“Oh my.”
He gave her the softest smile, a smile that made her heart swell and tears threaten to embarrass her. “Is that a goodoh myor a poor one?”
“No one has ever said anything like that to me before.”
“I should hope not, else I would have to duel them and put them out of their misery.”
“You understand I am not a lightskirt?” He had to know that just because she had promised to marry an unavailable man, she was not immoral. “I know I am unconventional, but I would never be anyone’s mistress or casual romp. My…intimacies…are only for my husband.”
“I am very pleased to hear it.” He tenderly cupped her cheek. “Even though I had already surmised as much.” He grazed his thumb ever so lightly across her bottom lip. “When I kissed you in the moonlight, you tasted like a rare, untouched wine.” He leaned in, drawing his mouth closer. “A wine I long to taste again and again.”
Mesmerized, she tipped her face up and wet her lips. “Did you not promise my sisters you would behave?”
“I am behaving,” he whispered, then brushed his mouth to hers. “I am behaving like a man in love.” He paused and drew back the slightest bit, waiting until she opened her eyes. “Is that all right, my precious lady?”
“Yes—as long as that means you are going to kiss me.”
*
Far be itfrom Wolfe to ever refuse a lady, especially the lady who possessed his heart. He tried not to groan aloud as he indulged in the kiss but failed. Grace was indeed a rare, untouched wine of which he would never get enough.
“Ahem!”
Grace shifted against him, broke their exquisite connection, then eased out of his arms with a heavy sigh. Her smile bolstered him, somewhat softening his disappointment at theinterruption. “Yes, Seri?” she said to her sister, who stood in the doorway.
“Oh, so you heard me this time?” Serendipity swept closer and aimed a scathing look at Wolfe. “You should find that insulting, Your Grace. Earlier, her teacup kept her from hearing me, but just now, your attentions did not.”
“I credit her heightened awareness to a woman’s ingrained need to guard her reputation.” He offered Grace’s sister a polite bow. “It was but a moment ago she informed me she was a proper lady, and that I best remember it.”
“Indeed.” Serendipity shifted her glare back and forth between them. “The two of you looked as if you forgot it.” She drew herself up as if sorely put upon. “I thought you should know that Lady Margaret, her mother, and Sir Andrew have responded that they will indeed attend our picnic.”
“Does the man go everywhere with them?” Grace asked Wolfe.
“Yes. Always has. The old earl assigned him to accompany them anywhere they went.” Remembering why he had come to Broadmere Manor in the first place, in addition to visiting his siblings and enjoying Grace’s company, he tipped a nod toward the hallway. “I discovered my housekeeper, Mrs. Havarerry, was very much aware of the Longmortens’ determination to rid me of my brother and sister. But before I could dismiss the woman, she deserted her post. According to my butler and footmen, she was last seen running toward the village. I can only assume she joined Lady Longmorten and her daughter at the inn. Who knows what she reported to them? Do you know which of your servants she would have confided in? It concerns me that not only word about the twins’ whereabouts might become public knowledge before the picnic but also my intentions about breaking the engagement.”
“Nellie is the one who told me about the danger.” Grace turned to Serendipity. The sisters appeared to communicate without saying a word. “But she’s not left the manor since we arrived. Her information had to have come from the downstairs table.”
“The downstairs table?” Wolfe had no idea what that meant, but it sounded ominous.
“The servants’ dinner table in the room off the kitchen,” Serendipity said. “They gather there when they have a spare moment from their duties. We always call it the downstairs table because, in Town, their area is the lowest level of the townhouse.” She turned back to Grace. “I can’t think of a single one of them who might have a connection to Wolfebourne Lodge’s housekeeper.”
“Gerald is our newest footman,” Grace said. “I don’t recall the names of the two new maids. All three were brought on from the village.” She turned back to Wolfe. “Did your Mrs. Havarerry have connections in the village?”
“She isfromthe village. The housekeeper before her was dismissed for recommending a governess with a penchant for belittling the children.” He strode to the doorway and glanced up and down the hall. “If your footman and maids know Mrs. Havarerry, our situation could be exposed.” Endangering Grace’s reputation and her family name would be unforgivable. “Perhaps the twins should come home with me today.”
“But you promised them they could stay until after the picnic.” Grace stubbornly jutted her chin higher, tempting him to pull her back into his arms and kiss her again, even though her sister was standing right there. “You can’t break your promise,” she said. “Especially not when we don’t even know if any damage has been done. If none of our servants have been to the village since the twins arrived, then Mrs. Havarerry should be none the wiser.”
Serendipity yanked on the bellpull. “Walters will know and can be trusted implicitly.”
Uneasiness churned in Wolfe’s gut. He had already summoned his solicitor, but the man had yet to arrive and had no inkling about the assignment he was about to be given. Complications that could either prevent or delay—no, not prevent, never prevent. Grace would be his wife if he had to whisk her away to Gretna Green and live in Scotland until the gossips of Polite Society found someone else to destroy. Of course, Broadmere wouldn’t appreciate that choice, and neither would Grace’s sisters. It was Wolfe’s sincerest hope that such drastic measures could be avoided, but he would do whatever was required to ensure a glorious happily-ever-after for Grace, himself, and his brother and sister.
Walters appeared in the doorway and waited with an expectant look.
Serendipity waved the man forward and motioned for him to close the doors behind him.
The butler twitched a bushy gray brow, but that was his only betrayal of emotion as he quietly slid the double doors shut, then faced them with his hands calmly folded in front of him.
“Gerald and the new maids,” Serendipity said, “have they visited the village since we hired them?”
