“Interesting, but hardly newsworthy,” he scoffed. “He may be dallying with the girl, but I doubt there will be any more to it than that.”

“I had thought the connection an odd one, too.” He agreed with his master’s assessment. “Also, there is one other piece of information.”

“Yes?”

“Matthew Kincade attended the meeting about the tea shipments that was held at Faneuil Hall with Ben Hardwick.”

Geoffrey nodded and then directed, “We have to discover just what they’re up to. Do you have anyone involved with Adams and his followers who might be able to give us a clue as to the Kincades’ purpose?”

“Not yet, but I’m working on it.”

“Good. Pay whatever price is necessary, but find out. I need the information as quickly as possible.”

“Yes, m’lord.”

“You may go,” he dismissed. As the servant reached the door, he ordered, “Have my carriage brought around. I suddenly feel the need to visit the Widow Woodham.”

“Right away, sir.”

When Bartley had gone to do his bidding, Geoffrey sat back in his chair, deep in thought. He was furious that things were taking so long, but he knew that some things were worth waiting for. Somewhere in Noah Kincade’s activities there had to be something he could use against him. When he found it, he was going to destroy him completely. Eve Woodham was his. He knew it, and as soon as the carriage was brought around and he made the trip to her home, she was going to know it.

Matt sat with Faith in the parlor of her home. Ruth had just stepped into the other room, and at last he found himself alone with her. He’d been trying to get up his courage to propose to Faith for several days now. Each time he’d thought he was ready, he’d hesitated and the moment had been lost. Now he decided it was time. He loved her with a love that grew more potent every day, and he didn’t want to waste another moment of time being apart. He wanted them to be married as soon as they could.

“Faith…” Matt’s tone was a bit choked, and she looked at him curiously, noticing his serious expression.

“Yes, Matthew? Is something wrong?” Faith knew a moment of terrible fear. She loved Matt with all her heart, and the joy she experienced when she was with him was unlike anything else she’d ever known in her short life. Matt had become her whole world, and his solemn manner frightened her.

“No, Faith. Nothing’s wrong,” he answered, his blue eyes darkening to mirror the seriousness of his intent.

“Then what is it? You look so…I don’t know…worried?” she ventured hesitantly.

Matt managed to flash her a grin that at once both thrilled her and relieved her as he reached out to take her hand. “I am worried…”

“But you just said that nothing was wrong…” He was confusing her.

“And I hope I still feel that way after I get through with what I have to say to you.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Let me finish.” He lifted her hand to his lips, his eyes sparkling now as they met hers. “Faith, there’s something I’ve wanted to say to you for a long time, and I think it’s time I said it.”

“Yes? What?” she was totally mystified.

“Faith.” His tone was suddenly deep with meaning. “Faith, I love you.”

Matt was so pleased and relieved that he’d finally managed to say it that he smiled widely, quite proud of himself. His gaze searched Faith’s as he said the words for some sign of her reaction, and what he saw reflected there sent his heart soaring.

“Matthew…do you really mean it?” Faith couldn’t believe that he’d actually professed to love her. He was Matthew Kincade…nobleman…and yet he was claiming to love her! The thought filled her with rapture and she realized that maybe, sometimes in life, dreams really did come true.

“More than anything, Faith. I love you, darling. I have from the first moment I saw you, and I want you to do me the honor of being my wife.”

The last came as a total shock to Faith, and she looked away from him. For all that she had allowed herself to fantasize about having his love, she had never, ever, even in her most wild imaginings, thought that he would propose marriage! She was speechless.

“Faith?” Matt was suddenly very nervous. He had hoped that she would respond without pause, but she’d gone silent on him and he felt a terrible sinking feeling. What if she didn’t love him? What if she didn’t want to marry him? “Faith, I love you. I want to marry you.”

Her turquoise eyes, when they lifted to his, were luminous and filled with tears. Matt wasn’t sure if they were tears of misery or tears of joy.

“Faith?” He put his arms around her and drew her close.

“Oh, Matthew…” she cried. “Can you really mean it? You love me and you want to marry me?”

“I mean it, love. I’ve never felt this way before, and I know I’ll never feel this way again. I love you, darling. I will forever.” He murmured the last against the softness of her hair, and he felt the tension drain from him at her answer.

“I love you, too, Matthew, and there’s nothing I’d like more than to be your wife.”

Matt held her slightly away from him to look down at her. Never in his life had anyone possessed his devotion more completely. Faith was the woman of his dreams…the woman some men would search their entire lives for and never find. Matt had found her, and he never intended to let her go.

They came together in a rush of passion, their mouths meeting and blending, their hearts beating as one. Only the sound of Ruth clearing her throat in the doorway forced them apart.

“Faith…Matthew…” Her tone was reprimanding, and Matt jumped to his feet, embarrassed at having forgotten in his joy where they were and what they were about.

“Mrs. Hammond, my apologies. “I…we…well, I have just proposed to Faith and she’s accepted, and I suppose, in the moment, we forgot ourselves.”

“What?” Ruth was completely dumbstruck. She had hoped from the beginning that there might be a future for these two, but she had not planned on it. If there was anything she’d learned from life, it was to take what happiness you could while you could.

Faith came to her feet, too, and she took Matt’s hand. “Yes, Mother, Matthew has proposed and I’ve accepted.”

Ruth looked from one to the other, reading the love and happiness in their faces, and she smiled, moving into the room to kiss her daughter and hug Matt. “That’s wonderful.”

“I had hoped you would feel that way, Mrs. Hammond,” Matt told her as he looked down at his future bride, his eyes alight with the depth of love he felt for her.

“Why wouldn’t I?” Ruth was glowing. “I think you’re a wonderful man, and I also think you love my daughter very much.”

“Indeed I do, ma’am,” he replied.

“Have you discussed the wedding yet?”

“No, Mother. Matthew had only just proposed when you came in,” Faith answered, and then blushed as she remembered the kiss her mother had witnessed. “Matthew?”

“As soon as possible,” he told them enthusiastically.

“Will you be wanting a big wedding?” Ruth asked cautiously. She expected that Matt might be wanting a splendid wedding and reception befitting his status in life, and the thought troubled her. There was no way she could afford more than the simplest of celebrations.

“I think that’s something we have to talk about. There are things I have to tell you that need to be discussed,” he told them seriously.

Again Faith was puzzled by his tone and she drew him back down on the sofa beside her. “What do you have to tell us, Matt? It sounds important.”

“I’m afraid it is, but it’s not going to stop us.”

“What?” Both women were attentive.

“As you both know, I am here with my brother, Noah.”

“Yes, you told us about him…” Faith urged him on.

“Well, Noah and I have had a falling out, and I’m not completely sure what my status is right now.”

“I don’t understand. What did you have a fight about?”