The look returned by the former priest seemed to imply that he was not particularly surprised by Miriam’s comment. If anything, he was shocked that Arthur only caught onto her possible motivations now, after the way she had practically dissected him with her eyes that morning.

In any case, once they were all seated at the table, Malachi made no attempt to watch the faces of those around him. Sitting at the table was a grave enough sin as far as Miriam was concerned, and it was not his desire to disturb the tenuous peace just yet.

Without glancing over, he shifted in his seat, moving his leg so that Arthur’s finger touched his thigh.

He wondered how much of what he told them was true – if any of it was.

“My, how selfless!” Levi laughed, looking positively charmed by the doctor’s story. While the servants moved around them, transferring food onto their plates, he ignored them in favor of Arthur.

“Yes, there is demand indeed. I will be the first to admit that my wife knows more about it all than I do, but it is a profitable business, for those of us less swayed by such altruistic goals.”

Shameless, he was – all of them were.

Waiting for her wine glass to be filled, Mara let her gaze wander between Malachi and Arthur.

“How do you know Malachi?” she inquired, earning an uncomfortable look from her mother-in-law.

“Miriam mentioned that you met in the church, but even so, I have not known him to bring anyone here. You are… also a religious man, Doctor Adams?”