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FAITH WIPED THE SWEAT from her forehead with the back of her hand and kept herself from gulping her lemonade to fend off the heat, trying to clear her mind as she did so.
To think that Nico was here, after they had only just met yesterday.
And he was even more attractive than she remembered, his smile more genuine, his eyes pitch black and captivating.
Her thoughts reminded her of one of the less intelligent characters in one of Evie’s novels who was wrapped up in romance and drama, which of course, Faith was not.
Thomas was noticing that she was paying more attention to Nico than she probably should, so she knew she needed to keep her excitement at bay.
But it was rare for anyone new to show up in Newport, and that in itself was worth noting.
Surely Thomas understood this.
And he didn’t like it.
“So you have younger sisters? Do they help at your family’s store?”
Nico had settled into a chair across from Faith, and Uncle Will and Thomas sat at the other ones between them, Uncle Will with a cookie in his hand as he rested against the back of his, and Thomas leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped together as he stared at the tray in front of him.
“Yes, we all do. They have other interests, however, and sometimes they aren’t very pleased to have to work. I expect everyone feels this way from time to time.”
Faith didn’t, because she didn’t have to work like his sisters, and Nico, did, but she smiled at him as if she understood.
Surely he knew that she couldn’t relate to them, not when her family lived here on the cliffs of Newport in mansions some were beginning to call white elephants.
She shook off the negative thought, and reminded herself that she did help out at First Steps, which wasn’t the same as having to work to feed one’s family but was work all the same, especially when she was asked to wash dishes or fold laundry when the regular volunteers were out sick or had a day off.
“My mother was a maid for several years, when she was younger than I am now, and she said she was usually too tired to do anything else but help her mother mind children when she went home. That’s what her mother did, I mean, for her employment.”
Faith felt as if she might be talking too much, but no one stopped her and Uncle Will looked satisfied to listen, even as Thomas sat as still as a statue.
Nico frowned, as if he was confused, and Faith looked down, understanding becoming clear in her mind.
But he didn’t say what she expected him to say, that it was unheard of for the heir to a Newport mansion to marry a servant.
“Your grandmother and mother have experience caring for children, and yet, you seemed very uncomfortable with the little boy you held yesterday.”
His frown became a teasing smile, and Faith laughed, keeping her eyes on Nico not only to avoid Thomas’ expression but because she wanted to.
He seemed so easygoing and didn’t appear to be troubled by Thomas’ rude behavior towards him, and the more she looked at him, the more appealing she found him.
“It’s true. My younger brother and I are a year apart, and all of us, my cousins and I, are very close in age. I’ve just never had an opportunity to learn.”
Her cousin stood up suddenly.
“Please excuse me.”
Thomas was already standing when she turned to face him, and he walked out of the room briskly, as if he had somewhere important to be.
Before she could speak, Uncle Will slapped his hands on his knees gently and shook his head slowly.
“Nico, Thomas can be a bit moody, so I hope you’ll not only excuse him for leaving the study just now, but for that as well. I’ll talk to him about it privately, as I suspect there’s a particular reason for his temperament today, and it has nothing to do with you personally.”
It was Faith’s turn to frown. She wasn’t sure what her uncle meant, although she had to agree that Thomas often shifted moods quickly and without any visible reason.
What could Uncle Will be talking about?
“Regardless, there’s no excuse for it,” he continued. “And if he can’t be polite, he won’t be a part of this particular project.”
Uncle Will stood with a thin smile and extended his hand to Nico, who rose and took it, although the man seemed a little upset.
“Oh, no, I don’t want to cause any problems for your family. Family is the most important part of my own life, and I am sure it is in yours. I would not come between you and your nephew.”
Faith wanted to step closer to him, perhaps put her hand on his shoulder to reassure him.
But she couldn’t, although his words made her like him all the more.
So many people she knew her age were concerned with their inheritances or appearances, and to hear a young man speak so plainly about his commitment to his family was wonderful.
Instead of moving closer, she stood up quickly and headed to the door, looking out into the hallway.
Where had Thomas gone, and why was he acting this way?
“Oh my goodness, first Thomas, and now you! What in the world is going on in here?”
Aunt Catherine caught her by her arms and held her still for a moment as the two of them hovered in the doorway, after they nearly collided. Her question sounded light and friendly, but her expression showed a measure of concern.
Faith shook her head and smiled, hoping to reassure her aunt.
“We’re having the lemonade and cookies Evie brought, and talking a bit. Just getting to know Nico better, that’s all.”
Her aunt glanced into the room and shifted her gaze back to Faith.
“Nico, is it?”
Oh, no. It was too familiar, and Faith knew it, but there was no taking it back. Why hadn’t she thought to refer to him more formally when speaking to Aunt Catherine?
“At any rate, Thomas and Evie are now discussing a book, of course, so I hope you didn’t need him back right away. You know how absorbed they can become.”
Uncle Will laughed and Faith snuck a peek at Nico to see how he was reacting to her aunt, especially how she had repeated his name after Faith spoke it.
She caught him smiling at her, calm and friendly as if Thomas hadn’t been staring daggers at him all morning. She looked away quickly, but not after he had to have seen her smile back.
“It’s too hot to be caught up in work inside. Perhaps we could all take a walk and catch the breeze.”
