while I was sleeping,” she said with an amazed laugh.
A mischievous sparkle lit Iris’s eyes. “I think he didn’t have to sneak. What have you two been doing in the bathhouse every night?”
Things that turned her body to warm clay, that made her ache to be molded by Duke’s large, thrilling hands.
“Too naughty to divulge?” Iris asked. She rose to her feet. “Make the most of that pretty dress he gave you, and drive the man wild tonight. Get him on his knee, begging you to marry him,” she advised.
“I’m trying,” Faith admitted. She felt no embarrassment; brothel life had killed their need for modesty with each other.
“Good girl.” Iris turned her toward the bathhouse. “Now, hurry with your bath so I can style your hair. I can hardly wait to see the sheriff’s face when he sees you this evening.”
Aster scooped up the bundle of clothing. “I’ll lay out your wardrobe in your bedchamber,” she said.
Faith spent the next two hours being scrubbed, rubbed with herb-scented oils, and dressed and polished by four experts in the art of seduction. It felt sinfully luxurious to be dressing for her first outing with a suitor, and she wished she could tell Duke about her aunts and how hard they were trying to help.
“Ooh… beautiful,” Iris cooed, patting Faith’s hair. She’d pulled it up and left a waterfall of ringlets down the back of Faith’s head, and a long, dangling curl by each ear. She added the hat, tilted it at a slightly jaunty angle, and stepped back with a satisfied smile. “I wish we had a mirror so you could see yourself.”
Faith stood and gazed down at her dress. The skirt was pleated with two panels that opened in a wide vee down the front to reveal a drapery of creamy silk that rippled like a frothy waterfall to her toes. The breast and cuffs were trimmed with matching silk and set off with poppy-red ribbons. She had never owned a dress she hadn’t made for herself. Her sewing skills were passable, but at the brothel she’d only needed her plain, serviceable day gowns. She had to add yards of lace and several ribbons to transform her best dress into a worthy church outfit.
She stroked her palms over the luxuriant material with sinful affection. “Tell me I’m not dreaming all of this.”
“You’re not, but the sheriff’s going to think he is the second he lays eyes on you. Come on. Everyone’s waiting.”
Faith followed Iris out of the bedchamber and into the dining room where Dahlia, Aster, and Tansy were playing a game of Draw dominoes with Cora and Adam at the table. The instant they spotted her, the room fell silent. Giddy with pleasure, Faith opened her parasol, angled it like a sunshade, and turned in a slow circle.
Cora’s eyes goggled. “You look like a princess, Mama.”
Faith felt like a princess.
Iris beamed like a proud mother, while Aster, Tansy, and Dahlia gave her a rousing round of applause.
Adam gawked, and looked worried. “Do men have to know how to choose a lady’s wardrobe?”
Faith leaned down and kissed his cheek. “I don’t think it’s required for courting,” she said, “but the sheriff’s knowledge sure impressed this lady.”
“You should let him buy all your dresses.”
“That’s not a bad idea, Adam.” She gave Iris a playful wink then kissed Cora goodbye.
The knock at the door sent her stomach flutter-birds into a wild flurry of flapping and swooping that left her breathless. With a hopeful heart, she greeted her handsome suitor, praying she was greeting her future husband.
*
DUKE STOOD IN the warm July night, staring in stunned appreciation. He’d known the hue of the dress would complement Faith’s whiskey-colored eyes and dark hair, and had imagined how beautiful she would look in it, but he hadn’t come close to the vision standing before him.
“It’s a perfect fit,” she said, stepping outside to show off the garment. She turned one full circle then faced him, her skin glowing, her eyes shining. “I’ve never owned such a beautiful thing. Thank you, Duke.”
“It was made for you,” he said, truthfully. He’d paid a local seamstress a handsome fee to make the dress in five days. The woman had suggested green or yellow silk for the gown. He knew very little about female wardrobe, but he knew what he liked about Faith, and he was glad he’d chosen the brown silk.
Faith poked her shoe from beneath the hem of her dress. “How did you know my shoe size?”
“I measured the print you left in the sawdust at my mill.”
A slow, appreciative smile broke across her face. “How clever you are. No wonder you make such a good sheriff.”
He couldn’t keep his eyes off her lips. They were lush and shiny, as if she’d just moistened them with her tongue, and all he could think about was tasting her sweet mouth.
The evening was warm with a light breeze, and he’d been comfortable in his suit until now, until Faith’s sparkling eyes and inviting smile made him burn to make love to her. He tugged his collar away from his hot neck, and lifted the cloth sack in his hand. “I brought licorice sticks for Adam and Cora since I’m stealing you away for the evening.”
Her smile softened, making her more beautiful, more desirable. “For a man who carries a gun, you sure have a kind heart.”
