Page 37 of The Formation of Us

“For pity’s sake!” Grasping at her last thread of patience, Faith yanked off her apron. “This isn’t just about sharing a bed with a man. I’ll have to live with him, and have his children, and . . . God, how will I ever look him in the eyes if I don’t tell him the truth?”

“Men will want you, but mark my words,” Iris warned, “they won’t offer marriage if they know where you came from.”

“You need to think of the children,” Aster added. “The sheriff adores Cora. You can see he’d be a good father to her. And he was more than fair to Adam over that incident with the hair brush.”

“I know. That’s because he’s a kind, honorable man.” Faith blew out a breath. “But will he be so kind if he learns the truth?”

“No one can know for certain,” Aster said. “That’s why you need to guard the truth. It’syourpast, not his. It should be your choice whether or not to share it with him.”

“If our courting leads to marriage, and he discovers the truth too late, he will never forgive my deceit.”

“Bah.” Aster crossed her arms over her chest as if the answer was obvious and the conversation unnecessary. “You’re worrying about something that may never happen. And if he does learn the truth, the sheriff is an intelligent and fair man. He’s also a man who can provide for you and the children.”

Iris put her arm around Faith’s shoulders. “Honey, I think half your nerves come from being attracted to him,” she said, her voice surprisingly gentle.

Faith’s face heated. Had she been that transparent? What woman wouldn’t be attracted to a man like Sheriff Grayson?DukeGrayson.

“If I were in your shoes I would savor every minute of that man’s attention,” Iris continued. “And I’d do my best to get him to marry me. The alternative to marrying the sheriff could be far less desirable, you know.”

“I know.” She only had to think of the men who had frequented the brothel or called at her greenhouse.

“Courting him doesn’t mean you have to marry him,” Iris continued. “But it could make him more accepting of our business, and help establish us in the community.”

Faith tossed her apron into the crate on the floor. “It could help immensely to be in the sheriff’s favor. But our hopes could also come crashing down on our heads if he has a change of heart.”

“Then don’t let him have a change of heart.”

Faith looked to Aster, the honorary mother of their misfit family. “What do you think?”

“I think he’s the one man who can protect us,” she said quietly. “If we need him to.”

Chapter 11

Night had fallen by the time Duke entered the earthy-smelling greenhouse. A lantern burned on the counter in the front of the building, and another shone from the stone room in the back where he found Faith waiting for him beside the tub. She stood as he entered the room, and dazzled him with a smile.

“My answer is yes,” she said.

Her smile and her words stunned him. Was she saying yes to him? To courting? He’d been prepared to hear the word no. Or to have her avoid his question altogether. “Yes?” he asked, needing her confirmation.

She clasped her hands in front of her hips, her beautiful smile wobbling. “If you still desire to court me, I’d . . . I would be honored to accept your suit.”

If he still desired her? He nearly laughed. She worked hard, she was intelligent, and so beautiful it was a struggle to keep his hands off her. Yes, he definitely desired her.

He returned her smile. “I still want to court you.”

“Then I shall call you Duke in private.”

“That’s considerable progress from this morning.”

Her lips tilted, enhancing her smile, but her lashes swept down to conceal her eyes.

He watched her changing facial expressions with appreciation. She looked nervous and embarrassed and, if he wasn’t mistaking the tiny tremor in her chin, a little scared.

“Faith?”

She raised her lashes.

“I’m glad you said yes. But if you’re not sure, if you have any reservations—”