“Are you not the daughter of an earl, and were you not married to another earl?” he said.
“Yes, but that is entirely different,” she protested. “I still don’t know how to move about in society, as I spent the last six years confined to the North where the dowager countess ran the household. I would not know what to do.” She felt a blush creeping up her neck once again. Would she never stop feeling embarrassed by her lack of life experience, even at twenty-five years old?
“It is not different,” Carrington replied calmly. “As an earl’s daughter, you still existed within the aristocracy, and you have been immersed in the rules of polite society your entire life. I also know you attended a lady’s finishing school where you were taught just this type of etiquette, as well as how to conduct the business of a household. Is that not where you and Moira became friends?” He smiled, knowing he made an unassailable argument. She nodded, conceding.
“I don’t know why I’m even arguing with you about this,” she said, exasperated with herself. “I have no plans to marry ever again, so all of this is a moot point anyway.”
He took in a deep breath before looking her in the eye. “From what you have shared with me, I know you do not have the means or support to provide for yourself moving forward,” he said delicately.
“And that is why I am trying to find a placement as either a companion or governess,” she interjected. “I can look after myself.”
“I don’t doubt that for a second,” Carrington said. “You possess a strength that will always allow you to succeed no matter your circumstances. But why not consider marriage as another option for how you can be secure moving forward?”
“I wish to have control over my own life,” Grace shared, hesitating for a moment. “I do not wish to willingly place myself under the command of another.”
The look of concern in his eyes as he surmised just how miserable she had been in her marriage forced Grace to look away. “I would never make you do anything you did not wish to. I want my wife to be my partner, not my subordinate.” He spoke gently, and she wanted to believe him. Grace could not deny the attraction she felt for him, and if she were to agree to marry him, all of her current stresses would almost immediately be relived. But at what cost?
“Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that I were to marry you.” Seeing him beam with joy upon hearing these words, Grace interjected, “No, this is hypothetical. I am still concerned that I would harm your image in a manner that would outweigh any good I may be able to do by supporting you.” He opened his mouth as if to quibble, but she raised her hand to silence him.
“Let me finish before you try to dispute me again. While I do not like speaking ill of my class, we both know that high society is nothing if not obsessed with reputation, scandal, and watching peers fall from grace. If we were to marry, I would bring nothing to the table. I would only hinder your reputation.” Grace paused before adding, “And what will happen when it is discovered that I had only mourned my late husband for four months prior to marrying you? These are not small issues. They may seem petty to us, but they are significant.”
Carrington looked at Grace with a raised eyebrow to verify she was done. At her nod, he said, “I hear what you are saying and fully acknowledge the truth in it, but you are forgetting one very important factor.”
“And what would that be?”
“I am a duke.”
Not understanding what he was driving at, she agreed. “Yes, you are a duke. You are an intricate part of the system that would reject us. How does that change anything?”
“I am a duke,” he repeated. “As much as I have resisted it, there are benefits. I am at the very top of the societal structure, and others will do as I say. We’ve both witnessed this with Thomas. If you agree to be my duchess, we will set the tone together. People may not like us at first, but they will accept almost anything to stay in good favor. And by the following season, we will have been married for at least six months. There will be nothing they can do. Besides, based on what I have learned about you in just a few short days, I know they will come to love you,” he said earnestly.
Carrington paused, taking Grace’s hand between his. “I am still figuring everything out, and I will admit that I am terrified at the prospect of tarnishing my family’s reputation, but I will be stronger with you by my side. We will have time to figure everything out before throwing ourselves at the mercy of theton. I know this was not part of your plans, but I feel this could prove advantageous for both of us.”
Grace was breathless after the vehemence with which he had offered his final argument. She was not unmoved by what he had said, but she also could not ignore the voices in her head screaming that she was not worthy and that she did not truly wish to be a wife ever again. Chewing her lip, she said, “I don’t know, Your Grace. I truly never planned to wed again. I will need some time to consider your proposal.”
“Of course, you may have all the time you need. I know it is a big decision. And please, call me Henry. I think we have moved past formal address, don’t you?”
Grace gave him a genuine smile. She was not sure how she had been so lucky as to meet this strong and thoughtful man. And while he had taken her by surprise, he had been nothing but kind to her, so she owed it to him to consider his offer. “Henry then. And I am Grace,” she said. “I will give you an answer tomorrow. I know you want to shut down the scheming mamas,” she teased.
And with that thought, he beamed.
CHAPTER16
Grace remained unsettled all afternoon, thoughts tumbling around in her brain. She could not single out an idea long enough to contemplate it rationally, still in shock from Henry’s proposal. Accepting Moira’s invitation to the house party had been an act of desperation to get away from her in-laws prior to looking for a placement. She never thought marriage would be an option again and was struggling to comprehend Henry’s impulsive proposal, though his counterarguments demonstrated foresight.
Softening, Grace thought about how vulnerable he seemed when sharing his fears about not living up to expectations in his new role. He clearly felt the weight of his responsibilities, and she admired his commitment to those who depended on him for their livelihoods. Unlike so many peers, he did not take his people for granted. Henry was a good man who was used to working hard. That was not something she should overlook in her considerations. Grace understood how finding a wife could be beneficial to him, but she was still struggling to see how she was his best option. Who was she to aspire to be a duchess when she had not even been considering being a wife again? She needed to talk with Moira.
Luck was on Grace’s side, as she quickly located Moira out on the back patio enjoying some time with her two young children as the other guests participated in lawn games. Moira smiled when she spotted Grace and motioned her to join them.
“Grace, do come and sit with me and my angels before their father steals them away from me,” Moira teased. “And where have you been off hiding? I’ve not seen you all day.”
“I’ve been a little preoccupied with my thoughts. It’s been quite a day,” Grace replied. “Can I speak with you in confidence about something?”
“Always. Their father is coming to get them for an adventure soon, and we can talk as soon as these little ones have been collected.”
“Thank you,” Grace said sincerely. “I know you have a lot to organize with this many guests in the house. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you making time for me.”
“I always make time for those whom I care about, and that still includes you,” Moira responded. “Look, here come the men now.”
