Alistair nodded, eyeing Tristan curiously. “Your thoughts are still focused in that direction, then?”
Tristan noted a hint of doubt in his voice, and he wondered what discussions had taken place between Alistair and his wife in private, on the subject of his matrimonial intentions.
“Indeed,” he said simply. He was not in the right frame of mind to discuss it any further, even with his close friend. He sat down at the table and focused his attention on his breakfast, resolving on his plan for the day as he ate.
A little while later, when a few more of the guests had arrived and were beginning their breakfast, the door swung open and Lady Grace entered, followed by Lady Diana. She took her seat at the table next to Tristan.
“Good morning, My Lord,” she greeted him pleasantly.
Tristan smiled, but could not help but notice that sense of distance from her that he had noticed previously. She did not hold his gaze as she spoke to him, in the way that she once had; instead, she looked away almost immediately. He wondered if she was no longer interested in him as a potential suitor. He realized that if he was to stick to his plan, there was no time to lose in making things certain. It was possible that there were other gentlemen who were thinking of making her an offer, and he did not want to miss his chance.
“Lady Grace, you look very pretty today,” he said smoothly.
She giggled. “It is far too early in the morning for flattery, My Lord!” She helped herself to some coffee, then asked, “And pray, what do you have planned for us this morning? I am not sure that anyone could cope with the excitement of another treasure hunt!”
“Well,” he replied thoughtfully, looking out of the window as if the idea had just occurred to him, “I thought that since the morning is so fine, you and I might venture out for a walk, if you are not bored already of the gardens?”
She raised an eyebrow and lowered her voice. “Just you and I? Not the other guests?”
“Perhaps if we slip away after breakfast, then no one will notice,” he said conspiratorially. He watched for her reaction, and was pleased to notice a shy smile crossing her face. Maybe all was not lost, after all.
“Very well, My Lord. I agree with your plan,” she said softly. “And of course I am not bored with the gardens. The flowers are so beautiful, they cannot fail to cheer me up.”
“In that case, I will consider it a firm arrangement,” Tristan said. Then, for fear of arousing suspicion amongst the others, not least Lady Diana, he turned his attention to Alistair and began to chat with him about the latest news of the morning.
Once their meal was finished, Tristan turned to Grace. “I will meet you at the side door in a few minutes,” he whispered.
Grace nodded, a slight flush creeping up her cheeks.
Tristan rose from the table, addressing the rest of his guests. “I have some urgent matters to attend to this morning,” he declared. “I trust that you will all find something to amuseyourselves until luncheon. I shall see you all later.” With that, he left the room, and headed down the corridor towards the door that led towards the gardens, to wait for Grace.
He wondered, as he waited, if he should propose to her this morning. Maybe he should seize the moment, while they were out in the garden alone together? The thought filled him with trepidation, although he was not sure why. He did not think that she would refuse him. And once they were engaged, he could put this nonsense about Lady Diana out of his mind once and for all. But he had not yet spoken to their father, not formally, and he knew that he had to do things properly. He would bide his time, he resolved, and ensure that everything was handled correctly.
Before long, he heard footsteps approaching from around the corner. He felt sure, though, as he listened, that the footsteps belonged to more than one pair of feet. Grace was clearly not alone.
Sure enough, Lady Grace appeared, shortly followed by Lady Diana, who had a blue shawl wrapped around her shoulders. He let out a sigh, a surge of mixed emotions coursing through him. Of course, she would not let her sister go outside with him without a chaperone. Lady Diana would have been watching her sister closely, and would have realized that something was afoot. He had been a fool to think that he would get away with his scheming, when her sharp-eyed sister was around. And yet, the sight of her stirred feelings in him that were not quite straightforward.
He had not been expecting to see anyone else, though, and when Lord Anthony Stoke appeared, following in Diana’s wake.
“Oh, Lord Anthony,” he said icily. “You are joining us for our walk?”
Lord Anthony nodded, a jovial smile on his face. “It is such a lovely morning, and I thought that there could be nothing finer than a walk around the garden, and in such good company, too!” He glanced at Diana as he spoke these final words, and Tristan could not help but notice her returning his smile. He felt his irritation begin to simmer even more.
“How delightful,” he said through gritted teeth.
“I could not have allowed you to go outside alone with my sister,” Lady Diana said, looking at him sternly. “Which you very well know.”
Tristan pushed open the door and stepped outside. “Of course,” he said quietly. He had half expected Diana to follow them – he knew that he should not have tried to manufacture this situation of being alone with Grace. Had he in fact hoped for it, that Diana would join them? He pushed the thought away, and stared at Lord Anthony. He had not been expecting to have a whole entourage with him, either way; it was not what he had imagined at all. He could not help but feel extremely annoyed about the whole situation. The last thing that he wanted to have to deal with was the grinning Lord Anthony! He was not sure how he was going to tolerate the man for a few minutes, let alone for the duration of the walk.
As they made their way down the garden path, Tristan resolved to focus his attention on Grace. That was what he had planned all along, after all.
“So tell me, Lady Grace, have you enjoyed the house party so far?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized how bland they sounded. But no matter how hard he tried, he could not think of anything more interesting to say.
“Of course, My Lord,” Lady Grace replied politely. “I do hope there will be a chance for some dancing before we leave, though.”
He smiled. She really was rather sweet; he could not ignore it. “Of course,” he replied. “And I will look forward to claiming the first dance of the evening with you, when the time comes.” She wanted to dance, like all young ladies of her type, and he would ensure that she had the chance to do so.
