‘I am no man’s possession,’ said Grace.
‘You most certainly are.’ Gilbert turned to his wife. ‘Talk some sense into your friend. I cannot have this.’
Harriet tried to placate him. ‘Of course, my dear. But can we not let Grace stay just a few days whilst she reconciles herself to her situation and determines what to do? I am sure she will calm her fears in time. Please, Gilbert.’
His jaw worked as he tried to slip the mask of a gentleman back on. ‘Very well.’ He kissed her hand. ‘Anything for my lovely wife.’ He looked at Harriet with an intensity which embarrassed Grace. ‘Now, we are expecting visitors, so get cook to provide refreshments.’
‘When?’
‘Any minute now,’ he said, taking out his pocket watch and frowning at it.
‘But at such short notice?’
Gilbert put a finger to Harriet’s lips to stifle her protests. ‘No arguments. See to it, my dear.’
It was the kind of pompous dismissal one would direct at a servant, and as Gilbert swept out, Grace squirmed uncomfortably in her seat. Harriet’s face pinked, and she rushed to ring the bell for a servant. ‘Do not mind Gilbert. He can be quite changeable at times,’ she said. ‘I never know what he is thinking from one moment to the next.’ She gave a brittle little laugh.
‘I can go if my presence here is an imposition,’ said Grace.
‘It is nothing of the sort. Now, I must make haste and organise the servants. I wonder who is coming to visit? Oh, I must find Gilbert and ask him, for some of his friends are most particular in their tastes.’
Grace was left alone to the thick ticking of a grandfather clock. It was gilded cedar and very expensive-looking. But were the finer things in life worth enduring Gilbert’s condescension? How strange that in her current situation, she should pity Harriet. Was Rawden right in his assessment of Gilbert’s character?
After a long while, a doorbell chimed downstairs, and Grace heard a servant say, ‘In the parlour, Sir.’ Moments later, the door swung open, and in breezed Caville Sharp. He stopped in his tracks and stared open-mouthed.
‘Well, this is an unexpected surprise,’ he said, a sly smile lighting up his fine grey eyes.
Grace stood with a sharp intake of breath.
‘What brings you to the Routledge’s this fine afternoon,’ said Caville, rushing up to take her hand and kiss it. Grace snatched her fingers free and backed away.
‘I am visiting with Harriet,’ she said.
‘Of course you are,’ he replied. ‘But leaving your husband alone so early in your honeymoon does not bode well, Grace. If you are not careful, he will slip through your grasping little fingers.’
Caville knew. She could see it, slithering in his eyes.
‘I must fetch our hostess,’ said Grace.
He grasped her arm in a firm grip. ‘She will come along presently. I think she is much engaged with her husband and is ever the obedient wife, always quick to jump to his command. I have a fine, blonde pointer on my estate, and that bitch is much the same. Whereas you are an entirely different matter. Such a defiant soul you have, Grace. I will own that it gets a man’s blood up, but it has only served you ill.’
‘Let go of me. I will not talk to you anymore.’
‘Oh, you will hear me out, you little fool. I would have given you the world, but you chose that ruffian, Voss, over me, and now here you are, hiding from him.’
‘I am doing nothing of the sort.’
‘Oh yes, you are. Gilbert told me everything. What did he do – take your innocence a little too roughly or not take it at all. Did he spurn you? You will have cause to bitterly regret spurning my generosity, as will your husband. I cannot abide a man taking what is mine.’
‘I am not yours, nor will I ever be,’ cried Grace. ‘I would rather die than spend one more minute in your presence.’
Caville’s fingers tightened, and his face veered closer. Their breath mingled, and the ticking of the clock seemed to boom in Grace’s ears. Suddenly, the door burst open, and Harriet came in. She stopped short, and her face reddened. Caville instantly released Grace’s arm and gave a smooth bow of greeting and a broad smile.
‘Good morning, Lord Sharp,’ stammered Harriet. ‘I was just coming to ask Grace if she wants to promenade with me.’
‘Oh, yes,’ said Grace, rushing to Harriet’s side. ‘I will bid you good day, Lord Sharp.’
Harriet grabbed Grace’s hand and pulled her from the room. Thankfully, Caville Sharp did not follow them or protest.
