“Of course,” Lady Davenport replied.
Cage hurried after his sister. What could be the trouble? It had been a perfectly pleasant evening. As he stepped out into the night air, he spotted Grace down at the edge of the veranda. Her back turned to him, she stared out at the dark gardens.
He approached slowly. “Grace, are you all right?”
She didn’t turn around. “That is what a normal family is like. The teasing banter, the laughter, it was all so easy. Everyone in that room knows they are loved. That they are accepted.”
Cage sighed and moved next to her at the balustrade. He didn’t know what to say, so he just stood beside her as the cricket’s song filled the evening air.
Nothing about their childhood had been easy or loving. Wrotham had terrified everyone with his rages. If anything was out of place or not to his exact specifications, they had metpunishment at his hands. Cage’s mother died when he was only four. He had almost no memories of her. His grandmother had come to care for him, then Wrotham remarried when Cage was eight.
His father’s second wife lost several pregnancies because of his abuse. Cage had overheard his grandmother telling Wrotham that he would never have his spare if he didn’t have care with his wife. But he’d never gotten that spare. Anne had only given birth to one babe, Grace. After Cage’s grandmother’s death, there was no one left to take Wrotham to task. The house had always reeked of apprehension, servants and family all tiptoeing around the master in hopes of remaining unnoticed.
Grace’s voice, thick with sadness, pulled him from the past. “I didn’t know how to respond. I felt frozen in the fear I would say or do the wrong thing. Even though I know nothing bad would happen. The fear is a part of me, and I don’t know if I will ever be able to rid myself of it.” She turned to him, and tears leaked from the corners of her eyes.
Cage reached out for her hand, “Grace…”
She shook her head. Then she stumbled back a few steps before turning toward the gardens and disappearing into the twilight. Damn, if she wasn’t like some frightened colt bolting every time he tried to soothe it. Why wouldn’t she talk to him? He was the only one who could truly understand her fears.
“Cage, what’s happened to Grace?” Caroline’s voice rang out from behind him.
“She’s upset,” he replied.Where the hell is she going?
Caroline came up next to him. “She’s probably headed for the stables. William says she loves the horses.”
Yes, that made sense. Grace always found escape riding her horse. He turned to face Caroline. Her eyes were wide with concern.
“Why is Grace upset?” She bit her lower lip. “I thought the evening was going well.”
“Everything tonight was fine.” He didn’t know how to explain how his sister was feeling tonight. “I don’t think you could understand why Grace is feeling sad.”
“Well, that’s rude. I am a very understanding person.”
“No, I don’t think you could.” How could Caroline comprehend what their childhood had been like? The legacy of fear that stayed lodged inside of you, ready to claw it’s way out when you least expect it. With her large happy family, Caroline lived an entirely different reality. He cracked his knuckles. “Caroline, what exactly are you running from? Why haven’t you picked out a nice gentleman and joined the ranks of happy couples inside?”
She folded her arms across her chest. “I have my reasons for not wanting to get married. Not the smallest of which is that I don’t want to accept some swain who wants me for my fortune. I know love exists. I’ve seen my brothers and my friends find it. But when you belong to someone, they can control you. No, thank you, I’ll be just fine controlling my own destiny.”
Her response resonated with him. They weren’t so different. He also feared losing control. Of what he might do if the inner monster he knew must be inside him, emerged. His father’s face twisted in anger blazed in his mind’s eye. No, he would never let that legacy rise to the surface. He always kept relationships light, fun, and most importantly, temporary.
“A man like Elverson would get on his knees for a chance to worship you every day. With your influence and beauty, you could have him wrapped around your little finger. I doubt you’d need to worry about who is in control.”
“So that’s all I am, just pretty and popular? Because I’m a woman, I should just be happy in my gilded cage?” She paced away.
“Lots of women would be thrilled with your gilded cage,” he called out.
Her long earrings swung violently as she turned on her heel and stalked back to him. “Don’t twist my words. I am grateful for my relations, my position. But I will not settle into some prescribed role. Once I have my money, I shall become loud and opinionated about the causes I support. People will be appalled at my political views and my independent nature.”
Her blue eyes blazed, and the fire there called to him. Cage had never found anyone more attractive. He couldn’t resist poking the fire and seeing how hot she could burn. “And what causes do you support, princess? Whom do you plan to throw your money at? Is embarrassing a few lordlings in the papers really helping anyone?”
Caroline took a step back as though she had been slapped. But she recovered quickly, her jaw clenched, and she practically spit out her next words. “It’s just a start. Just wait, you have no idea what I am capable of accomplishing.”
She took two steps forward, coming to a stop inches from him. “And what about you, Lord Wrotham? What of your privilege? You have an earldom and all the influence it entails, but you hate to acknowledge even your name. You could do much good in the House of Lords if you accepted your birthright.”
He refused to rise to her challenge. He stared down at her for a long moment. Her gaze did not flit away at his glower; no, Caroline Langdon backed down to no one. Cage admired her gumption. But damn it, she was continually inserting herself into his affairs. “That’s none of your business.” He turned to glance over his shoulder where his sister had disappeared. “I should go find Grace.”
Caroline let out a long sigh. “Don’t worry. She has made friends with William and his sister. They will watch out for her.”A muffled roar of laughter floated through the drawing room doors. “We need to go back inside.” Tugging at his arm, he let her lead him back toward the house.
Chapter 28