The tender look she gave him shook his willpower. He touched his thumb to her bottom lip, so tempted. Her lips parted and her chin lifted, her willingness giving him deep pleasure, but he forced himself to step inside before he shocked her neighbors who were strolling by.
The licorice sticks thrilled Cora and commanded her attention, allowing him to quickly return to Faith. She held his arm as they started for the party, but he sensed she was nervous. “You’ll know some of the guests,” he said. “My brothers and sisters-in-law will be there.”
“It’ll be lovely to see them and your mother again,” she said, clinging to his arm.
“Mother is home with Rebecca watching all the grandchildren.” He wanted Faith’s closen
ess, but not her fear. “What are you nervous about?”
“I’m not nervous.” She huffed out a laugh. “Yes, I am. I’ve never been to a lawn party.”
“It’s the social event of the season for this village. The money profits the church society. It’s festive, but not as fancy or formal as a wedding.”
“I’ve never been to a wedding, either.”
Alarm bells went off in his head and he glanced at her, confused. “What about your own wedding?”
An odd, almost panicked expression crossed her face and she lowered her lashes. “Um… we married at home with just my family there. I meant I’d never been to anyone else’s wedding. My mother didn’t go to social events,” she admitted quietly. “I’m dreadfully inexperienced. I’ve read books on social etiquette, but if you think I’ll embarrass you, please take me back home.”
He squeezed her arm against his side, not knowing what to think of her odd life. All he knew was that he was proud to have her on his arm. “You’ll be the most beautiful woman there,” he said, knowing it was true. In his eyes, she would always be the most beautiful woman.
*
ALL FAITH KNEW was she would be the most terrified woman at the lawn party. “I see someone bought the Colburn house,” she said, changing the subject and trying not to sound like her heart was breaking. She couldn’t afford the house, but she loved it, and as long as it remained empty, she could dream of owning it someday.
“I’m surprised it sat empty this long,” Duke replied. He stopped abruptly and faced her. “Faith, I talked to my brothers about having Adam work at the mill. If you’ll let him, he can work with me on Saturdays.”
Her stomach plummeted. She’d hoped the conversation would turn more personal, that he would ask if she cared for him, if she could love him, if she would marry him. He only wanted to talk about his business.
“I won’t let anything happen to him.”
Her first inclination was to say no, absolutely not, but Duke looked so pleased that she couldn’t refuse him outright. “It’s kind of you to offer, but I need him at the greenhouse—and he has a job at the store two days a week. That’s enough for a boy his age.”
“He would like working the mill—”
“No.” Her face burned for cutting him off, but the mill was too dangerous. They had too much peril in their lives already without adding that huge whirling blade to the mix. “I appreciate your kindness, but I need Adam at home.”
“All right. I understand.” Duke brushed his knuckles across her cheek. “Maybe when he gets a little older you won’t need his help in the greenhouse.”
She looked away from the disappointment in his eyes, feeling she’d failed both him and Adam. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize for caring about the boy. He’s lucky to have you looking out for him.” He took her arm and started walking. “I hope your shoes are comfortable, because Damon’s band is playing tonight and everyone will be dancing.”
“They fit like they were made for me.”
“They were.” He gave her a wink that made her heart skip. “Relax, Faith. You’ll enjoy the party.”
She heard the gathering before she saw it, and when the judge’s house came into view, she gasped in astonishment. Chinese lanterns lit the whole vast lawn and the people promenading the grounds. Tables were set under awnings and on a large front porch that Faith’s mother would have coveted. Off to one side was a carriage house, strung with lights and filled with music from the string quartet.
Duke ushered her onto the lawn, tall, composed and sure of himself. She clung to his arm, scared stiff that she would be exposed as an imposter.
Judge Barker and his wife greeted them. Faith assured the judge, who had witnessed her scare at the circus, that her back was good as new. He encouraged her to enjoy the evening then took his well-dressed wife off to the dance floor where Faith saw several men, including Kyle and Radford Grayson, dancing with their wives.
Everyone in the village seemed to be there, talking and laughing, milling around and filling the grounds so completely, Faith felt a frisson of panic. Judge Stone could be lurking in this crowd and she wouldn’t even know it. Already she’d seen four men with full white beards and snowy hair straying from beneath their hats, and it scared her witless that she couldn’t be sure it wasn’t Stone until the man was within feet of her.
She moved in a stupor, too scared to let go of Duke’s arm. Maybe it was just the party and the crush of people that upset her. Maybe Stone would never find her. She’d been careful not to leave a trail he could follow, but the man was as sly as a fox.
Duke poured her a glass of strawberry punch and took a glass of wine for himself. “I’d prefer ale,” he said, “but I think the church society would frown if I rolled in a keg for the boys.”
