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“GRANDMOTHER SHOOED us away, as if we would be a nuisance.”
Faith hadn’t wanted to leave her parents, but Grandmother Davenport was a force to be reckoned with, and she insisted that both she and her brother leave the house for the morning, as if it was any other day.
“They’ll be here when you return, and if they ask after you while you’re gone, they’ll feel better knowing you aren't sitting about, brooding over them.”
Uncle Will shook his head with a smile.
“Oh, the stories I could tell . . . I have to admit, the woman can still cast fear into my own heart when she wants to.”
Faith frowned, and Thomas, who had been watching her carefully since finding her on his doorstep alone very early, nodded.
“She does have a way about her, but honestly, she’s always welcomed me, even from the first time we met. You would think someone with such an old bloodline would be appalled at an orphan boy brought into her daughter’s home, but she never cast anything but kind looks my way.”
Their uncle patted Thomas on the back as he stepped into the hallway and called out his wife’s name.
“Your grandmother even pinched me once, at Lucy and Edward’s wedding reception.”
He shook his head as he turned back to face them.
“I was toying with Catherine’s ribbons, which I admit is a bad habit, but she got me on the back of my arm and made me squeal.”
There was a rustle of skirts in the hall, and Faith knew her aunt was aching to speak with Faith about her mother and father.
Her aunt and uncle whispered for a moment as Thomas stared at her.
“Please stop doing that, Thomas. I know you’re concerned, but it’s a bit disconcerting.”
She tried not to sound petulant, but he had been over attentive all morning. If she hadn’t left her home upset much earlier than usual, wandering to the home he shared with Aunt Sarah and Uncle Sam on her own before the sun was fully visible on the horizon, he might not be so worried.
It was her own fault, and she knew it.
But she was blessed to have so many people who cared about her and her parents, so she needed to shift her perspective and be more thankful instead of grumbling inwardly.
“I don’t want to fuss over you, Faith, but I trust you’ll tell me if you need me, for any reason. I’ve spoken to my mother, and she has assured me that your parents are resting together, which I imagine is the best way for them to deal with your loss.”
It was sweet that her aunt used your instead of their, because the more Faith thought about the lost baby, the more she felt as if she had lost someone close to her.
“I appreciate that more than you know, Aunt Catherine. I think your cookies and lemonade will go a long way for me today.”
Her aunt smushed her lips together quickly, then regained her composure, as if she didn’t believe Faith but wasn’t going to speak of it.
“We’ll have lavender and almond today, which should be soothing.”
Faith felt her smile like something painted on her face, plastered on for her aunt’s benefit, and clearly, her aunt could see through it.
“I’ll leave you all to your work. I imagine Mr. d’Amici should be around shortly.”
Nico had been arriving earlier than Faith and Thomas, before he left to visit his family, but today, because Faith had been turned out of the house and her emotions were in a whirlwind, the two of them had appeared before their uncle was fully dressed.
Evie, however, was already in the garden, tucked into a small chair with a thin knit blanket . . . and a book, of course.
She nodded to them both, but kept silent, perhaps coached by her parents to avoid the subject at hand.
Would Thomas mind his manners today once Nico arrived, Faith wondered, if for no other reason than to give Faith one less concern to worry about?
“I need to speak with you both about Nico."
Her uncle wandered to the window and stared outside, blinking into the sun’s vivid rays.
Faith wrapped her arms around herself, squeezing her upper arms as she fought to ask him why when he didn’t continue right away.
Her cousin cleared his throat and tucked his hands in his pockets, his gaze shifting to the floor where a stack of folders seemed to catch his attention.
“Yes, Thomas, this is the matter I told you of last week, the one you very pointedly disagreed with.”
With a visible effort, Thomas stood up straight and faced Uncle Will, while Faith felt her mouth drop open.
Why had their uncle shared this with her cousin, but not with her?
“I understand your reasons, sir, but when it comes down to it, this is your business and your decision, and you were never at any point required to tell me any of it, not to mention ask for my opinion.”
Uncle Will was pleasantly surprised by Thomas’ revelation, if the small smile on his face was any indication.
