"Every child makes its peace with abandonment. That's called growing up." Gregory Maguire, Out of Oz

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Chapter Twenty – Five

Faith scrambled off of Cassian's bed, before the door opened and Ruth entered proudly. Even at this late time of night, she was dressed finely, albeit in a black ensemble. Where on earth had she found mourning clothes at such short notice. Did she carry them in hopeful patience?

Faith gasped. Mourning clothes. George was dead. Faith exhaled. She felt as though she was letting go of a breath she had been holding for the last six years.

Six years of marriage. She had been wed to the barbarian for more than a quarter of her life. It was six years that she could never get back, but Faith now had the opportunity to live. And she needed to for her son.

She could not help but smile as she imagined taking off her wedding band and replacing it with one that she wanted to wear.

"Ruth," Faith greeted bluntly.

"That is Countess to you, Anne," retorted Ruth.

Faith could care less. If Ruth was so desperate for the title, she now had it. Faith hoped she enjoyed it. Ruth was a more vicious person than Faith, in the way that she was willing to step on whomever she needed to in order to get where she wanted to.

Faith knew little of Ruth's background. She wondered if that had anything to do with her attitude. Faith, on the other hand, had been born with a silver spoon in her mouth.

"You should know that I am now called Faith," Faith corrected. "I have left the person I was in my past, as I will do you and that family." The minute she spoke the words, Faith's mind went to Olivia.

Olivia was now Lady Olivia Pendleton, the daughter of an earl, and with all the privileges that Lucy might have had. She was also at the mercy of her mother, who did not seem to understand her daughter. But Olivia had the sort of fire that could not be extinguished by one's mother. Olivia was going to change the world; she had told Faith so herself. Faith believed her whole-heartedly. Ruth could not stop Olivia if she tried.

In turning her back on the Pendletons, she was turning her back on Olivia. But Faith knew she had the strength to survive that house, and to go out and do the things she wanted to. Faith had managed it, and Olivia had twice her gumption.

"I thought I would deliver the sad news to you in person, Anne," Ruth began, disregarding Faith's new name. "George passed away a few hours ago, succumbing to his wound inflicted by your sinful lover."

"I am devastated," replied Faith dryly.

"I can see." Ruth pursed her lips, before looking to Cassian, who was attempting to crane his neck to look at their visitor, as he still could not lift his torso. "Well? What do you have to say for yourself?" she demanded to know.

Faith knew that Cassian understood he was blameless for George's death. She could tell that he had understood Finn's explanation earlier. George could have easily ended the duel after the first shot. Both had risked their lives. But George had been the one to insist on continuing. That decision had cost him his life, and it had nearly killed Cassian, too.

"You are a countess now. You are most welcome," was all he said in reply.

But Faith had not been expecting that. Shamefully, a giggle escaped her lips. She clapped a hand over her mouth.

Ruth ignored Cassian's comment. "The Pendleton family are in mourning," she snapped. "You are required to dress as a widow should. A veil, of course, must be worn at the funeral. I do not believe your lie about your child for a second. George was convinced by the gossip, and so am I, considering its source was your original accomplice. However, the Earl and I are unwilling to attach ourselves to a child whose mother claims she is illegitimate. If that is how you wish to treat your child then so be it."

Faith flinched and Cassian seized her hand. That was how she was going to treat her child. Faith only prayed the love that Lucy received was enough to compensate for the stigma that would come with it.

"I will not be dressing as a widow," replied Faith firmly, "and I have no wish to attend the funeral." Faith did not care about the social requirement. She had no desire to engage in society ever again.

Ruth did not seem at all surprised. "The servant informed us of your wish to waive your dower rights." Ruth arced an eyebrow curiously.

Oh, that was why Ruth was here. Money. "Yes," said Faith.

"You are aware of the significance of that sum, yes?" Ruth asked. "As the dowager, you are entitled to one third of the estate's income."

Was she trying to talk Faith in to accepting the money? "I have no wish to receive even a penny of that man's money," snapped Faith.

"I must admit, I am surprised." Ruth shook her head. "No matter. We shall happily put to use the added income. You will need to waive these rights legally, of course. I shall not have my husband's name dragged through the mud if you decide to take your sudden lack of income to the press."

Cassian was tense. Faith could see that he was holding his tongue.

It was clear that Ruth thought very little of Faith. They were evidently very different people. Faith mused that her own parents would have enjoyed having Ruth as a daughter. She was someone who would have strived to achieve the most advantageous match she could. But clearly, Ruth's own connections settled her with a clergyman, and a second son. Fate had simply provided for her.

But to waive her legal dower rights meant engaging with the Pendletons on one more occasion. "When?"

"Forty days," replied Ruth. "After the transition of power. We will be expecting you." With that, Ruth turned around and walked swiftly from the bedroom, leaving the door open.

