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‘Understandably.’ She gave him a sideways look. ‘After that video.’
Just hearing the words made the shame rise up again, stinging in his throat. The memory of the moment he’d first seen it sharp and constant in his brain. And the swift realisation that what hurt most wasn’t the personal betrayal, wasn’t the fact that Kat had slept with another man. It was the humiliation. The way it sent him right back to his childhood, and those unbearable days after his mother left, when all anybody seemed able to talk or write or think about was his family’s shame.
He’d promised himself he’d never be in that position again, and Kat had made him break that promise. Maybe he couldn’t have changed what happened with his mother, but he should have been able to control Kat. And he could sure as hell make sure it never happened again. Which meant finding out what Faith was hiding.
Sylvia was still watching him carefully, as if waiting to see if he might explode at the very mention of the video. Dominic closed his eyes and wished very hard he’d never heard of YouTube. ‘Just tell me you haven’t watched it.’
‘I don’t think there’s a person we know that hasn’t seen at least a glimpse of it.’ Sylvia shook her head. ‘You think you know a person.’
‘It’s wildly unsuitable and inappropriate for you to even mention it.’
‘I don’t know why you’re so bothered. It’s not like you’re in it.’ Dominic looked at her, and she winced. ‘Of course, I suppose that might not actually make things any better.’
‘I’d like to stop talking about this now, please.’
Sylvia gave a quick nod. ‘Absolutely. Good idea. You can tell me about your latest employee instead.’
As if that was any safer a topic. ‘What do you want to know?’
‘Her name would be a good start. Where you met. What she’s like. That kind of thing.’
‘You realise you’ll probably never see her again after today, right?’
‘Oh, I don’t know,’ Sylvia said airily. ‘At the very least, there’s the theatre trip you promised faithfully to let me come along on...’
Damn it. He’d forgotten that. He’d have to ask Faith to try and score an extra ticket.
‘You forgot. Didn’t you?’
‘Of course not,’ Dominic lied. ‘I just need to ask Faith something...’
‘Aha! So her name is Faith. We’re getting somewhere.’
Dominic rolled his eyes. Apparently she wasn’t giving up on this one any time soon. ‘Her name is Faith Fowler, she’s a tour guide I met in Italy and hired to come over and run this tour, and she doesn’t like stately homes. That’s about all I know.’
Sylvia’s brow furrowed. ‘Except this one. She likes this stately home. Don’t you, Faith?’
Glancing up, Dominic saw Faith approaching, too late to steer her away from his sister’s insatiable curiosity.
‘I love these tea rooms,’ Faith said, not really answering the question. ‘And the scones are to die for.’
‘I’ll introduce you to Russell before you go,’ Sylvia replied, suitably distracted. ‘He’s a marvel in the kitchen.’
‘Faith, we’re going to need an extra ticket for the theatre tomorrow,’ Dominic said. For some reason, the idea of Faith and Sylvia getting chummy made him nervous.
‘Not a problem.’ Faith whipped out her tablet and made a note. ‘We’re in the box anyway, and I think there are a couple of extra seats at the very back. Or I can always just skip it.’
‘No. I need you there.’ The words came out too firm, even to Dominic’s ears, and both women looked at him in surprise.
‘I’ll still be around to get you all there and home again,’ Faith said.
‘Still, you don’t want to miss the play,’ Sylvia said, but she was looking at Dominic. He tried to keep his face blank. The last thing he needed was his little sister questioning his motives for hiring Faith. And he didn’t want to explain that he needed to keep Faith close until he discovered what secrets she was keeping.
‘I’m not much of a theatre person,’ Faith said with a tight smile.
She was lying again, Dominic thought, wondering when he’d got so adept at spotting even her little fibs. But why? Why wouldn’t she want to go to the opening night of the play she’d been so excited to score them tickets for?
‘Is this another wardrobe issue?’ he guessed, and Sylvia started staring at him again.
Faith flushed, the pink colour clashing with her scarlet cardigan. ‘Not entirely. I could always wear my black dress again.’
