He held up his hand. “No. It is a legitimate concern, but I promise you we would not make this offer if we didn’t feel we could. With Anthony taking on the cost of your season, it is only right that the amount we’d planned for such an occasion be given to you.”
“You had planned on giving me a season.” She remained wide eyed. It was both gratifying that they should think of her, and terrifying that they would consider such an expense after the financial struggle they’d just barely recovered from. “But why? Father never spoke of us going to London.”
“Not to you, but it was always his hope. After he died, Mother confided in Reginald and me her fears for your future. And while Reggie did not take her words to heart, I have every intention of making sure I fulfill at least one of Mother and Father’s dreams.”
Tears pricked at Grace’s eyes. Bradley was too good. “Thank you.”
He came around the desk and pulled her to her feet. “You are welcome, Grace. And thank you for holding this family together when the world was falling apart around us. If it were not for your steady presence last fall, I do not know where we all would be—especially Mother and Prudence.”
She’d not done all that much. In fact, she was certain she should have done more. If she’d been with Prudence when their neighbor had told her those horrible rumors, or if she’d noticed how often her mother retreated to her room, maybe they would not have suffered so much.
Slowly, she shook her head, but Bradley squeezed her hands, stopping the motion.
“Do not discount yourself,” he said. “I know from experience that we both tend toward self-deprecation, but you really have been a great help. You’ve sacrificed your time and your own happiness to tend to our family. But now it is your turn, Grace. I want you to enjoy this season. At the very least, enjoy the time you will get to have your own room.”
She smirked. “It will be nice not to have Pru prattling in my ear for hours on end as I try to sleep.”
“I heard that,” Prudence said from somewhere outside the study.
They all laughed.
Diana dropped her words to a whisper. “She will miss your company. As will we all. But like Bradley said, we want you to dance and be merry, and maybe at the end you can bring home a handsome gentleman for an introduction.”
A slow smile spread across her brother’s face. “Or just convince one we already know to take the leap.”
Something flashed between Diana and Bradley that appeared far too conspiratorial. Grace looked away, pretending she did not understand who they were speaking of, but knowing just the same. And here she’d thought she’d been subtle with her regard for Lord Gladsby.
It did not matter. He was not likely to offer for a nobody like her when he could have a titled lady. Nobility married nobility. Unless, of course, a girl had a large fortune like the Countess of Penbrose. Then again, she could not see her brother’s friend, Lord Penbrose—Nicholas to all of them—caring much about money. It was not in his nature.
What of Lord Gladsby? Did he care about titles and money?
Grace supposed she had two weeks to find out.
Chapter 3
Alan paced on the landing by the front door. Emma had arrived yesterday and informed him that the Lennings were expected before dinner today. It was half past five. While he never scheduled his breakfasts, dinners were promptly at six. Even more concerning was the sprinkling of snow that had accumulated on the ground. An oddity for December, but they’d hardly had a summer this year, so he should have expected it.
Why were they so late? Had someone grown ill? What if they’d had an accident?
A throat cleared. He glanced up to see the amused brown eyes of his butler.
“I am sure they will be here soon, my lord. I can show them in if you’d rather wait with Lord and Lady Hamdon in the drawing room.”
Alan smoothed his hands over his dinner jacket, straightening his posture as he did so. “Very good, Gibbons.”
The older gentleman’s smirk was all too knowing. It would not do to have the entire house gossiping about how the master hadpaced at the front door like a besotted fool. Which, of course, he was. But no one need know that, especially not the woman for whom he anxiously awaited.
He had begun descending the five steps that led to the inner court when a horse whinnied in the drive. He spun on the third step from the top only to see Gibbons’s face stretch into a wide grin.
A knock sounded at the door. Gibbons grasped the large handle and pulled, but the door barely budged. His face turned red as he leaned back to use his weight against the heavy wood, and it finally swung open. The sight made Alan’s heart sink. His beloved butler was aging. He really needed to give the man a pension and let him rest, but how would he get along without Mr. and Mrs. Gibbons? They’d been like family to him.
Then Grace stepped through the door, a blue cloak covering her head and shoulders, and all thoughts of servants and aging ceased. Her glove covered hands rose and slowly removed the hood, displaying a halo of red curls.
His heart leapt into a gallop.
Vaguely, he noticed the others file in behind her, but he was mesmerized by the way she methodically untied her cloak. Had she somehow grown prettier since he’d last seen her in October?
A firm hand landed on his shoulder, and he jolted. The surprise was so complete that he nearly reached for the knife in his boot until he caught sight of his brother-in-law’s laughing gaze. Hamdon appeared far too smug.