Cassian and Faith looked to one another, clearly both still recovering from the information they had just received.

"What do you think of all this?" Faith asked him.

As much as Faith did not care for the social ramifications of her actions, it could affect Cassian, and by extension his business. Faith had not seen a newspaper yet, but she was certain the biggest story in years was about to break. Anne Pendleton was alive and George Pendleton was dead.

Not to mention the fact that she would have to journey back to Leicestershire again in forty days.

Cassian let out a breath before saying, "I think you should marry me."

"Because I think that we ought to – what did you say?" Faith's eyes widened. Had she heard him correctly?

Cassian was looking her directly at her, a look of intensity in his dark irises. "You told me once that the only reason you refused me the first time was because you had a living husband. That is no longer the case. You have always been an angel to me, Faith. You will never comprehend just how much I admire you, and how fervently I love you. I promise you I will be a kind husband to you, and a good father to Lucy. What do you say? Will you marry me?"

Faith had always known it would happen, but she had not been expecting it so soon. Had she been expecting it, she would not be sitting there with her mouth wide open. Cassian was asking her to marry him!

So Faith chose to do the first thing that popped into her head. She placed her hands on the sides of Cassian's face and kissed him stupid.

"Ow!" cried Cassian against her lips.

Faith jumped back, realising that she had been leaning against his bandage. She blushed. "Oh, I am sorry," she apologised.

"Is that a yes?" he asked, raising his eyebrows in anticipation.

Faith's blush deepened. "Yes," she replied, nodding. "I will marry you."

A wide smile spread across Cassian's face as he held his good arm out to her. "Then get back here," he beckoned.

"I will hurt you," Faith reminded him.

"I do not care. You're worth it."

***

Faith had been right. Her return was the biggest news story in years. Probably as big as her death three and a half years ago. The story was in ever newspaper, and her name, at least her previous name, was on the lips of ever gossip monger in every town they travelled through.

But Faith ignored it. Anne Pendleton was forgotten. She was Faith Kensington now. Well, she soon would be, anyway. It was such a surreal thought, but then all Faith had to do was glance beside her to see her fiancé sitting next to her in their carriage. Cassian was sleeping, his head resting against the side of the carriage as it jostled along.

Cassian had stayed in bed for just shy of a fortnight. In those two weeks, Cassian was told about the bullet in his chest, and the potential health risks later on. Cassian decided that he would correspond with Doctor Ward and organise for a suitable time to arrange the surgery. Faith so looked forward to that stressful event.

As soon as Doctor Ward told him he could travel, the carriage was organised to take them home. Home to Norwood, and not London. Home to wherever it was that Cassian had planned for them. Faith was so excited.

Once they reached their Norwood home, Cassian's plan was to collect the deed of purchase from Finn, and then go to London to collect Kit. Cassian knew that it had been a while, but he hoped that Kit was being patient.

Once they were all together, Cassian and Faith planned on getting married in the village church, before making the trip back to Leicestershire to be done with the Pendletons forever.

Then, and only then, could they start their lives together as a family.

Sitting opposite Faith was Finn and Lucy. Finn sat patiently as Lucy lay sleeping, using his leg as a pillow. During Cassian's convalescence, Faith had come to know Finn as a kind and decent, albeit slightly teasing, man. He enjoyed jesting Cassian just as much as he enjoyed looking after his new friend.

Finn was very handsome, and he clearly sat in a position of respect and influence as a magistrate. Faith wondered why he had not found a wife to settle down with.

Perhaps in this new place, Faith would make friends and she could help Finn to find someone nice. Cassian had assured her that she would thrive in Norwood. There were people she could help.

The beginning of March was always a very sad time for Faith. The third being the birthday and death day anniversary of her first son. It was the first of the month, and this time five years ago, she was still pregnant with him, and he was still alive. She wondered if Cassian would remember. It had been Christmastime when she had told him the date. Even if he did not, Faith would share it with him.

"Here it is. The Norwood village," announced Finn.

Faith immediately looked out the window as they travelled through the village. People were out and about in the small village, interacting with each other, smiling, and waving. The little shops were open and selling their goods, and she could hear organ music coming from the church. Faith spotted the magistrate's office, which must be where Finn spent most of his days.

Within a minute, Norwood was gone, but Faith loved it already. It was small and quaint, and the type of place where one could get to know every single person. She prayed her past had not followed her here, but even if it had, Finn promised her that the people were kind and fair.

After travelling for about a mile outside the village, Faith noticed that they were travelling through a set of rather grand looking iron gates.

"Welcome home," murmured Cassian excitedly.

All coherent thought left Faith as she stared at her new home. She gasped as she took in the true beauty of the estate. The first word that came to mind to describe it was alive. The estate was alive with spring blooms and greenery, which only made the white washed stone house, covered so perfectly with ivy, seem all the more idyllic.

