He was such an innocent guileless old man Faith knew he honestly did believe only the options that would put her in the most favourable light. Being faced with kindness and concern was so at odds with everything else she’d encountered this last terrible day, that she let out a great sob.
“My poor girl, come closer to the fire. You’re in shock, surely? Oh, I do hope nothing terrible has happened. Truly, I wouldn’t know what to do. Indeed, all I can think to do right now is to offer you some brandy.”
“And a bed for the night?” Faith looked up at him, pleadingly, warmed by the light pressure of his hand on her shoulder. So different from the menace communicated by both Madame Chambon and Lord Harkom.
He blinked in surprise as he turned back from ushering Mary out of the room to fetch Faith a small draft of something “strong and medicinal”.
“Pleas
e, Professor. I’ve been turned out of the house where I lodge. There was…an argument.”
His kind eyes grew a little sterner, but before he could say anything Faith hurried on, “I was pressured to…accept the offer of a man whom I know to be unkind and…bad. Yes, bad.”
“Forced to wed against your will?”
Faith nodded as she covered up the lie with the words, “I was told I had to accept this man’s offer, or I would have nowhere else to go.”
“What man? What man would force you into such a bargain, Faith?” The professor looked truly concerned, and with a sigh, Faith whispered, “Lord Harkom.” For if she offered part of the truth, it was something, surely.
To Faith’s surprise, the professor’s eyebrows shot up. “Dear me, Faith. Was Lord Harkom proposing marriage or…” He stopped abruptly.”
Sadly, Faith shook her head. “No, Professor, that’s why I came here. When I refused him, I had nowhere else to go.”
“You have a benefactress who has paid my fees for three years, and yet I’ve never met her. Would she not offer you lodging?”
“Mrs Gedge.” Faith shook her head. “No, I cannot go there either, for she too was insistent that I…” She finished on a sob.
“What about your chaperone? I briefly met Lady Vernon on one or two occasions. Why are you not staying with her?”
“I told you. They wanted me to accept an offer from Lord Harkom.” She hung her head. “I’m not that sort of girl.”
He blinked, owlishly, and stared at her as if she were suddenly a different creature.
Faith stood up. “Please don’t condemn me for what has been out of my control. I want only to do what’s right, but I have nowhere to go. No one to turn to. I only wanted shelter for the next few hours until the dawn. That’s all I ask of you. Please, Professor. I’ll sleep in the kitchen and leave before light. Just let me stay here where it’s safe. Just for tonight.”
“What then, Faith? What will you do then?”
“I’ll find work. Anything. I’ll be a servant. I could work for you, Professor. Could I?”
She stared hopefully at him, but he shook his head. “You can’t waste your talents, my girl, and I won’t employ you to scrub floors when I cannot have you under my roof in any other capacity. Let me think.”
He rose and began to pace, scratching his whiskered chin as he began to mutter, for he always did this when deep in thought. As if he had to verbalise every possibility.
“You say you have been used, girl. Educated to be the intellectual match of any man when it comes to diplomacy, strategy. For that’s what I did when I was instructed to give you a rudimentary understanding of the relations of the world stage. To make that the key focus of what I taught you. Why, I find this very difficult to understand.”
“It was not because of Lord Harkom but an enemy of his. A man who is going to be British Envoy in Germany. I was used to make him look a fool, and then suddenly Lord Harkom was paying his addresses in a most alarming manner, and I had to escape. Perhaps…perhaps you know of a position where I could go. A place I could act as governess?”
“It was the very line of thought I was following.” He gave a decisive nod. “But where? What family do I know?”
“I don’t care. Any will do. Anywhere I can do an honest day’s work and have food and a roof over my head. I don’t require much. I just have to get away from London.”
“My poor Faith.” He regarded her sadly. “I never expected this when I agreed to teach you all those years ago. You are my most gifted student. A great beauty, indeed, now that I perceive you in a better light. And I fear a great evil has been perpetrated against you, though I cannot begin to fathom why. Of course, I will help you. Mary will make up a bed in the spare room, and tomorrow I will send you on your way, but not alone and friendless. I promise I will do what I can to help you, little though it may be.”
Chapter 22
One Year Later
“And all that pink means it belongs to the British Empire.” Faith put her finger on the map on the table in front of them and traced the borders, while her two charges stared dutifully with downcast heads, though their eyes kept straying to the trees and sunshine outside the schoolroom window.