Aunt Catherine clapped her hands together, a gesture Faith had seen her grandmother make often, but Aunt Catherine was open and excited, just as her grandmother clapped to catch everyone’s attention, usually to scold about something or other.
Mostly, her grandmother was all bark and no bite, as her father said, not like she was when he was her age.
“How does that sound, Nico?”
When she heard Nico’s name, Faith blinked a few times to bring herself out of her thoughts.
“That sounds lovely. I’ve never been to Newport before, and would appreciate taking in the sights.”
The sights.
Faith wondered what someone from Manhattan would consider a sight here in their touristy little town. Nothing like the Woolworth Building and Grand Central Terminal, which were incredible new sights in the big city, that was certain.
“I am fond of the ocean,” he revealed, and looked at Faith. “Do young ladies here swim, or is it not acceptable?”
She stepped back, horrified. The very idea!
“We swim, or at least we Davenports do. I can’t imagine not going into the water when it’s right here, and the perfect antidote for a hot day.”
Even Aunt Catherine and Aunt Sarah went swimming on occasion, and while it was no surprise for her to see Aunt Catherine splashing about with her mother, there was something about Aunt Sarah that always made her think she would be much too serious to play in the water. But she did, and Uncle Sam sometimes went in too, the two of them tossing handfuls of water at each other until they were soaked from head to toe.
“Maybe I will have to step into the lovely water here before I leave.”
Faith wondered why Nico’s words made her excitement deflate a little. She had just met him, and they didn’t know each other.
But she wanted to know him better, and she couldn’t remember a time when she had felt that way about anyone before.
“For today, why don’t we take a stroll on the Cliff Walk, one of Newport’s treasures.”
Uncle Will nodded at Faith, and she agreed.
“That’s a wonderful idea. You’ll join us, won’t you, Nico?”
Aunt Catherine made a small squeaking noise that was barely loud enough for Faith to hear, but she ignored her, hoping Nico hadn’t noticed.
“How could I refuse?”
Her aunt and uncle led the way from the study and into the hall, and Faith felt Nico move close behind her, just as she heard Thomas’ voice ahead.
“If not this week, then next. I’ll be sure to let you know when it arrives.”
Evie was asking about a book, no doubt, and Thomas, as always, was making sure to keep her well-stocked, especially with the more rare volumes he ordered from abroad.
“We’re going for a walk, would the two of you like to join us?”
Aunt Catherine stepped into the parlor, where Thomas and Evie stood, awash in sunlight. Thomas kept his gaze on Evie, who frowned absently before shaking her head.
“We’re talking about Joyce, and I think maybe later I’ll write a bit.”
She rubbed one of her eyes with her free hand as the other one clutched a book to her chest.
When was the last time Faith had seen her cousin without a book in tow?
Probably before Evie had learned to read.
“I’ll catch up after Evie and I finish our talk. Thank you for the invitation.”
Thomas avoided Faith’s eyes, glancing at their aunt and uncle before returning his focus to Evie, who immediately started to speak to him again, as if on cue.
“Why am I not surprised?”
Uncle Will laughed gently as they turned away and headed towards the side door, where a path led around the house and towards the road, which would take them to the stone stairs down to the Cliff Walk.
The heat hit them in a wave, but an instant after, a cool wash of air rushed over them, and Faith’s braid toppled over her shoulder, the tips of it fluttering in her face.
When she laughed as they took the steps carefully one by one, Nico was suddenly in front of her, her aunt and uncle ahead and Nico’s hand extended to assist her down the last step.
She didn’t really need any help, but it was a chivalrous gesture that she couldn’t ignore, and when he dropped her fingers after she had safely set foot on the Cliff Walk, she wished he had held onto them a little longer.
Such thoughts were very disconcerting.
She held back a sigh and smiled up at him. He wasn’t as tall as her brother, father, or Thomas, so she didn’t have to lift her gaze so high to look into his face.
“Do you like living in such a big city?
Many of the girls who spent summers in Newport preferred Manhattan, and returned there to their homes on Fifth or Madison Avenues as soon as the season was over.
The parties never ended in New York, it was said, but Faith would rather have the quiet lull of the ocean outside her bedroom window than the noise of the city, which was said to go on at all hours of the night.
“I know nothing else. My parents came here from Italy with their families when they were children, and they grew up there. They met and not only married, but built a business together. Personally, I love having our store full of customers, and look forward to a busy restaurant to manage in the near future.”
They walked side by side behind her aunt and uncle, who spoke to each other, smiling often into each other’s eyes as they held hands, swaying their bound fingers back and forth slightly.
Uncle Will was from Manhattan, but he hadn’t wanted to move back permanently once he met Aunt Catherine. There was more to that story, and every so often, whispers carried a tale around town that showed her uncle in a less than perfect light.
All she knew was that he was wonderful now, both as a husband and a father, and she couldn’t imagine him any other way.
Nico looked out over the ocean, his dark curls catching up in a clump at the nape of his neck.
“It is so peaceful here.”
Several seagulls cried out overhead and swooped low as Nico stared up at them.
“They aren’t afraid at all, are they?”
Faith shrugged, smiling at his surprise.
“Why should they be?”
When he turned his gaze to her again, his smile was so gentle and calm that she heard herself sigh before she could stop.