"I told you this house would win her over," jested Finn.

Faith only smiled. He was right about that. This house was beautiful.

"Do you like it?" asked Cassian.

"I love it," she replied wistfully. "It is perfect." This would be the house where they would raise their family. Faith could see it already.

As the carriage pulled up outside the door, it opened, and Faith immediately recognised Mr Wade. Cassian had even arranged for his servants to move to Derbyshire. Faith wondered if they all had made the trip.

As soon as Lucy saw her favourite butler, she tore out of the carriage and jumped up into his arms. Mr Wade laughed as he adjusted Lucy's weight so that he could try to assist the rest of the passengers.

Cassian waved him off politely and helped Faith from the carriage. She was followed by Finn. Standing on the ground before the house, Faith craned her neck towards the sky, taking in all three storeys of the beautiful house.

"How are you Lady Lucy?" Mr Wade asked Lucy.

Lady Lucy? Where had Mr Wade got that from? Faith deduced Cassian must have filled him in on her situation.

"Good," chirped Lucy. "This is my house!"

Mr Wade chuckled. "You don't say?" He looked up at Mr Green, who was still sitting in the driver's seat. "You can take the horses around to the stables. Mr Carne is expecting you."

Cassian had taken on Mr Carne in the wake of his dismissal from the Runthorpe estate. He was now the steward, in charge of the estate's horses. Mr Carne's wife, who had been employed as a housemaid in Leicestershire as well, was also employed in the household.

"How are you feeling, sir?" asked Mr Wade of Cassian.

"Healthy," was all Cassian said in reply.

Faith knew that Cassian still was experiencing pain and aches in his wound. She hoped it was from the healing burn, and not because the bullet was floating around anywhere and doing damage.

"Would you girls like a tour?" Cassian asked. "I am sure Lucy would like to see her bedroom."

Lucy cheered and scrambled down from Mr Wade's arms. Mr Wade bowed his head respectfully as Faith walked towards him. Cassian had clearly sent word on ahead of them of what had happened. Would all the servants know of their engagement?

"Mrs ..." he went to greet her but then realised that he did not know what to call her.

"Faith," she insisted.

"Faith," he conceded. "It is good to see you."

"You as well, Mr Wade."

"And after the tour, shall we make those amendments to the deed of purchase?" Cassian asked Finn.

Finn nodded. "The document is in the study upstairs, whenever you are ready."

Just as soon as they crossed the threshold, Faith was greeted by a bombardment of servants, all of whom she knew and had befriended in London, most notably Hattie, who had become one of her closest friends during her time working for Cassian.

Hattie hugged Faith tightly. "Oh, I am so glad you are returned!" she said excitedly. "We were told you eloped but the papers printed the story. We read all about the Earl and the duel and everything! How are you?"

"I am glad to be home," replied Faith. No words had ever been more sincere. Clearly the story had reached Norwood, but her reputation in their eyes did not seem to be tarnished by it.

Hattie looped her arm through Faith's. Just as Hattie went to lead her away, Faith grabbed a hold of Lucy's hand. "So, tell me," she encouraged, "are you engaged to the master?"

Faith nodded bashfully. "Yes, I am."

Hattie beamed. "Oh, I knew it. I knew he always had eyes for you."

"We are going to get married just as soon as Kit is brought here from London. I think Cassian is going to collect him just as soon as his name is added to the deed."

"Kit?" repeated Hattie. "Coming here?" Hattie seemed confused.

"Yes." Faith furrowed her eyebrows. Why was that so perplexing? "It is our plan to take him in, and to give him a family."

"Oh, I just assumed that ..." Hattie trailed off. "Oh, never mind."

"Assumed what?"

"Well, that you had agreed to part ways, that Mr Kensington had ended their lessons."

"Why would you think that?" Faith demanded to know. The raise in her voice alerted Cassian, and he immediately came to her side.

"What is going on?"

"Hattie, why would you think that we would agree to part ways with Kit?"

"What?" gasped Cassian.

"He left your book, sir!" Hattie led them all down a panelled hall before opening a set of double doors. The room was a large library, full of empty shelving. Cassian's very small collection barely took up two shelves. Hattie immediately retrieved Cassian's copy of Utopia. "Kit came to the house for his lesson, but we were in the middle of packing. The next thing we know, this book is on the doorstep with a note inside." Hattie handed the book to Cassian.

Cassian looked incredibly anxious. He opened the book and caught the loose piece of parchment that escaped. On it were two printed words: Good By.

"Goodbye?" Cassian read. "Goodbye? Why would he ...?" He frowned and looked at Faith. "Does he think we left him?"

What else would the poor boy think if he happened upon the house being packed up? And Cassian had been in such a rush to follow Faith and to protect her from George that he had neglected his growing responsibility to a very vulnerable boy.

"You need to go to London," said Faith. "Now."