‘Reeves once said it was not fit for a lady – too rough about the edges, and I think he was right.’
Was Rawden talking of the house or himself?
Rawden gave a boyish grin, grabbed her hand and drew Grace from the carriage and into the house, where several servants bobbed a greeting. He did not tarry long over introductions before whisking her through a series of high-ceiling rooms, filled with sunlight, each more opulent than the rest with plaster fireplaces, intricately carved, resting like icing on a cake against expensively papered walls.
‘Does all this please you?’ he said with a frown.
‘Oh, Rawden, it is beautiful and far too grand for me.’
‘On the contrary. A plain setting will not do for a fine diamond.’
Grace frowned at his gushing compliment, and he coughed and turned away. He was not being himself at all.
‘Come, Grace, let me show you the bedrooms, for the views over the park are quite spectacular, especially at dawn when everything is misty and at peace.’
Her wariness must have shown in her face, for all the excitement seemed to go out of Rawden. ‘I intend to show you to the bedroom so that you may rest,’ he added, his eyes searching her face.
Grace followed him up the grand, curving staircase along a pretty hallway to her bedchamber. She gasped when she entered, for it was the prettiest room she had ever been in. Soft grey doors perfectly complimented the wallpaper of heavy pink flowers held on pale green swirling stems. It was like entering a bouquet. White lace curtains wafted inwards on a breeze from the tall, open windows. The scent of sun-warmed grass delighted Grace’s senses, and she turned to Rawden.
‘This is really mine?’ she said.
‘Well, it is really Colonel Richard Montague’s, but it can be yours until he returns from the fleshpots of Rome.’
‘It is so beautiful. It is beyond compare, Rawden. Thank you.’
On impulse, Grace rushed to him and kissed his cheek. A hint of cologne lingered on his skin, making her long to cling to his strong shoulders and lay her head on his chest. But she stepped away and continued to explore the room. She could feel Rawden’s eyes on her, like a caress, and was overcome with awkwardness.
‘Tomorrow, we will attend a ball, if you want to, that is,’ he said.
‘A ball? Where?’
‘My friend, Captain James Hardy, has family who live in town. They have invited us, and I thought you might like to go into society.’
‘I thought you did not like such occasions,’ she said.
‘I have not sought them out, that is true. But you ladies like to socialise, do you not?’
She was the Countess Voss now. It was her duty to attend such events, like it or not, so Grace replied, ‘Yes, of course. I would like to become better acquainted with Captain Hardy. He seems a very gentlemanly man.’ She unfurled a pretty white and gold fan on the dressing table.
‘Yet is it a wonder we are friends, for his character is the very opposite of my own,’ said Rawden. When Grace turned to him, he gave her a dark look of such intensity that her knees almost buckled with lust. ‘I must leave you alone to rest, Grace,’ he said.
A reckless desire rose up in Grace. If she wanted her husband in her bed, why could she not have him? Was she always to do the right thing instead of grabbing at happiness? ‘If you leave, Rawden, how am I to thank you properly for this lovely room?’ she said, in what she hoped was a seductive way.
It obviously wasn’t, for Rawden side-stepped her question, his jaw working. ‘You may think of this as a sanctuary of sorts. I have decided to mend my ways, so I will not trouble you in this chamber unless you want me to.’
‘Oh,’ she said, deflated by his lack of interest and mortified that he must think her the worst kind of slattern for trying to tempt him. ‘I do not quite take your meaning, Rawden?’
‘Grace, do you want me to stay and take you to bed? Is that it?’ he barked.
‘Rawden, I only meant…oh, leave if you must,’ she replied.
‘Woman, I am trying to mend my ways. I have forced my attentions on you when you did not welcome them, and I would make amends for that. Please allow me the grace to do that, at least.’
‘But you did not force me, Rawden. And I want to have a proper marriage, with all that it entails.’
‘You don't know what you want, Grace, and unfortunately, neither do I, for I am not a mind-reader and until I can be sure I am welcome in your bed, I intend to avoid it.’
‘For another’s?’ she cried.
