“I’m sorry about my sister,” he said at the same time she said, “I’m sorry about my family.”
“Wait, you’re not angry?” she said, moving to stand in front of him.
“Not unless you are. I know my sister’s abilities to manipulate. She may seem innocent, but that is part of the charm she uses against us.”
Grace’s shoulders relaxed and an amused smile pulled at her lips as he laced his fingers through hers.
Emma grinned and swept away to take her husband’s arm. Lifting a cup from the tray the footman held, she raised it up.
“To the happy couple.”
Alan smiled down at Grace. “To us.”
Grace awoke the next morning worried that her memories were all a beautiful dream and the moment she left her room,everything would return to how it had been before she’d come to Engalworth.
Instead, she found a vase full of hothouse flowers on her dressing table with a note tucked under it.
Dearest Beloved,
My sister has brought to my attention the disservice our current arrangement will bring to you.
Disservice? Grace squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to read the rest. Fear crept in. Lady Hamdon had been on her side. Why would she dissuade him now?
Stop it, Grace,she chided herself. A gentleman wouldn’t open a note with beloved only to crush one’s hopes. Finally, she opened her eyes and forced herself to read the rest.
I know it is not exactly what you’d had planned, but might I give you the season you were promised, and every other one after that?
Yours forever,
A. H.
Air whooshed from her lungs and a giggle escaped her at her own silliness.Of courseshe didn’t expect Lady Hamdon to provide her with a season. She had all she could have hoped for, and as the wife of a baron she would spend many Parliamentary seasons enjoying the sights and sounds of London.
Gently, she touched the edge of one of the tiny white flowers. She loved lilies of the valley and wondered how far he’d had to ride to find a hothouse that had the springtime flowers in bloom at this season.
Leaning over, she breathed in their sweet scent. Someone knocked at the door and before she could answer, Prudence hobbled into the room.
“I knew you’d like them. You’ve always liked lilies of the valley.”
“I do, but how did His Lordship know?”
Prudence smirked. “I told him, of course. Over dinner last night. You don’t think I was going to let my soon-to-be new brother-in-law make such a dire mistake as bringing you camellias or, heaven forbid, some garish flower like a tulip, did you? No, I thought I’d start him out right.”
In all the years she’d shared a room with Prudence, she’d not realized her sister’s considerate nature ran so deep. To know her favorite flower and relay it to Alan was a small thing others might consider frivolous, but it meant the world to her.
She pulled Prudence into her arms and hugged her tight. “You know, you are perhaps the best Prudence I have ever known.”
Prudence wriggled out of her grasp with a laugh. “I’m the only Prudence you know, Grace.” Then she sobered. “I’m going to miss having you at Fallow Hall.”
“Yes, but you will finally have your own room.”
The excitement she’d expected from her sister didn’t materialize. Instead, Prudence flopped herself down on the edge of Grace’s bed and began picking at her fingernails.
“It won’t be the same. At least with you there I had someone else to turn to, a chum of sorts. Now it will just be me and Mama.”
“You’ll have Bradley and Diana.”
Prudence rolled her eyes. “Yes, the lovebirds. What a comfort.”
