She rubbed her arms absentmindedly.
“Grace? A date?” Samantha asked.
“No, we haven’t discussed anything.”
“Then we can only do so much planning. We need to know how much time we have to put everything in motion. First, we must have the banns read this Sunday—”
“I don’t think that will be necessary.”
The viscount strode into the sunny parlor. After giving a warm smile to Grace, he walked over to place a solid kiss on Samantha’s head while he gave her shoulders a little squeeze.
“Oh? And why is that?” Samantha asked, looking up at him with affection.
“Because if I know Ramsey, and I do know him, he’s planning a trip to Doctor’s Commons.”
“Oh.” Samantha frowned. “That doesn’t give us much time.”
“Unless the bully of a guardian refuses the idea of a special license.”
At this, Samantha batted his arm playfully, not once believing his bluff. “Sure, I’ll believe that when I see it!”
“A special license?” Grace asked. She had heard of them, but never actually seen or known anyone to use one. Such a document came at a high cost, but precluded the interested parties from having to follow any normal protocol for a wedding.
With a special license, they could get married in a few days, rather than a few months.
“Well, that does change things,” Grace remarked, tipping her head.
“We don’t know for sure,” Samantha replied. “But it is a good idea to have some contingency plans.”
“When did Ramsey say he was arriving today?” the viscount asked, his gaze shifting to the door.
“I’m not entirely certain. He said morning,” Grace replied, worrying her lip slightly.
“I wouldn’t be concerned about it, Grace. I’m certain he has a full schedule this morning.” The viscount clapped once, startling Grace. “Which leads me to my next question.”
Grace smoothed her skirt and glanced up at him, her brow furrowed as she awaited the question.
“When did this all happen? I thought you were after Lord Westhouse’s good opinion, and next thing I know, Lucas and I are breaking up fisticuffs and you wind up betrothed to my friend. It’s been a rather busy day, I’d say.”
“And this coming from a man who oversees a gambling hell,” Samantha added dryly.
The viscount cut her an unamused glare.
She lifted her hands in surrender, her lips grinning.
“Be that as it may, I find that you have completely unsettled my preconceived notions, not that I object, I was just rather surprised.”
“I take that as a compliment, that I can break convention and create a bit of havoc for you, in a good way of course,” Grace amended
“In the best way. I say, at first I had teased Ramsey about offering for you. He had immediately refused such an idea, but I am rather delighted to have the opportunity to remind him of his earlier words,” the viscount chuckled.
Grace hid a grin behind her hand as she giggled at the idea. She could quite imagine it. The viscount good naturedly teasing his friend, Ramsey taking it seriously and becoming offended; she could nearly see his expression in her mind’s eye.
Just when had she grown to know him so well. How had it happened? It was a good and worthy question the viscount asked, regarding how it all came to be. And she was hard pressed to give a credible answer. The truth was, it just . . . did. It wasn’t a slow feeling that crept over her, nor was it lightning that struck her heart. No, it was an awakening of sorts, only to find out she was in the middle of it before she realized she had begun.
It led to the question, how had Ramsey known? If he was so set against her earlier, as the viscount had said, when had that changed for him? A million questions swirled around in her mind, all demanding answers, yet she delighted in the fact that she would be able to answer them, rather than ask and uncover the answers like treasures.
Her lips were spreading into a grin before she even gave them permission.