“Wine will do nicely,” she said then pulled the glass from his fingers and swallowed the contents. With a wobbly smile, she gave him back the empty glass. “I’ll try the punch now.”
“You’re a surprise a minute,” he said, giving her a warm, flirtatious grin.
“Just trying to keep your interest, Sheriff.” And keep herself from panicking. She didn’t belong with these people. How could she court and possibly marry Duke when she didn’t fit into his world?
He set his empty glass on a tray, the move bringing his mouth near her ear. “If you arouse my interest any more, we’ll have to leave the party”
Her breath sailed out and heat rose to her face in a volcanic rush. “I need another glass of wine.”
His low, seductive laugh sent a tingle of awareness down her neck and spine and caused longing to pool within her. Did he know what he did with that suggestive, intimate voice of his?
He pressed his palm to her waist. “Dance with me.”
“My legs are shaking too much.”
“If we don’t move, I’m going to kiss you.”
“Oh, my. Bring the wine.”
His wonderful, rich laughter turned all eyes on him—on them—and Faith wanted to duck under the lace skirt of the beverage table. But Duke’s long fingers circled her hand and he led her to the floor.
With a confidence she envied, he slipped his arm around her waist and fit his hand to hers. A half-smile touched his lips as he took a step and drew her into a waltz. Faith’s mother and aunts had taught her to dance, but this was Faith’s first waltz with a man. Duke’s hard shoulder and firm hand held her steady, his muscles flexing with every step he took. Warmth filled his eyes, and something more passionate and intense showed in his gaze as he drew her closer, moving his tall, hard body in perfect rhythm to the music.
The sweet sound of violins and the darker strains of a cello washed over her. With each turn he pulled her closer until his long legs brushed her skirt, and the crowd around them slowly disappeared. Faith was floating in a dream, living in a world she’d scarcely dared to imagine, anchored in the strong arms of a man who stood for truth and justice and everything honest and good in life.
Hints of his cologne and soap teased her nose, and she wanted to move closer, to press her lips to his neck and taste his warm skin. The lanterns cast a soft glow across the taut, freshly shaved skin of his strong jaw. He was all muscles and angles, tall and rock solid, beautiful and majestic like a mountain.
He drew her closer on their next turn and brushed his lips to her ear. “This song is ‘Kissing in the Dark’ by Foster and Cooper. I sent Damon’s bandleader a note earlier and asked him to play it when I brought my lady to the dance floor.”
His lady? She was his lady? “It’s… beautiful,” she said, enjoying the song and the seductive mix of intimacy Duke brought to it.
“So are you.” The look in his eyes made her feel beautiful. “I’m glad you like it.”
“The song? Or kissing in the dark?”
His laugh drew so many curious looks that Faith lowered her chin and used his wide chest to shield her burning face. As soon as the song ended, she nudged him off the dance floor. She couldn�
��t remain in his arms a moment longer. He made her dreams seem possible, and she couldn’t bear to believe, only to have her hopes crushed in the end. Because he could walk away.
But she couldn’t let him walk away, even knowing she didn’t belong in his world, that this decent, honorable man deserved a better woman than she, because Adam and Cora needed him and the life he could give them.
And who was she fooling but herself? She was falling bonnet over boot tops for Duke Grayson.
He stopped by the beverage table and handed her a glass of punch. While she was quenching her thirst, a rugged-looking man with auburn hair and bushy sideburns spoke to Duke. “Taylor’s making a hard push this year, but he’ll have to sway a lot of voters to win the election, Sheriff. A big campaign don’t mean beans compared to your eight years of service.”
“Taylor’s a good man, Sam, and so are most of the other candidates. If the vote falls his way, I’ll support him.” Duke paused to introduce Faith to his deputy, Sam Wade then turned back to his conversation.
“But you’re the man who keeps the ruffians and scalawags out of our county,” Sam said
While the men talked, Faith slipped a glass of wine off the table, angled her back to Duke, and poured it into her punch.
Another man joined the conversation and started the long line of introductions to Duke’s friends. Duke cast an apologetic look at her, as if he wanted to be with her but couldn’t neglect his supporters. Smiling away his concern, Faith finished her wine punch and discreetly made herself another. Only when his brothers stopped by with Evelyn, Claire, and Amelia did Faith feel a measure of comfort. But they were soon swallowed in a crowd of friends and neighbors who displayed enormous respect for the Graysons and for Duke as their sheriff.
Duke finally excused himself from his conversation and drew her away from the table where they’d been trapped for half an hour. Her glass was halfway to her mouth when he said, “Don’t drink too much of that wine. I have plans for later.”
Good Guy Heroes Boxed Set Page 46
