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Two and a half days. That was all the time he had left to uncover Faith’s secret. To find out if it was something he could live with. Something they could deal with together.
And if it wasn’t...then he had two and a half days before he never saw Faith again.
The thought made him shudder.
By the time he made it back to the hotel that evening, he had a scant half hour to shower and change, but he still managed to make it to the lobby before anyone else, ready for their evening of theatre.
Faith was next down, as he’d expected. He’d come to value the brief, quiet ten minutes before they left for the evening’s entertainment. Ten minutes when it was just them and they had a chance to catch up on the day, and the plans for the next one. It was work, of course, but somehow it felt more like play when Faith was there.
The lift pinged, and Dominic turned to see if Faith was on board, sucking in a breath as the doors opened. Would it be backless? he wondered. And surely not black. Whatever it was, she’d look fantastic. And he’d get to spend the whole evening looking at her. Almost as good as if it were really just them going out together for the evening.
But then Faith stepped out of the lift, into the lobby, and Dominic’s breath slowly released in disappointment.
‘Sylvia let you buy that?’ he asked as she strode across the lobby in plain flat navy shoes. What happened to the glorious red heels of last night? Oh yeah. Broken, even before she stamped on Jerry.
‘What’s wrong with it?’ Faith asked, looking down at herself.
Dominic searched for the right words. In lots of ways, it was perfect. Navy dress, cream cardigan and handbag. Nothing too revealing or showy, but smart enough for the occasion. Maybe Sylvia had chosen it. He had a hard time believing Faith would because, despite everything that was right with it...
‘It’s just...boring.’
Faith beamed. ‘Thank you. That’s just what I was going for.’
Dominic shook his head. He was beginning to believe that he didn’t stand a chance of ever understanding what went on in Faith’s brain. Especially if he only had two days left to learn.
The others arrived shortly after, and they piled into pre-ordered taxis to take them to the theatre. There’d be food at the after-show party later, so he’d told Faith not to bother with booking a dinner.
The press were out in force for the occasion, and he lost sight of Faith in the melee as they were shepherded through the crowds into the theatre. Inside, the place was crowded with half familiar faces, and Dominic quickly lost track of who he actually knew and who he just recognised from TV.
‘I’ve arranged drinks with the barman over in the balcony bar,’ Faith said, suddenly at his side. She was shorter without her heels, and had to stand on tiptoe and shout into his ear to be heard over the crowd. Someone brushed past her and knocked her balance and, without even thinking about it, Dominic wrapped an arm around her waist to keep her upright.
‘Lord Beresford?’ Dominic looked up to see the official photographer for the evening brandishing a camera at him. ‘A photo, if you please?’
He hated this. Hated that his attending a play was the cause for photographs and reports. Hated that anyone cared.
Still, it was part of the deal. He knew this. And, even if he hadn’t, his father had made it perfectly clear when he was growing up. Whatever else was going on, you played the part.
One of the many things his father forgot after his mother left. Including his children.
He gave the photographer a swift nod and let his arm fall from Faith’s waist.
‘With your friend?’ the photographer asked hopefully.
Of course. ‘Do you mind?’ he asked, turning to where Faith had been standing, only to find that she’d gone. He caught a brief glimpse of navy disappearing into the sea of people, but didn’t bother calling after her. ‘Apparently not,’ he told the photographer, who looked disappointed, but snapped away at a couple of shots anyway.
He eventually found Faith, along with Sylvia and his clients, in the upper balcony bar. ‘What happened to you?’ he asked, taking a glass of champagne from her hand.
‘Just doing my job,’ she said, smiling innocently. ‘Your guests were thirsty.’
She was lying again. He almost wished he couldn’t tell. The number of casual lies she told him in a day was honestly disturbing.
‘So, what’s this show about, anyway?’ he asked, to distract himself from the fact that not only was the woman he’d fallen for leaving him in two days, but she’d been lying to him the whole time he’d known her and it was getting increasingly likely that he’d never get to know the truth.
