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Nothing here did.
Faith’s expression had morphed into confusion at what must be the sudden look of alarm on my face, and she turned as the three older women came to stand next to our table.
“Aurora Casteel,” Mrs. Bellamy said, her nostrils flaring as she peered down at me with barely contained contempt. I almost groaned. Oh God. She’d found out my real name. Next to her the other two women looked on, Mrs. Ramsbottom’s expression filled with more disdain than that of Mrs. Bellamy, while Gage’s mother looked vaguely embarrassed.
Likely for me.
“We found out who you are,” Mrs. Ramsbottom said.
“Ladies, is this really the place?” Faith asked as she glanced around the crowded courtyard.
Mrs. Bellamy’s chin rose. “Calliope should know that there’s a fraud and a liar in their midst, attempting to swindle them out of valuable artwork. Really, Faith, you should be ashamed. You must have known.”
“Stop, please,” I said, standing. “Faith had nothing at all to do with this. I…I lied to her too.”
Roxy moaned, a mournful sound that made my heart squeeze. I reached down and put my hand on her head to calm her.
“Rory—”
“Faith,” I said, my voice trembling. “I’m sorry I deceived you. I’m not really an appraiser,” I asserted, because I couldn’t save myself, but I could try to save her.
“Yes, I’m aware,” Faith said, anger flaring in her eyes as she stared daggers at the women. “Rory has a good reason—”
“Your mother was Ophelia Casteel. I remembered the name. A troublemaker just like you. You took us all for fools. You’re a disgrace.”
Tears filled my eyes. I could take a lot, and perhaps I deserved this dressing down after lying to these women and taking advantage of their trust. But the mention of my mother’s name brought a longing within that I could not suppress, not in that moment when I wanted her arms around me so desperately, soothing me, making it all okay. “Say whatever you want about me,” I said, swiping at the tear that fell down my cheek. “But do not talk about my mother.”
“We have nothing left to say about either of you,” Mrs. Ramsbottom declared.
“I think that’s enough,” Mrs. Buchanan said quietly. “Let’s go.”
Mrs. Ramsbottom let out a small shriek and we all looked down to see Bartholomew with his leg lifted as he urinated on her foot. She yanked her leg back and shook it violently, letting out a series of cuss words that I wouldn’t have guessed she was even familiar with.
“Oh, dear,” Mrs. Bellamy said. “Bad dog.” She leaned over and picked Bartholomew up off the ground and secured him under her arm. I reached for him, worried that he’d be punished for his act of defiance but let my arm drop as she turned away. Bartholomew could be a little monster, but she’d taught him to be that way. And underneath, he was a protective, naughty little sweetheart who went a little wild under a small amount of freedom and I loved him with all my heart. I sucked back a sob as I went over and untied the leashes from the gate and Mrs. Ramsbottom and Mrs. Bellamy tore the leashes out of my hands before I could even hand them over, making me gasp as another tear spilled down my cheek. I felt like Cinderella being ripped to shreds by her stepsisters, only instead of the dress I was wearing, they were ripping the dogs I’d come to love away from me. “I will return Roxy,” Mrs. Bellamy said, snatching her leash as well as though retrieving stolen goods from me.
And I supposed I deserved the suspicion. They most likely thought I was a thief and a probable dog-napper too.
Mrs. Buchanan glanced back once as they walked away, toward the low gate that separated the patio from the street. A young woman who’d been sitting by the front stood and joined Mrs. Buchanan, looping her arm with hers. She didn’t resemble Gage, but I remembered he’d told me his sister was adopted. Was it her? Here in town for his going-away party? How stupid I was. I’d just been talking about the potential of going with him to London when really, I hadn’t even properly met his family, and now knew they all hated me.
I was a joke.
I turned quickly away. Oh God. I put my trembling hands over my hot face, feeling the eyes of the lunch crowd at this popular spot in Calliope. Faith stood, and from the corner of my eye, I thought I saw her drop some money on the table even though we hadn’t even eaten. She ushered me out of there, turning in the opposite direction the women had gone. Behind me, I heard the buzz of conversation rise, the gossips quickly springing into action.
I hefted my suitcase as Faith walked me to the door. “Rory, please stay one more day. I don’t want you driving in this state!”
I set my suitcase down. “I’m okay. I promise. I just want to get home.”
Faith nodded, her expression filled with sympathy. “If Malcolm Sherrybrook calls—”
“Faith, it’s over. Malcolm Sherrybrook was my last hope, and he probably already knows what the rest of Calliope knows by now—that I’m a fraud.” I didn’t find my father and now I was also a pariah. Oh, plus my broken heart. My plan had really gone to shit. Then again, maybe finding my father had always been a fool’s errand. “I don’t want them to punish you for what I did. I’m so sorry. Your gallery—”
“My gallery is fine. Like I told you, the only reason they even let me into their homes is that I regularly mingle with them at charity events and they’re not likely to bar me from those. Most of them have never spent a dime in my gallery and I’m managing just fine. Better than fine, thank you very much.”
Maybe she was exaggerating a bit about her lack of concern, but I really hoped she wasn’t because that would mean I’d ruined not only my life, but hers too. And I’d eventually recover. If her business took a hit, I’d never forgive myself. I gave her a wan smile.
“Hey, we did this together. I was all in, remember?”
“Yeah.” I let out a breath. “You’re a really good friend, Faith.”
