Page 53 of Four Promises to Love

She waved at Nell. The girl hurried over, her spectacles slightly askew, and they continued their walk.

“Who were you speaking to?” Finn asked.

“No one important.” Nell’s denial came a bit too quickly. “He’s the son of a farmer.”

“How did you meet him?”

“Oh, um, on market day. When I paid for some apples, he gave me too much change. I told him, and he seemed impressed that I have a head for numbers.”

Glancing back, Finn saw the lad staring after Nell. “I think he is impressed by more than your mathematical ability.”

“It’s nothing,” Nell insisted.

“All right, but you must have a care.”

“Like you are being careful?”

The barb caught Finn off guard. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Let’s just say the pot should stop calling the kettle black.”

Shoulders stiff, Nell strode over to look at the window of a dress shop.

Blooming hell. What is wrong with everyone today?

Seeing Tansy and Simon’s curious gazes, Finn sent them off to amuse themselves. Drawing a breath, she joined Nell.

“Don’t be cross,” she said.

“I’m not.”

Nell kept her gaze trained on the shawl in the window. While Finn was no arbiter of fashion, she could see that the sprigged muslin wrap was lovely, simple yet practical for summer.

“You are, and I am sorry for it.” Finn sighed. “I shouldn’t have said anything, all right?”

“I never get attention.” Nell’s voice wobbled. “What is wrong with enjoying it for once?”

“There is nothing wrong⁠—”

“You don’t seem to mind Lord Owen’s attention.”

Sweet Jaysus.

Finn thought about denying it. But it was one thing to lie by omission and another to contradict what she knew to be the truth. She realized she was tired of it—of hiding her small piece of happiness from her family.

“I don’t,” she admitted. “But I also know that it will not last.”

Nell slanted her a look. “You are fond of him, though?”

“He’s a toff, and I am…me.” Finn shrugged, as if the fact wasn’t widening a crack in her heart. “I’m masquerading as a medium in order to steal from his family. One doesn’t need a crystal ball to see there is no future for us.”

Nell chewed on her lip. “What if there was a way? For you to be together, I mean?”

Hearing her fantasy spoken aloud hurt because it sounded so impossible.

“Iris must come first,” Finn said firmly. “We need to find that treasure and ransom her before that bastard Carver hurts her more than he already has.”

After an instant, Nell nodded, reaching for Finn’s hand.