Faith still didn’t understand what they were talking about, except that it involved Nico, and if her uncle was smiling, it wasn’t anything Thomas most likely approved of.
“I’m sorry, Faith, but the subject of our conversation has arrived, and I don’t have time to give you the details. Perhaps the man himself will do so.”
The side door to the house opened and Faith heard a maid’s voice, possibly Caitlin’s, speaking sparsely to the visitor before the evenly paced steps in the hallway revealed Nico, his jet black curls damp and tumbling over his forehead as if he had just ducked under a faucet.
His smile was so comforting and gentle that Faith wanted to run into his arms.
Her own smile, just beginning, faded, and she felt the flush in her cheeks as she realized how easy it was for her to think of Nico so familiarly.
While she hoped he hadn’t noticed, his smile dimmed just a little when she caught his eye, and she bit the inside of her lip to keep herself still.
“Good morning, everyone.”
His smile flashed again, wide and friendly, and Uncle Will stepped forward to shake his hand as he always did. It was only then that Thomas stiffened his back and offered his own hand, but Nico, if surprised, didn’t show it.
He shook Thomas’ hand as if they were old friends, and turned to Faith.
His smile was gone, but his dark eyes were shining with interest and perhaps concern.
Had her uncle told him what happened? He wouldn’t, not when it was something so incredibly private.
“I’ve been informed that there was a family emergency, and I am very sorry to hear it. I hope that if I can be of any assistance, you will let me know.”
Nico kept his eyes on hers as he spoke, but after the last word, he glanced at Thomas, who was tight-lipped.
So his handshake was at their uncle’s request, wasn’t it? Faith realized.
“Thank you,” Faith said, her voice very quiet. “And how was your trip? Is your family well?”
Nico raised his eyebrows.
“More than well, I should say. My brothers and sisters wore me out with their antics, and my mother couldn’t feed me enough.”
He sighed dramatically, but his smile made it obvious that he adored each and every one of them.
“One of my sisters has a surprising new suitor, and my youngest sister, Claudia, smeared jam in my hair when she was supposed to be helping with the cookies.”
They sounded lovely, Faith thought, dropping her hands so she could fold them together in front of her dress. The last person to smear food on her had been Johnny . . . but no, that wasn’t right.
The day she and Nico met, little Joey had rubbed mashed potato down the front of her dress. Fortunately, Nico had already taken his leave of her, and only her mother had witnessed the boy’s antics.
With a smile.
Faith wondered if she would ever get to meet Nico’s family.
The trip, of course. They were all going into the city once the plans came to fruition and construction was about to begin. It wouldn't be too much longer before they could start.
Before she could ask about it, though, Uncle Will moved closer to Nico and rested a hand on his shoulder.
“Perhaps she can come see you here in Newport, now that you’ll be staying on as my apprentice.”
The words were delivered as if it wasn’t news that affected everyone in the room, as if it was a report about the weather or the traffic conditions on Bellevue during a carriage parade.
“I’m sorry?” Faith wondered aloud, not clear as to what she had heard. She gripped her hands together tightly as she waited for someone to explain.
“Nico is going to work for Uncle Will as his apprentice,” Thomas said, delivering the words without inflection. His expression was flat and emotionless, and Faith wondered what Uncle Will had said to him to make him decide to be civil, if not accepting, of the appointment.
“An opportunity for which I am most grateful."
Nico took up the conversation as silence followed Thomas’ declaration, but after he spoke, more followed, and Faith felt uncomfortable, wondering if she should say something.
“And now,” Uncle Will finally said, stepping briskly over to his work table. “I believe we have some catching up to do, and the restaurant addition is our priority. I do have a new project I’ll speak to you all about later, but that can wait as I’ve only been awarded the bid yesterday.”
Faith found herself curious about this new project immediately, and then felt guilty for thinking of something other than her parents’ grief and her mother’s health.
“Come along, we’ll have cookies and lemonade before you know it.”
Thomas was at her side, offering his arm, and she slid her hand into the crook of his elbow as she had hundreds of times before as they followed their uncle, Nico standing aside politely to let the two of them walk ahead of him.